Minor professional hockey leagues are the backbone of the NHL. These leagues over the years have served as training grounds for the NHL teams. Entertaining hockey in their own right and offering non NHL players a chance to earn a living.

Quebec Hockey League (1953-1959)

The Quebec Hockey League (1953-1959) was formed out of the Quebec Senior Hockey League.

Many of the Quebec Hockey League teams went on to play in the Eastern Professional Hockey League established in 1959.

Quebec Hockey League (1953-1959) Franchises

Chicoutimi Sagueneens (1953-1959)
Montreal Royals (1953-1959)
Ottawa Senators (1953-1955)
Quebec Aces (1953-1959)
Shawinigan Cataracts 1953-1954, 1955-1958)
Sherbrooke Saints (1953-1954)
Springfield Indians (1953-1954)
Trois Rivieres Lions (1957-1959)
Valleyfield Braves (1953-1955)
Ottawa Jr. Canadiens (Associate Member) (1958-1959)

Quebec Hockey League (1953-1959) Champions

The Quebec Hockey League competed each tear for the Thomas O'Connell Memorial Trophy representative of the champions. In addition between 1953 and 1956 the Edinburgh Trophy was presented o the winner of a Challenge Series between the Western Hockey League and the Quebec Hockey League.

Year
Season Champions
Regular Season Champions
1954
Quebec Aces
Chicoutimi Sagueneens
1955
Shawinigan Cataracts
Shawinigan Cataracts
1956
Montreal Royals
Shawinigan Cataracts
1957
Quebec Aces
Quebec Aces
1958
Shawinigan Cataracts
Chicoutimi Sagueneens
1959
Montreal Royals
Montreal Royals

Year
Edinburgh Trophy
1954
Calgary Stampeders WHL defeated Quebec Aces
1955
Shawinigan Cataracts QHL defeated Edmonton Flyers
1956
Winnipeg Warriors WHL defeated Montreal Royals
1957
Quebec Aces QHL defeated Brandon Regals

Quebec Hockey League (1953-1959) Season

1953 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Chicoutimi Sagueneens
60
33
15
12
213
149
78
Montreal Royals
60
32
22
6
201
162
70
Valleyfield Braves
60
27
25
8
175
178
62
Ottawa Senators
60
27
26
7
171
191
61
Sherbrooke Saints
60
25
28
7
184
175
57
Quebec Aces
60
22
26
12
178
197
56
Shawinigan Cataracts
60
15
39
6
171
241
36
               
1954 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Chicoutimi Sagueneens
72
40
25
7
261
197
87
Montreal Royals
72
40
25
7
257
203
87
Ottawa Senators
72
34
32
6
223
212
74
Quebec Aces
72
30
34
8
216
212
68
Sherbrooke Saints
72
30
36
6
223
244
66
Valleyfield Braves
72
31
38
3
207
252
65
Springfield Indians
72
25
40
7
222
289
57
               
1955 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Shawinigan Cataracts
62
39
20
3
228
145
81
Quebec Aces
60
31
27
2
206
208
64
Montreal Royals
62
30
28
4
232
207
64
Chicoutimi Sagueneens
61
29
29
3
216
212
61
Valleyfield Braves
62
21
39
2
178
261
44
Ottawa Senators
27
10
17
0
63
90
20
               
Ottawa Senators fold on Dec.21/1954
               
1956 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Shawinigan Cataracts
64
43
18
3
243
166
89
Montreal Royals
64
34
23
7
192
162
75
Chicoutimi Saqueneens
64
32
28
4
212
188
68
Quebec Aces
64
23
37
4
190
230
50
Trois-Rivieres Lions
64
18
44
2
159
250
38
               
1957 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Quebec Aces
68
40
21
7
226
175
87
Chicoutimi Sagueneens
68
34
28
6
225
199
75
Trois-Rivieres Lions
68
29
32
7
168
197
65
Montreal Royals
68
28
34
6
191
211
62
Shawinigan Cataracts
68
24
35
9
202
213
57
Ottawa-Hull Jr Canadiens
20
7
12
1
57
74
15
               
Ottawa-Hull played a 20 game.
               
1958 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Chicoutimi Sagueneens
64
35
24
5
241
209
75
Shawinigan Cataracts
64
31
28
5
243
235
67
Montreal Royals
64
29
30
5
227
219
63
Quebec Aces
64
29
31
4
224
233
62
Trois-Rivieres Lions
64
24
35
5
176
215
53
               
1959 Season
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
PTs
               
Montreal Royals
62
34
22
6
206
162
74
Trois-Rivieres Lions
62
30
29
3
194
184
63
Chicoutimi Sagueneens
62
30
31
1
238
236
61
Quebec Aces
62
21
33
8
176
232
50

Quebec Hockey League (1953-1959) Awards

Most Valuable Player

Year
Most Valuable Player
1954
Dusty Blair Ottawa
1955
Kelly Burnett Montreal
1956
Andre Corriveau Montreal
1957
Dick Wray Shawinigan
1958
Greig Hicks Chicoutimi
1959
Gerry Desaulniers Trois Rivieres

Scoring Champion by Year

Year
Scoring Champion
1954
Howie Riopelle Ottawa
1955
Kelly Burnett Montreal
1956
Gilles Dube Shawinigan
1957
Orval Tessier Quebec
1958
Jean Paul Denis Shawinigan
1959
Greig Hicks Chicoutimi

Leading Goaltender

Year
Leading Goaltender
1954
Phil Hughes Chicoutimi
1955
Bobby Perreault Shawinigan
1956
Gerry McNeil Montreal
1957
Al Millar Quebec
1958
Gilles Boisvert Chicoutimi
1959
Claude Pronovost Montreal

Rookie of the Yea

Year
Rookie of the Year
1954
Michel Labadie Quebec
1955
Connie Broden Shawinigan
1956
Marcel Paille Chicoutimi
1957
Jacques Marcotte Trois Rivieres
1958
Max Mekilok Shawinigan
1959
Ed Hoekstra Trois Rivieres

Career Games Played

Player
Games Played
Georges Roy
499
Lulu Denis
491
Gerry Desaulniers
477
Jacques Deslauriers
476
Jacques Locas
463
Joe Crozier
447
Gerry Glaude
444
Fern Perreault
440
Ted Hodgson
434
Dick Wray
420

Career Scoring Leaders

Player
Games
Goals
Assists
Points
Jacques Locas
422
244
138
382
Andre Corriveau
310
160
209
369
Fern Perreault
412
134
221
355
Stan Smrke
316
153
196
349
Lulu Denis
432
131
212
343
Georges Roy
442
80
248
328
Dick Wray
362
136
180
316
Kelly Burnett
290
125
185
310
Lou Smrke
337
113
195
308
Gerry Desaulniers
420
120
178
298
Gilles Dube
310
105
193
298

Career Goal Scoring Leaders

Player
Games
Goals
Jacques Locas
422
244
Andre Corriveau
310
160
Stan Smrke
316
153
Dick Wray
362
136
Fern Perreault
412
134
Orval Tessier
278
132
Lulu Denis
432
131
Kelly Burnett
290
125
Jean Paul Denis
281
123
Gerry Desaulniers
420
120

Career Assist Leaders

Player
Games
Assists
Georges Roy
442
248
Fern Perreault
412
221
Lulu Denis
432
212
Andre Corriveau
310
209
Stan Smrke
316
196
Lou Smrke
337
195
Gilles Dube
310
193
Greig Hicks
285
190
Kelly Burnett
290
185
Dick Wray
362
180


Career Leading Goaltenders (Goals Against Average)

Goaltender
Games
Goals
Average/Game
Marcel Pelletier
59
149
2.53
Bob Perreault
243
651
2.67
Gerry McNeil
113
303
2.68
Jack Gelineau
88
253
2.88
Jacques Marcotte
112
328
2.93
Marcel Paille
69
176
2.93

Goaltender Career Games Played Leaders

Goaltender
Games Played
Bobby Perreault
243
Ray Frederick
211
Al Millar
159
Claude Evans
154
Phil Hughes
132

Shutout Leaders Career

Goaltender
Games Played
Shutouts
Ray Frederick
211
19
Bobby Perreault
243
19
Charlie Hodge
122
9
Phil Hughes
132
9
Claude Evans
154
9


All Star Team Selections

1953
 
 
 
First Team
Position
Second Team
 
Marcel Pelletier Chicoutimi
Goal
Ray Frederick Ottawa
J.P. Lamirande Chicoutimi
Defense
Guy Labrie Sherbrooke
Roger Leger Montreal
Defense
Pete Wright Sherbrooke
Stan Smrke Chicoutimi
Left Wing
Ludger Tremblay Quebec
Howie Riopelle Ottawa
Jean Beliveau Quebec
Center
Sherman White Chicoutimi
Ralph Buchanan Chicoutimi
Right Wing
Andre Corriveau Valleyfield

 

1954    
     
First Team
Position
Second Team
Phil Hughes Chicoutimi
Goal
Ray Frederick Ottawa
Roger Leger Montreal
Defense
Georges Roy Chicoutimi
Gerry Glaude Chicoutimi
Defense
Joe Crozier Quebec
Howie Riopelle Ottawa
Left Wing
Ed Litzenberger Montreal
Fred Burchell Montreal
Center
Jimmy Moore Chicoutimi
Leo Gravelle Ottawa
Right Wing
Andre Corriveau Valleyfield
Rollie Hebert Chicoutimi
Coach
Pete Morin Montreal

 

1955    
     
First Team
Position
Second Team
Bob Perreault Shawinigan
Goal
Charlie Hodge Montreal
Jean Guy Talbot Shawinigan
Defense
Gerry Glaude Chicoutimi
J.P. Lamirande Shawinigan
Defense
Al Arbour Quebec
Lulu Denis Montreal
Left Wing
Rollie Leclerc Valleyfield
Kelly Burnett Montreal
Center
Ray Powell Quebec
Orval Tessier Montreal
Right Wing
Andre Corriveau Valleyfield
Roger Leger Shawinigan
Coach
Jacques Toupin Quebec

 

1956    
     
First Team
Position
Second Team
Gerry McNeil Montreal
Goal
Bob Perreault Shawinigan
Gerry Glaude Chicoutimi
Defense
J.P. Lamirande Shawinigan
Jacques Deslauriers Montreal
Defense
Al Langlois Shawinigan
Erwin Grosse Shawinigan
Left Wing
Stan Smrke Chicoutimi
Gilles Dube Shawinigan
Center
Jimmy Moore Chicoutimi
Andre Corriveau Montreal
Right Wing
Ed Kachur Shawinigan
Roger Leger Shawinigan
Coach
Gerry Plamondon Chicoutimi

 

1957    
     
First Team Position Second Team
     
Al Millar Quebec
Goal
Jacques Marcotte Trois Rivieres
Joe Crozier Quebec
Defense
Georges Roy Chicoutimi
Jacques Deslauriers Montreal
Defense
J.P. Lamirande Quebec
Marcel Bonin Quebec
Left Wing
Dick Wray Shawinigan
Kelly Burnett Montreal
Center
Greig Hicks Chicoutimi
Orval Tessier Quebec
Right Wing
Andre Corriveau Montreal
Connie Parent Quebec
Coach
Jacques Toupin Trois Rivieres

 

1958    
     
First Team
Position
Second Team
Charlie Hodge Montreal
Goal
Gilles Boisvert Chicoutimi
Jack Bownass Montreal
Defense
Jacques Deslauriers Chicoutimi
Georges Roy Chicoutimi
Defense
John Hanna Trois Rivieres
Jacques Locas Chicoutimi
Left Wing
Claude Laforge Shawinigan
Guy Rousseau Chicoutimi
Center
Greig Hicks Chicoutimi
Jean Paul Denis Shawinigan
Right Wing
Jacques Gagnon Quebec
Phil Renaud Chicoutimi
Coach
Fred Shero Shawinigan

 

1959    
     
First Team
Position
Second Team
Claude Pronovost Montreal
Goal
Claude Evans Trois Rivieres
Georges Roy Chicoutimi
Defense
Bob McCord Trois Rivieres
Jacques Deslauriers Montreal
Defense
Moe Mantha Sr. Montreal
Jacques Locas Chicoutimi
Left Wing
Stan Smrke Chicoutimi
Greig Hicks Chicoutimi
Center
Ken Mosdell Montreal
Jacques Gagnon Chicoutimi
Right Wing
Orval Tessier Trois Rivieres
Floyd Curry Montreal
Coach
Gerry Desaulniers Trois Rivieres