Sherbrooke Canadiens

American Hockey League (1984-1990)

Tombstone

Born: June 9, 1984 – The Nova Scotia Voyageurs relocate to Sherbrooke, QC
Moved: June 21, 1990 (Fredericton Canadiens)

First Game: October 12, 1984 (W 9-0 vs. Nova Scotia Oilers)
Last Game: May 1, 1990 (L 5-4 @ Springfield Indians)

Calder Cup Champions: 1985

Arena

Palais Des Sports (4,328)¹

Marketing

Team Colors: Blue, Red & White²

Ownership & Affiliation

Owner:

NHL Affiliation: Montreal Canadiens

Attendance

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Source: 1994-95 American Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book

Background

The Sherbrooke Canadiens were the Quebec-based top farm club of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens during the mid and late 1980’s.

During their first season in Sherbrooke in the winter of the 1984-85, the Canadiens won the Calder Cup as champions of the American Hockey League. During the regular season, Sherbrooke finished 3rd place in the AHL’s Northern Division with a record one game below .500. But in the playoffs, Sherbrooke literally became a new team, thanks to the late arrival of a pair of 1984 Hab’s draft picks: Patrick Roy and Stephane Richer. Roy, who appeared in only one game for Sherbrooke during the regular season, backstopped the club for 13 games during the playoff run. Richer hadn’t played at all for Sherbrooke during the regular season. He scored six goals in nine playoff appearances. The Canadiens defeated the Baltimore Skipjacks 4 games to 2 in the Calder Cup finals in May 1985.

Sherbrooke returned to the Calder Cup finals two years later in 1987, falling in the seven games to the Rochester Americans.

Departure

Following the 1989-90 season, Montreal moved its AHL operations to Fredericton, New Brunswick. In the years since, Sherbooke has hosted a succession of junior hockey teams but pro hockey has never returned to the city since Montreal departed in 1990.