Major Junior Franchise Histories (1970-Present)

[sonic92]

I know there's some Franchise History threads for some of the minor pro leagues on here so I figured I'd do one that covers all the teams in the WHL, OHL and QMJHL. I'm using 1970 as a starting point because that's when the major junior level was officially created with the three leagues competing for the Memorial Cup.

QMJHL

Cape Breton Eagles
Sorel Eperviers (1970-1977)
Verdun Eperviers (1977-1979)
Sorel Eperviers (again) (1979-1981) (team moved in middle of 1979-80 season)
Granby Bisons (1981-1995)
Granby Predateurs (1995-1997)
Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (1997-2019)
Cape Breton Eagles (2019-present)

Halifax Mooseheads
Halifax Mooseheads (1994-present)

Charlottetown Islanders
Montreal Rocket (1999-2003)
PEI Rocket (2003-2013)
Charlottetown Islanders (2013-present)

Moncton Wildcats
Moncton Alpines (1995-1996)
Moncton Wildcats (1996-present)

Saint John Sea Dogs
Saint John Sea Dogs (2005-present)

Acadie-Bathurst Titan
Rosemont National (1970-1971)
Laval National (1971-1979)
Laval Voisins (1979-1985)
Laval Titan (1985-1994)
Laval Titan College-Francais (1994-1998)
Acadie-Bathurst Titan (1998-present)

Rimouski Oceanic
Sherbrooke Castors (1970-1982)
Saint-Jean Castors (1982-1989)
Saint-Jean Lynx (1989-1995)
Rimouski Oceanic (1995-present)

Baie-Comeau Drakkar
Baie-Comeau Drakkar (1997-present)

Chicoutimi Sagueneens
Chicoutimi Sagueneens (1973-present)

Quebec Remparts
Beauport Harfangs (1990-1997)
Quebec Remparts (1997-present)

Shawinigan Cataractes
Shawinigan Bruins (1970-1973)
Shawinigan Dynamos (1973-1978)
Shawinigan Cataractes (1978-present)

Victoriaville Tigres
Longueuil Chevaliers (1982-1987)
Victoriaville Tigres (1987-present)

Drummondville Voltigeurs
Drummondville Voltigeurs (1982-present)

Sherbrooke Phoenix
Sherbrooke Phoenix (2012-present)

Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
St. John's Fog Devils (2005-2008)
Montreal Junior (2008-2011)
Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (2011-present)

Gatineau Olympiques
Hull Festivals (1973-1976)
Hull Olympiques (1976-2003)
Gatineau Olympiques (2003-present)

Val-d'Or Foreurs
Val-d'Or Foreurs (1993-present)

Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
Montreal Junior Canadiens (1970-1972) (played in OHL)
Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge (1972-1975)
Montreal Juniors (1975-1982)
Verdun Juniors (1982-1984)
Verdun Junior Canadiens (1984-1989)
Saint-Hyacinthe Laser (1989-1996)
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (1996-present)

DEFUNCT QMJHL TEAMS

St. Jerome Alouettes (1970-1972)

Verdun Maple Leafs (1970-1972)

Drummondville Rangers (1970-1974)

Plattsburgh Pioneers (1984) (folded after 17 games in 1984-85 season)

Quebec Remparts (original) (1970-1985)

Longueuil College-Francais (1988-1991)
Verdun College-Francais (1991-1994)

Trois-Rivieres Ducs (1970-1974)
Trois-Rivieres Draveurs (1974-1992)
Sherbrooke Faucons (1992-1998)
Sherbrooke Castors (1998-2003)
Lewiston Maineiacs (2003-2011)

OHL

Ottawa 67's
Ottawa 67's (1970-present)

Kingston Frontenacs
Kingston Canadians (1973-1988)
Kingston Raiders (1988-1989)
Kingston Frontenacs (1989-present)

Peterborough Petes
Peterborough Petes (1970-present)

Oshawa Generals
Oshawa Generals (1970-present)

Brantford Bulldogs
Belleville Bulls (1981-2015)
Hamilton Bulldogs (2015-2023)
Brantford Bulldogs (2023-present)

Niagara IceDogs
Mississauga IceDogs (1998-2007)
Niagara IceDogs (2007-present)

Mississauga Steelheads
Toronto St. Michael's Majors (1997-2007)
Mississauga St. Michael's Majors (2007-2012)
Mississauga Steelheads (2012-present)

Barrie Colts
Barrie Colts (1995-present)

North Bay Battalion
Brampton Battalion (1998-2013)
North Bay Battalion (2013-present)

Sudbury Wolves
Niagara Falls Flyers (1970-1972)
Sudbury Wolves (1972-present)

Erie Otters
Hamilton Red Wings (1970-1974)
Hamilton Fincups (1974-1976)
St. Catharines Fincups (1976-1977)
Hamilton Fincups (again) (1977-1978)
Brantford Alexanders (1978-1984)
Hamilton Steelhawks (1984-1988)
Niagara Falls Thunder (1988-1996)
Erie Otters (1996-present)

Guelph Storm
Toronto Marlboros (1970-1989)
Hamilton Dukes (1989-1991)
Guelph Storm (1991-present)

Kitchener Rangers
Kitchener Rangers (1970-present)

Owen Sound Attack
Guelph Platers (1982-1989)
Owen Sound Platers (1989-2000)
Owen Sound Attack (2000-present)

London Knights
London Knights (1970-present)

Sarnia Sting
Cornwall Royals (1970-1992) (played in QMJHL from 1970-1981)
Newmarket Royals (1992-1994)
Sarnia Sting (1994-present)

Windsor Spitfires
Windsor Spitfires (1975-present)

Flint Firebirds
Detroit Ambassadors (1990-1992)
Detroit Junior Red Wings (1992-1995)
Detroit Whalers (1995-1997)
Plymouth Whalers (1997-2015)
Flint Firebirds (2015-present)

Saginaw Spirit
St. Catharines Blackhawks (1970-1976)
Niagara Falls Flyers (1976-1982)
North Bay Centennials (1982-2002)
Saginaw Spirit (2002-present)

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (1972-present)

WHL

Brandon Wheat Kings
Brandon Wheat Kings (1970-present)

Regina Pats
Regina Pats (1970-present)

Moose Jaw Warriors
Winnipeg Warriors (1980-1984)
Moose Jaw Warriors (1984-present)

Prince Albert Raiders
Prince Albert Raiders (1982-present)

Saskatoon Blades
Saskatoon Blades (1970-present)

Swift Current Broncos
Swift Current Broncos (1970-1974)
Lethbridge Broncos (1974-1986)
Swift Current Broncos (again) (1986-present)

Medicine Hat Tigers
Medicine Hat Tigers (1970-present)

Lethbridge Hurricanes
Winnipeg Jets (1970-1973)
Winnipeg Clubs (1973-1976)
Winnipeg Monarchs (1976-1977)
Calgary Wranglers (1977-1987)
Lethbridge Hurricanes (1987-present)

Edmonton Oil Kings
Edmonton Oil Kings (2007-present)

Red Deer Rebels
Red Deer Rebels (1992-present)

Calgary Hitmen
Calgary Hitmen (1995-present)

Kelowna Rockets
Tacoma Rockets (1991-1995)
Kelowna Rockets (1995-present)

Kamloops Blazers
Estevan Bruins (1970-1971)
New Westminster Bruins (1971-1981)
Kamloops Junior Oilers (1981-1984)
Kamloops Blazers (1984-present)

Prince George Cougars
Victoria Cougars (1971-1994)
Prince George Cougars (1994-present)

Vancouver Giants
Vancouver Giants (2001-present)

Victoria Royals
Chilliwack Bruins (2006-2011)
Victoria Royals (2011-present)

Spokane Chiefs
Kelowna Wings (1982-1985)
Spokane Chiefs (1985-present)

Tri-City Americans
Calgary Centennials (1970-1977)
Billings Bighorns (1977-1982)
Nanaimo Islanders (1982-1983)
New Westminster Bruins (1983-1988)
Tri-City Americans (1988-present)

Wenatchee Wild
Edmonton Ice (1996-1998)
Kootenay Ice (1998-2019)
Winnipeg Ice (2019-2023)
Wenatchee Wild (2023-present)

Everett Silvertips
Everett Silvertips (2003-present)

Seattle Thunderbirds
Vancouver Nats (1971-1973)
Kamloops Chiefs (1973-1977)
Seattle Breakers (1977-1985)
Seattle Thunderbirds (1985-present)

Portland Winterhawks
Edmonton Oil Kings (1970-1976)
Portland Winterhawks (1976-present)

DEFUNCT WHL TEAMS

Flin Flon Bombers (1970-1978)
Edmonton Oil Kings (1978-1979)
Great Falls Americans (1979) (folded after 28 games in 1979-80 season)

Spokane Flyers (1980-1981) (folded after 26 games in 1981-82 season)

Click to read more...

 

[Tarantula]

Good work, great read! Since you've posted this Mississauga has moved 7kms away and are now Brampton.

 

[NorthStar]

This is excellent for sure... can be doable with new updates.. and I can provide more info as some of the teams above have longer histories that goes back earlier than 1970 (some way back earlier) as I have been doing database Word and Excel works on the CHL franchises for a long time now... I wouldnt mind posting the new updates if permitted as to be respectful of this...

 

[MeHateHe]

This is great, but the WHL was formed in 1966. So Regina and Saskatoon, as the last two original unaltered franchises, date back to then. Also in the league that first season were the first of three incarnations of the Edmonton Oil Kings (now Portland), plus Calgary Buffaloes (who became the Centennials in 1967 and eventually Tri Cities), Estevan (now Kamloops), Moose Jaw Canucks and Weyburn Red Wings (both now defunct).

Swift Current originally joined the league in 1967, as did Flin Flon (which moved to Edmonton for 1978), the Winnipeg Jets (now Lethbridge) and Brandon.