Wednesday, November 11, 2009

QMJHL Hall of Fame Inductees

Press Release

BOUCHERVILLE, Tuesday, November 10, 2009 – The Commissioner of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Gilles Courteau, today announced the names of the four new inductees who will make their way into the QMJHL Hall of Fame – presented by RDS – on Wednesday, March 31st, at the Hyatt-Regency Hotel situated in the heart of downtown Montreal.

Three players and one builder will be honoured. "In a few months, we will have the privilege of honouring four great individuals as Gilbert Delorme, Richard Leduc, Yanic Perreault and Maurice Tanguay make their way into the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Hall of Fame," said the Commissioner. "I would like to thank the members of the QMJHL Hall of Fame selection committee: Michel Côté (President), Denis Baillairgé, Michel Gagnon, Albert Ladouceur and Bertrand Raymond who were once again instrumental in choosing the class of 2010. Their continued contribution to this prestigious institution is certainly valued."

The President of the Hall of Fame selection committee, Michel Côté, added: "The selection process seems to get more difficult every year, since so many former QMJHL greats deserve to be considered for the Hall. Nevertheless, following a rigorous analysis, we believe that we have chosen the best possible candidates. Each has played an important role in the growth and success of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League."

Here is a brief overview of each candidate’s career.

GILBERT DELORME

Gilbert Delorme played three seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. He was the third player chosen in the 1978 QMJHL Entry Draft. Over the course of his major junior career, he collected 65 goals and 212 assists for a total of 277 points in 213 games; an average of 1.3 points per game.

He was named a QMJHL third-team All-Star in 1979-80 and a second-team All-Star in 1980-81 and played in the World Junior Championship in 1981, patrolling Canada’s blue-line. He still holds several Saguenéens team records, including most points by a defenseman in a single season (111) and most points by a rookie defenseman in a single season (60).

In 1981, he was selected in the first round (18th overall) by the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League Entry Draft.

During his nine NHL seasons, he registered 31 goals and 92 assists for a total of 123 points in 541 games with five franchises: The Montreal Canadiens, the St. Louis Blues, the Quebec Nordiques, the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins. On November 15, 2008 his #5 jersey was retired by the Chicoutimi Saguenéens organization.


RICHARD LEDUC

Richard Leduc played two seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Trois-Rivières Ducs following two seasons in the Quebec Junior A Hockey League. Over the course of his major junior career, he scored 117 goals and added 166 assists for a total of 283 points in 114 games; an average of 2.48 points per game. He also totalled 448 penalty minutes.

He recorded the franchise’s first ever goal on October 5, 1969 by beating Shawinigan Bruins’ goaltender Claude Roy at 6:44 of the first period. He was named a QMJHL second-team All-Star in 1969-70 and a first-team All-Star in 1970-71.

Twice during his major junior career, he registered eight points in a single game. Moreover, on eight occasions, he recorded at least a hat-trick, including two five-goal efforts.

In 1971, he was selected in the third round (29th overall) by the California Golden Seals in the National Hockey League Entry Draft. He enjoyed a brilliant ten-year career in which he played in three professional circuits: The American Hockey League, the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League. During his four NHL seasons, he collected 28 goals and 38 assists for a total of 66 points in 130 games with two franchises: The Boston Bruins and the Quebec Nordiques.


YANIC PERREAULT

Yanic Perreault played three seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Trois-Rivières Draveurs. During the course of his major junior career, he collected 191 goals and 216 assists for a total of 407 points in 200 games.

He was named to the QMJHL All-Rookie team in 1988-89 and a first-team All-Star in 1990-91.

During his rookie season, he recorded 108 points to help the Draveurs earn the Jean-Rougeau Trophy as the regular season champions. Moreover, he was awarded the Michel-Bergeron Trophy as the Offensive Rookie of the Year. The following year, he won the Marcel-Robert Trophy as the Scholastic Player of the Year.

During his final season, he collected 185 points in only 67 games and won several of the most prestigious trophies of the major junior hockey circuit: Michel-Brière Trophy (Most Valuable Player), Frank-J.-Selke Trophy (Most Sportsmanlike Player), Jean-Béliveau Trophy (Top Scorer) and Shell Cup (Offensive Player of the Year).

He still holds several Draveurs team records, including most power-play goals (33) in a single season and most assists (4) in a single period.

In 1991, he was selected in the third round (47th overall) by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League Entry Draft.


MAURICE TANGUAY

He is the founding President of “Les Ameublements Tanguay”, an institution in the Bas St-Laurent business community. Over the past several years, he has volunteered his time and financially supported youngsters in the Bas St-Laurent region, most notably in minor hockey and baseball.

His profound community involvement and his strong business acumen were recognized by Lévis College in 1994 as he was honoured with the title “L’Ancien de l’année”. The following year, he was enshrined in the prestigious halls of “L’Académie des Grands Québécois” in the field of Economics.

His dream to own a hockey team came to fruition in 1995 as he purchased the Rimouski Océanic Hockey Club of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Under his leadership, the team enjoyed enormous amounts of success, winning two Jean-Rougeau trophies as well as two President Cups while also capturing the prestigious Memorial Cup in the spring of 2000, the emblem of Canadian Junior Hockey.

At the conclusion of the 1999-00 season, he was awarded the John-Horman Trophy as the Administrator of the Year.

Thirty of his players have been drafted by National Hockey League clubs, including four in the first round and two with the first overall selection (Vincent Lecavalier in 1998 & Sidney Crosby in 2005).

In October of 2001, he was welcomed into the Order of Canada, the highest Canadian distinction for lifetime accomplishments. This honour was bestowed upon him following his extraordinary social involvement through the Maurice Tanguay Foundation which aims to help sick and handicapped children of all ages; a philanthropic investment of over $1.2 million dollars per year.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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