Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League

How the QMJHL is organized

For 2026-27 the QMJHL's official statistics list 18 teams: ten in the Eastern Conference and eight in the Western Conference.

The QMJHL is one of the three member leagues of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), alongside the other two regional leagues. The NCAA's announcement refers to this level of hockey as "Major Junior."

QMJHL and the NCAA Division I men's hockey pathway

On November 7, 2024, the NCAA announced that the Division I Council adopted a change to preenrollment rules in men's ice hockey. In the NCAA's words, it enables "prospects who participate in Major Junior ice hockey or on professional teams to retain NCAA eligibility as long as they are not paid more than actual and necessary expenses as part of that participation." The change is effective August 1, 2025.

What this means in practice: playing in the QMJHL no longer automatically ends a player's NCAA Division I men's hockey eligibility on its own. Eligibility remains conditional. A player still has to complete NCAA amateurism certification, meet NCAA academic requirements, satisfy every other NCAA rule that applies to their own history, and must not have received more than actual and necessary expenses. Playing in the QMJHL does not guarantee NCAA eligibility, a roster spot or a scholarship.

The change applies to NCAA Division I men's ice hockey. Rules can change, so families should confirm a player's specific situation directly with the NCAA Eligibility Center and the school's compliance office before making decisions.

• NCAA official announcement
• NCAA DI Amateurism Certification — Ice Hockey (PDF)
• NCAA DI Men's Ice Hockey Preenrollment FAQ (PDF)

Player development questions for families

Development experiences vary by team, role and player. Beyond The Puck does not rate QMJHL teams. Before committing, families should ask each team directly about ice time and role, practice and off-ice training, school and education arrangements, billeting, travel, and what any agreement the player signs means for NCAA eligibility.

Current Teams

Member teams listed on the league's own team page for the 2026-27 season, in alphabetical order.

• Baie-Comeau DrakkarBaie-Comeau, QC, Canada · Eastern Conference
• Blainville-Boisbriand ArmadaBlainville-Boisbriand, QC, Canada · Western Conference
• Cape Breton EaglesCape Breton, NS, Canada · Eastern Conference
• Charlottetown IslandersCharlottetown, PE, Canada · Eastern Conference
• Chicoutimi SaguenéensChicoutimi, QC, Canada · Eastern Conference
• Drummondville VoltigeursDrummondville, QC, Canada · Western Conference
• Gatineau OlympiquesGatineau, QC, Canada · Western Conference
• Halifax MooseheadsHalifax, NS, Canada · Eastern Conference
• Moncton WildcatsMoncton, NB, Canada · Eastern Conference
• Newfoundland RegimentNewfoundland, NL, Canada · Eastern Conference
• Québec RempartsQuébec, QC, Canada · Eastern Conference
• Rimouski OcéanicRimouski, QC, Canada · Eastern Conference
• Rouyn-Noranda HuskiesRouyn-Noranda, QC, Canada · Western Conference
• Saint John Sea DogsSaint John, NB, Canada · Eastern Conference
• Shawinigan CataractesShawinigan, QC, Canada · Western Conference
• Sherbrooke PhœnixSherbrooke, QC, Canada · Western Conference
• Val-d'Or ForeursVal-d'Or, QC, Canada · Western Conference
• Victoriaville TigresVictoriaville, QC, Canada · Western Conference

Official League Resources

• Official league website
• Official team list