Rimouski Oceanic
Wikipedia - Rimouski Océanic
The Rimouski Océanic are a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes 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.
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.
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.
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.
The QMJHL announced on April 3, 2008, that the Océanic were chosen to host the 2009 Memorial Cup.
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.
The team's name, "Oceanic," reflects Rimouski's location on the shores of the St. Lawrence River and its connection to the maritime industry. The team's colors are blue, white, and black, symbolizing the ocean and the team's fierce competitiveness on the ice.
The Rimouski Oceanic has a dedicated fan base that fills the stands at their home arena, the Colisée Financière Sun Life. The team has a history of success in the QMJHL, with multiple division championships and appearances in the league playoffs.
The Rimouski Oceanic is a powerhouse in Canadian junior hockey, consistently producing top talent that goes on to play in the NHL. The team's commitment to developing young players and fostering a winning culture has made them a respected and formidable force in the world of ice hockey.