Rimouski Océanic

The Rimouski Océanic are a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The franchise was granted for the 1969–70 season as the Sherbrooke Castors. The Castors played in Sherbrooke from 1969 to 1982 before moving to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, in 1982 to become the Saint-Jean Castors. In 1989, the team was renamed the Saint-Jean Lynx. In 1995, the team then moved to Rimouski, Quebec, to become the Rimouski Océanic.

Rimouski Océanic
Océanic de Rimouski
CityRimouski, Quebec
LeagueQuebec Major Junior Hockey League
DivisionTelus East
Founded1995–96
Home arenaColisée Financière Sun Life
ColoursRoyal blue, white and navy blue
     
General managerSerge Beausoleil
Head coachSerge Beausoleil
Championships2000 Memorial Cup Champions
2000, 2005, 2015 QMJHL Champions
Websitehttp://www.oceanic.qc.ca/
Franchise history
1969–1982Sherbrooke Castors
1982–1989Saint-Jean Castors
1989–1995Saint-Jean Lynx
1995–presentRimouski Océanic

History

The team won the QMJHL championship in the 1999–2000 season and went on to win the Memorial Cup that year, with a team featuring future NHL star Brad Richards.[1]

Sidney Crosby joined the team during the 2003–04 QMJHL season. Crosby's 135 points for the club set a new record for a 16-year-old in the QMJHL and was second only to Wayne Gretzky in that particular age-group for all Canadian hockey.[2] Other notable alumni through the years include Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards, Ryane Clowe and Michael Frolik.[2]

In 2005, the Océanic set a QMJHL record after going 28 consecutive games without a loss. The team then went on to win seven games in a row in the playoffs, improving the unbeaten streak to an unofficial 35-straight. They won their second QMJHL championship in five years and subsequently represented the QMJHL in the 2005 Memorial Cup. After losing the opener against the hometown London Knights, the Océanic beat both the defending Memorial Cup champion Kelowna Rockets, who were in their third-straight Memorial Cup, and the Ottawa 67's. Rimouski then beat the 67's again in the semi-finals to set up a rematch of their opening game against the Knights. However, the Océanic were shut out in the final game 4–0.[3]

The QMJHL announced on April 3, 2008, that the Océanic were chosen to host the 2009 Memorial Cup.[4]

In the 2014–15 season, the Océanic captured the QMJHL championship in double overtime of the seventh game against the Quebec Remparts. Because the Remparts were the hosts of 2015 Memorial Cup, they had already qualified for the Memorial Cup tournament prior to the QMJHL final, thus entering Rimouski into the Cup tournament. The Océanic finished 1–2 in the round robin portion in the tournament, advancing to the tie-breaker to play the Remparts, ultimately losing 5–2.[5]

Logo and jerseys

The Océanic logo is an ocean liner with a set of teeth on the bow, jutting out of waves creating both a profile that suggests both a striking shark and a fleur-de-lis. The team colours are royal blue, navy blue and white, and their home arena is the Colisée Financière Sun Life.[2]

The team's sweater has proven popular in the United States, as Reebok has issued it with Crosby's number 87 on it.[2]

Playoff results

Season-by-season playoff results.

Season1st round2nd round3rd roundFinals
1995–96Round-robin - advancedL, 4-0, Beauport--
1996–97L, 3-1, Chicoutimi---
1997–98W, 4–1, Halifax1st, round-robin, Quebec/MonctonW, 4-2, QuebecL, 4-0, Val-d'Or
1998–99W, 4-0, MonctonL, 4-3, Quebec--
1999–00ByeW, 4-0, HalifaxW, 4-1, MonctonW, 4-1, Hull
2000–01W, 4-2, HalifaxL, 4-1, Baie-Comeau--
2001–02L, 4-3, Halifax---
2002–03----
2003–04ByeW, 4-0, ShawiniganL, 4-1, Moncton-
2004–05ByeW, 4-0, LewistonW, 4-1, ChicoutimiW, 4-0, Halifax
2005–06----
2006–07----
2007–08W, 4-1, Baie-ComeauL, 4-0, Rouyn-Noranda--
2008–09W, 4-0, ChicoutimiW, 4-1, MonctonL, 4-0, Drummondville-
2009–10W, 4-3, ChicoutimiL, 4-1, Drummondville--
2010–11L, 4-1, Gatineau---
2011–12W, 4-0, Val-d'OrW, 4-3, Blainville-BoisbriandW, 4-2, HalifaxL, 4-0, Saint John
2012–13L, 4-2, Gatineau---
2013–14W, 4-0, ChicoutimiL, 4-3, Blainville-Boisbriand--
2014–15W, 4-0, VictoriavilleW, 4-1, GatineauW, 4-0, Val-d'OrW, 4-3, Quebec
2015–16L, 4-2, Charlottetown---
2016–17L, 4-0, Saint John---
2017–18L, 4-3, Moncton---
2018–19W, 4-0, ChicoutimiW, 4-1, Cape BretonL, 4-0, Rouyn-Noranda-
2019–20QMJHL playoffs cancelled

Players

Retired numbers

Sidney Crosby's # 87 was retired by the Océanic on 27 September 2019, and retired for all teams in the QMJHL.[2]

NHL alumni

Alumni of the Océanic who have played in the National Hockey League.[2]

References
  1. CORY WILKINS (March 22, 2019). "In the Year 2000: PEI's Brad Richards steals the show at Memorial Cup". chlmemorialcup.ca. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  2. "Emotional Sidney Crosby honoured during jersey retirement ceremony in Rimouski". cbc.ca. September 28, 2019. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  3. "London Knights Win Memorial Cup with 4-0 Win Over the Rimouski Océanic". theqmjhl.ca. May 29, 2005. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  4. Rimouski wins 2009 MasterCard Memorial Cup bid Archived 2008-11-15 at WebCite
  5. "2015 Memorial Cup Memories". chl.ca. June 6, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
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