Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey

The Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (North American Hockey League)[1][2] (LNAH) is a low-level professional league based in the Canadian province of Quebec. It was founded as the Quebec Semi-Pro Hockey League (QSPHL; French: Ligue de hockey semi-professionnelle du Québec or LHSPQ) in 1996, and became fully professional and assumed its current name in 2004. It has no connection with the similarly named North American Hockey League, an American junior league for players under twenty. Teams in the LNAH compete for the Vertdure Cup, which has been awarded annually since 1997.

Not to be confused with North American Hockey League (1973–77) or North American Hockey League.
Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey
SportIce hockey
Founded1996
No. of teams6
CountryCanada
Most recent
champion(s)		Sorel-Tracy Éperviers (2)
Most titlesJonquière Marquis (3)
Official websitewww.lnah.com

Unlike higher-level minor professional leagues, such as the American Hockey League or the ECHL, the LNAH is not known for its skill level. Its teams employ many enforcers and has a rather infamous reputation for on-ice antics, primarily fisticuffs. The LNAH has the unofficial reputation as the world's toughest hockey league; a New York Times article stated that the league averaged 3.2 fights a game during the 2010–11 season, compared with 0.6 fights in the National Hockey League.[3]

Despite this reputation, many of the players are ex-NHL or ex-AHL players such as Patrick Côté, Michel Picard, Stéphane Richer, Bobby Dollas, Guillaume Lefebvre, Garrett Burnett, Daniel Shank, François Leroux, Jeremy Stevenson, Éric Fichaud, Mario Roberge, David Gosselin, Michel Ouellet, Jesse Bélanger, Donald Brashear, Yves Racine, Anthony Stewart and Juraj Kolník. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, some NHL players played the entire season in the league, such as Sylvain Blouin, Donald Brashear, Sébastien Caron, Mathieu Biron, Marc-André Bergeron and Sébastien Charpentier. The league has had a rule that stipulates that all players must either have come from Quebec, or played junior hockey in Quebec,[3] though it has not been strictly used for LNAH teams outside Quebec.

Another unique aspect, compared to other minor pro leagues of North America, is the absence of a veteran limit rule, which allows teams to stock up on experienced players. The league is slowly trying to clean itself up (for 2005–06, the roster limit went from 20 to 19 players, which for most teams meant one less enforcer), but the league has typically been popular with the fans for its reputation of being the toughest league in the world.

The LNAH Draft is held during the summer, including 15 rounds. Players too old for junior ice hockey may be drafted even if they were already drafted by an NHL team. Drafted players come from many leagues, including the Canadian Hockey League, American Hockey League, lower-level professional leagues, and U Sports.

Teams

Current
Quebec teams currently in the LNAH.
Team City Arena Joined
Jonquière MarquisSaguenay, QuebecPalais des Sports1996*
Les Pétroliers du NordLaval, QuebecColisée de Laval2018*
Rivière-du-Loup 3LRivière-du-Loup, QuebecCentre Premier Tech2008
Saint-Georges Cool FM 103.5Saint-Georges, QuebecCentre Sportif Lacroix-Dutil1996*
Sorel-Tracy ÉperviersSorel-Tracy, QuebecColisée Cardin1996*
Thetford AssuranciaThetford Mines, QuebecCentre Mario Gosselin1996
Notes
  1. An asterisk (*) denotes a franchise move. See the respective team articles for more information.

Timeline
Laval PredatorsValleyfield BravesRivière-du-Loup 3LRivière-du-Loup PromutuelSaguenay Fjord (hockey)Jonquière CondorsAsbestos AztèquesCornwall River KingsWindsor WildSherbrooke Saint-FrançoisSherbrooke Saint-FrançoisGranby Prédateurs (LNAH)Waterloo 94Pont-Rouge Lois JeansPont Rouge Lois JeansPont Rouge Lois JeansPont Rouge Lois JeansPont Rouge Lois JeansThetford AssuranciaSorel RoyauxSorel-Tracy HawksSorel-Tracy HawksSorel-Tracy HawksSorel-Tracy HawksSorel-Tracy HawksSaint-Georges Cool FM 103.5Rive-Sud ChacalsTrois-Rivières Draveurs (LNAH)Trois-Rivières BlizzardLouiseville JetsSaguenay MarquisSt-Jean ChiefsLaval ChiefsSainte-Thérèse ChiefsLaurentides GladiateursVerdun DragonsSaint-Laurent DragonsIberville DragonsHaut-Richelieu DragonsSaint-Hyacinthe ChiefsSaint-Hyacinthe Chiefs

Defunct

Champions

The Vertdure Cup is the trophy awarded annually to champions of the LNAH. It was first awarded after the 1996–97 season, and was originally called the Futura Cup. In 2011, it was renamed the Canam Cup, and in 2014 as the Vertdure Cup.

Season Champion Runner-up
1996–97 Saint-Gabriel Blizzard Acton Vale Nova
1997–98 Lachute Rapides Acton Vale Nova
1998–99 Joliette Blizzard Saint-Georges Garaga
1999–00 LaSalle Rapides Pont-Rouge Grand Portneuf
2000–01 Joliette Mission Saint-Georges Garaga
2001–02 Laval Chiefs Thetford Mines Prolab
2002–03 Laval Chiefs Thetford Mines Prolab
2003–04 Verdun Dragons Saint-Georges Garaga
2004–05 Québec Radio X Thetford Mines Prolab
2005–06 Sherbrooke Saint-François Thetford Mines Prolab
2006–07 Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Summum Chiefs Sherbrooke Saint-Francois
2007–08 Trois-Rivières Caron & Guay Thetford Mines Isothermic
2008–09 Pont-Rouge Lois Jeans Thetford Mines Isothermic
2009–10 Saint-Georges CRS Express Sherbrooke Saint-Francois
2010–11 Sherbrooke Saint-François Saint-Georges Cool FM 103.5
2011–12 Thetford Mines Isothermic Windsor Wild
2012–13 Jonquière Marquis Sorel-Tracy HC Carvena
2013–14 Jonquière Marquis Thetford Mines Isothermic
2014–15 Thetford Mines Isothermic Sorel-Tracy Éperviers
2015–16 Rivière-du-Loup 3L Sorel-Tracy Éperviers
2016–17 Jonquière Marquis Thetford Assurancia
2017–18 Sorel-Tracy Éperviers Rivière-du-Loup 3L
2018–19 Sorel-Tracy Éperviers Jonquière Marquis
2019–20 Not awarded; season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 Not awarded; season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

LNAH Finals appearances by city

Note: Cities listed in yellow are currently home to an LNAH franchise.

City Finals Won Lost Years won Years lost Team(s) in Finals Years in LNAH
Thetford Mines 10 2 8 2012, 2015 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2017 Prolab, Isothermic, Assurancia 1996–present
Sorel-Tracy 5 2 3 2018, 2019 2013, 2015, 2016 HC Carvena, Éperviers 1996–2008, 2010–present
Saint-Georges 5 1 4 2010 1999, 2001, 2004, 2011 Garaga, CRS Express, Cool FM 103.5 1998–present
Sherbrooke 4 2 2 2006, 2011 2007, 2010 Saint-Francois 2003–2011
Jonquière 4 3 1 2013, 2014, 2017 2019 Marquis 1997–2004, 2008–present
Laval 2 2 0 2002, 2003 Chiefs 1998–2006, 2013–17, 2019–present
Joliette 2 2 0 1999, 2001 Blizzard, Mission 1998–2002
Rivière-du-Loup 2 1 1 2016 2018 3L 2008–present
Pont-Rouge 2 1 1 2009 2000 Grand Portneuf, Lois Jeans 1996–2004, 2008–2010
Acton Vale 2 0 2 1997, 1998 Nova 1996–2001
Trois-Rivières 1 1 0 2008 Caron & Guay 2003–2018
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu 1 1 0 2007 Summum Chiefs 2002–2004, 2006–2008
Québec 1 1 0 2005 Radio X 1997–1998, 2001–2008
Verdun 1 1 0 2004 Dragons 2001–2006
LaSalle 1 1 0 2000 Rapides 1999–2003
Lachute 1 1 0 1998 Rapides 1996–1999
Saint-Gabriel 1 1 0 1997 Blizzard 1996–1998
Windsor 1 0 1 2012 Wild 2011–2012

References
  1. RDS (LNAH's broadcaster) article.
  2. Le procès de Éric Haley aura lieu en décembre, La Tribune.
  3. Jeff Z. Klein (2011-03-01). "A Place for Pro Hockey Players Fighting to Stay in the Game". New York Times. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
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