Gilbert Delorme, Richard Leduc, Yanic Perreault and Maurice Tanguay inducted into Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Hall of Fame

Press Release

MONTREAL, Wednesday, March 31, 2010 – Four new ambassadors were inducted tonight in the prestigious Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Hall of Fame – presented by RDS – in front of more than 350 patrons in attendance at the annual awards gala which was held at the Hyatt-Regency Hotel in downtown Montreal. Gilbert Delorme, Richard Leduc, Yanic Perreault and Maurice Tanguay joined fifty-three hockey legends already inducted into the QMJHL Hall of Fame.

"I am truly amazed by the quality individuals who have come through the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League," said Michel Côté, the President of the QMJHL Hall of Fame Committee. "Tonight, we had the pleasure of celebrating the brilliant careers of four esteemed individuals who left their mark on the League’s history. It would like to congratulate them on their induction; an honour deserving of their impact on the game of hockey. Finally, I would like to extend a special thank you to the members of the Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee: Denis Baillairgé, Albert Ladouceur, Michel Gagnon and Bertrand Raymond for their valued insight and support."

Here is a brief career overview of each inductee.

Gilbert Delorme

Gilbert Delorme played three seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. Over the course of his major junior career, he collected 65 goals and 212 assists for a total of 277 points in 213 games. He was named a QMJHL third-team All-Star in 1979-80 and a second-team All-Star in 1980-81. He played in the World Junior Championship in 1981, patrolling Canada’s blue-line.

He 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 at 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.

Richard Leduc

Richard Leduc played two seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Trois-Rivières Ducs after 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 recorded the franchise’s first goal on October 5, 1969 by beating Shawinigan 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 one game. Moreover, he scored at least three goals in one game on eight separate occasions, including two five-goal efforts.

In 1971, he was selected in the third round (29th overall) by the California Golden Seals at 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; an average of 2.04 points per game. 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 celebrated 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 QMJHL’s most prestigious trophies: Michel-Brière Trophy (Most Valuable Player), Frank-J.-Selke Trophy (Sportsmanship), Jean-Béliveau Trophy (Top Scorer) and Shell Cup (Offensive Player of the Year).

He 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 at the National Hockey League Entry Draft.

During his fourteen NHL seasons, he collected 247 goals and 269 assists for a total of 516 points in 859 games with six franchises: The Toronto Maple Leafs, the Los Angeles Kings, the Montreal Canadiens, the Nashville Predators, the Phoenix Coyotes and the Chicago Blackhawks.

Maurice Tanguay

He is the founding President of Les Ameublements Tanguay, a genuine institution in the business community. Over the past several years, he has volunteered his time and financial support to youngsters in the Bas St-Laurent region, most notably in minor hockey and baseball.

His profound community involvement and his business acumen were recognized by Collège de Lévis in 1994 as he was honoured with the title L’Ancien de l’année. The following year, he was enshrined into 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 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.

Moreover, 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).

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