Four new members will be inducted into the QMJHL Hall of Fame – presented by RDS

Press Release

The commissioner of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Gilles Courteau, unveiled today, the names of the four new inductees that will make their way into the QMJHL Hall of Fame – presented by RDS on Wednesday April 3rd, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Montreal.

Three players and a builder will be honoured. “We will recognize four important figures in our history during the evening” said the commissioner. “We will have the pleasure of celebrating the careers of Jean-Claude Morrissette, Marc Saumier, Sylvain Côté and Félix Potvin. I would like to thank the members of the QMJHL Hall of Fame – presented by RDS, selection committee: Michel Côté (president), Denis Baillargé, Michel Gagnon, Albert Ladouceur, Bertrand Raymond and Marc Lachapelle for their excellent and continuous contribution to this precious institution.”

The president of the selection committee, Michel Côté, also added: “There are so many worthy candidates, that choosing is always very difficult. However, we rigorously analysed each candidate and believe that we have made the right choices. All four individuals had excellent careers in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and fully deserve this honour. We are looking forward to inducting them into the Hall of Fame.”

Here is a brief overview of their careers:

Jean-Claude Morrissette (Builder)

Jean-Claude Morrissette was born in Lac-Bouchette, in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec on April 21, 1946.

Jean-Claude Morrissette worked for over ten years in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He is one of the leaders of the Morrissette family that has greatly influenced Quebec Junior hockey. He hired talented and prestigious coaches such as Michel Therrien and Bob Hartley who both made their way to the NHL.

During his time in the QMJHL, Jean-Claude Morrissette enjoyed tremendous success. His teams were made in his image, evolving with heart and character. Jean-Claude Morissette made his debut in the QMJHL as governor of the Laval Titan in 1987.

He won three President Cups with the Laval Titan (1989, 1990, 1993). He also won the John Horman Trophy with the same team in 1994, awarded annually to the Executive of the Year.

He continued his career in the world of junior hockey in Quebec with the Granby Predateurs. That team led him to his fourth President Cup in 1996.

That same edition of the Granby Predateurs also allowed him to raise the prestigious Memorial Cup on May 19, 1996, awarded annually to the best junior hockey team in the country. It was the first Canadian championship for a QMJHL team since the Cornwall Royals in 1981.

He retired from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 1997 after more than ten years at the helm of winning teams.

Marc Saumier

Marc Saumier was born in the city of Hull, Quebec on April 18, 1967. A right-handed center player measuring 5’8” and weighing 181 lbs.

Information on his career
Teams during his time in the QMJHL:
Hull: 1984-85, 1985-86, 1987-88
Longueuil: 1985-86, 1986-87

Marc Saumier was the 182nd overall pick in the QMJHL entry draft in 1984; 16th round pick of the Hull Olympiques.

Marc Saumier never played for the Midget AAA development league, but opted instead for the Midget AA in Hull.

During his QMJHL career in both regular season and playoffs, Marc Saumier scored a total of 167 goals and added 302 assists for a total of 469 points. He also accumulated an impressive 1 171 penalty minutes.

During the 1985-86 season, he was part of a major trade sending him and four other players to the Longueuil Chevaliers in exchange for Guy Rouleau. During his last junior season in 1987-88, he finished in 3rd place for leading scorers with 166 points in 59 games played.

During the same season, his streak of 39 consecutive games with at least one point (at the time the 7th best in QMJHL history), eclipsed the Olympique’s franchise record of 34, established by Guy Rouleau in 1985-86.

He won the President Cup in 1987 with the Longueuil Chevaliers and in 1988 with the Hull Olympiques. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs in both those consecutive conquests and was awarded as a result the Guy Lafleur trophy, a feat only one other player was able to accomplish in the League’s history: Maxime Talbot with the Olympiques (2003-2004).

In 1988, he also won the Michel-Brière Memorial Trophy awarded to the Most Valuable Player and was named to the first all-star team.

Marc Saumier is ranked 10th in the League’s history in playoffs with a total of 89 points in 44 games. He has a glowing average of 2.023 points per game.

Sylvain Côté

Sylvain Côté was born in Quebec City on January 19, 1966. A 6’0”, 172 lbs defenseman. He was the Quebec Remparts first overall pick during the QMJHL’s 1982 entry Draft.

Information on his career
Teams during his QMJHL career:
Quebec Remparts: 1982-83, 1983-84, 1984-85
Hull Olympiques: 1985-86

In 178 regular season and playoff games in the QMJHL, Sylvain Côté scored 42 goals and added 127 assists for a total of 179 points. Early on, he caught the eyes of NHL recruiters making him the 11th overall pick of the Hartford Whalers in the first round of the 1984 NHL Draft.

At 18, he made the jump to the NHL in Hartford before returning to play a season in the QMJHL to finish off his junior career on a high note.

During his last season in the QMJHL, even though he had only played 26 games, the 43 points he collected were enough to influence the League to award him the Emile Bouchard trophy given annually to the best defenseman of the year. It was also during this season that Sylvain Côté was finally able to raise the President Cup with the Hull Olympiques in 1986. He was awarded the Guy Lafleur trophy handed out annually to the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs, which he shared with Luc Robitaille.

He was selected in 1984 to be part of the Junior Hockey Canada team.

Sylvain Côté was named to the 3rd QMJHL All-Star team in 1982-83, the 2nd all-star team in 1983-84 and the 1st all-star team in 1985-86.

During his 19 seasons in the NHL, Sylvian Côté wore the uniforms of the Harford Whalers, Washington Capitals, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars. He played a total of 1 171 games during the regular season with a total of 122 goals and 313 assists for 435 points.

Félix Potvin
Félix Potvin was born in Anjou Quebec on June 23, 1971. A 6’1’’, 175 lbs goaltender, he was the 15th overall pick of the QMJHL Entry Draft in 1988.

Information on his career:
Team during his time in the QMJHL
Chicoutimi Saguenéens for three seasons (1988-89, 1989-90, 1990-91).

During his junior career, Potvin had a total of 105 wins, 77 losses and 7 tied games for a total of 204 games played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Nicknamed “The Cat”, he raised the President Cup in 1991 with the Saguenéens after their win against the Drummondville Voltigeurs. During these playoffs, he was also awarded the Guy Lafleur trophy, given annually to the Most Valuable Player. For the 1990-1991 season he was awarded the Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy handed out for his goals-against-average of 2.70, a new league record at the time.

He was named the best goaltender of the Memorial Cup in 1991 and won the Hap Emms trophy, on top of being named to the all-star team of the tournament.

Félix Potvin was named in the QMJHL rookie All-Star team in 1988-89, on the second All-Star team in 1989-90 and the first All-Star team in 1990-91.

In 1990, he was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round of the National Hockey League’s annual draft; 31st overall.

During his 15 seasons in the NHL, Félix Potvin wore the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings and Boston Bruins jerseys.

(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)