BOUCHERVILLE, Tuesday, November 4, 2008 – 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, April 1, at the Hyatt-Regency Hotel in the heart of downtown Montreal.

Three players and one official will be honoured. "We will recognize and celebrate the careers of four great individuals during this unforgettable evening, which will be all the more special considering that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League," said the Commissioner. "Our four new inductees will be Lucien Deblois, Marc Fortier, Jean Gagnon and Richard Trottier. I’d like to thank the members of the selection committee: Michel Côté (President), Denis Baillairgé, Michel Gagnon, Albert Ladouceur and Bertrand Raymond for their continued and valued contribution to this prestigious institution."

The President of the Hall of Fame selection committee, Michel Côté, added: "There were several very deserving candidates and making a final decision was difficult. After analyzing the pedigrees of the candidates, there was no doubt that these four individuals had enjoyed amazing careers in the QMJHL and deserved to be included in the next wave of inductees. We look forward to welcoming them into the Hall of Fame."

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

Lucien Deblois

Lucien Deblois played four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Sorel Éperviers (1973-74 to 1976-77).

During the course of his major junior career, he collected 188 goals and 221 assists for a total of 409 points in 270 games; an average of 1.52 points per game. In his rookie season, the Éperviers captured the Jean-Rougeau Trophy as regular season champions thanks to 58 wins and 117 points.

The 1973-74 edition of the Éperviers still holds the record for most goals in a single season with 620.

He was named a QMJHL first-team All-Star on two occasions: 1975-76 & 1976-77. Moreover, he earned the Michel-Brière Trophy as the League’s Most Valuable Player in 1976-77.

He acted as player/coach during two games in his final season. Shortly thereafter, he was selected in the first round (8th overall) by the New York Rangers in the 1977 NHL Entry Draft.

His name was inscribed on the Stanley Cup at the conclusion of the 1985-86 campaign as a member of the Montreal Canadiens.

During his fifteen NHL seasons, he registered 249 goals and 276 assists for a total of 525 points in 993 games with six franchises: the New York Rangers, the Colorado Rockies, the Winnipeg Jets, the Montreal Canadiens, the Quebec Nordiques and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Marc Fortier

Marc Fortier played four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens (1983-84 to 1986-87).

During his major junior career, he scored 164 goals and added 314 assists for a total of 478 points in 271 games; an average of 1.76 points per game.

In 1986-87, he was named a QMJHL first-team All-Star. Moreover, he won the Jean-Béliveau Trophy as the League’s top scorer with 201 points.

From December 14, 1986 to March 22, 1987, he registered at least one assist in 37 consecutive games.

He still holds the record for the most helpers in one playoff year with 40; a record he established in only 19 games during his final season.

During his six-year career in the NHL, he collected 42 goals and 60 assists for a total of 102 points in 212 games with three clubs: the Quebec Nordiques, the Ottawa Senators and the Los Angeles Kings.

On February 2, 2008, his #20 became only the sixth jersey to be retired by the Chicoutimi Saguenéens organization.

Jean Gagnon

Jean Gagnon played three seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Quebec Remparts (1973-74 to 1975-76).

During the course of his major junior career, he collected 34 goals and 131 assists for a total of 165 points in 208 games.

In his rookie season, the Remparts won the President Cup, their fourth title in five years.

In 1975-76, he was named a QMJHL first-team All-Star and was honoured with the Émile-Bouchard Trophy which is awarded to the League’s top defenseman. Moreover, he helped the Remparts capture a second President Cup title.

At the conclusion of the Memorial Cup Tournament that year, he would be named to the All-Star Team.

Richard Trottier

Richard Trottier was an on-ice official for thirteen seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League: six as a linesman and seven as a referee.

He worked 380 games over the course of his major junior career, including 86 playoff games and 9 in the finals.

He took part in three Memorial Cup Tournaments: 1979 in Trois-Rivières (linesman); 1985 in Drummondville (referee); 1988 in Chicoutimi (referee).

He was called upon to work the Memorial Cup Championship games in 1985 and 1988.

He worked the Canada Games in Chicoutimi in 1983, the International Seminary in Germany in 1985 and the Canadian University Championship in Edmonton in 1986.

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) appointed him in both 1985 (Finland) and 1987 (Tchechoslovaquia) to work the World Junior Hockey Championship.

During the course of his thirteen-year NHL career, he took part in 550 games in the regular season as well as 10 games in the playoffs. Moreover, he was selected for the All-Star game in Denver, Colorado in 2001.

Richard Trottier will be the third on-ice official inducted into the QMJHL Hall of Fame.


* LIST OF THE INDUCTEES

Source:

QMJHL - Karl Jahnke

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