The Sherbrooke Phoenix are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Sherbrooke, Quebec, that plays in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The team plays its home games at the Palais des Sports Léopold-Drolet.

Sherbrooke Phoenix
Phoenix de Sherbrooke
CitySherbrooke, Quebec
LeagueQuebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League
ConferenceWestern Conference
DivisionCentral Division
Founded2012
Home arenaPalais des Sports Léopold-Drolet
ColoursNavy blue, baby blue, and white
     
General managerPhilippe Sauve
Head coachGilles Bouchard
Websitechl.ca/lhjmq-phoenix/ Edit this at Wikidata

History

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The franchise was granted as a replacement for the Lewiston Maineiacs, which folded at the end of the 2010–11 QMJHL season.[1] On May 31, 2011, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League held a conference call to prepare an offer to purchase the team from Mark Just for 3.5 million dollars. The dissolved Maineiacs franchise were the Sherbrooke Castors prior to relocating to Lewiston, Maine, prior to the start of the 2003–04 QMJHL season. The Phoenix marks the city's third attempt at a QMJHL franchise. On May 22, 2012, the Phoenix named former Champlain College Cougars head coach Judes Vallée the franchise's first head coach.[2]

The Phoenix made their inaugural draft selection in the QMJHL Bantam Draft, selecting Daniel Audette with the franchise's first-ever draft pick. Audette is the son of former Buffalo Sabres forward Donald Audette. The Phoenix filled out their roster in an expansion draft. The Phoenix played the franchise's inaugural game against the Victoriaville Tigres on September 7, 2012, defeating the Tigres 4-2 in Victoriaville. Jeremie Beaudry scored the franchise's first regular season goal, while Daniel Audette recorded the first regular season assist. Beaudry's stay in Sherbrooke was, however, short-lived, as he was traded to the Quebec Remparts three months later. On January 13, 2013, the Phoenix recorded the franchise's first-ever shutout against the two-time league champion Saint John Sea Dogs. The Phoenix finished their inaugural season with a 21-38-3-6 record, which was good enough for 15th place in the QMJHL, which allowed them to make the playoffs for the first time. The excitement, however, was short-lived, as the team was swept out in the first round by the second-seeded Baie-Comeau Drakkar, being outscored 27–7 in the series. Michael McNamee scored the Phoenix franchise's first-ever playoff goal, while Brandon Lesway and Denis Kamaev recorded the first playoff assists in franchise history.

Team results

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Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime losses, SL = Shootout Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes, Finish = Finish in Division, Playoffs = Results in playoffs

Season GP W L OTL SL Pts GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs
2012–13 68 21 38 3 6 51 188 282 966 6th, Telus West Lost first round vs. Baie-Comeau 0-4
2013–14 68 16 43 4 5 41 180 300 1125 6th, Telus West Did not qualify
2014–15 68 36 26 2 4 78 228 245 949 3rd, Telus West Lost first round vs. Charlottetown 2-4
2015–16 68 24 35 7 2 57 207 241 921 5th, Telus West Lost first round vs. Shawinigan 1-4
2016–17 68 26 38 1 3 56 214 268 715 6th, Telus West Did not qualify
2017–18 68 34 23 7 4 79 228 234 690 4th, Telus West Won first round vs. Rouyn-Noranda 4-3
Lost second round vs. Acadie–Bathurst 0-4
2018–19 68 36 27 2 3 77 249 247 566 3rd, Telus West Won first round vs. Blainville-Boisbriand 4-1
Lost second round vs. Drummondville 4-1
2019–20 63 51 8 3 1 106 290 164 747 1st, Telus West QMJHL playoffs cancelled
2020–21 27 8 17 1 1 18 68 105 45 6th, West Lost first round vs. Chicoutimi 0-3
2021–22 68 46 17 2 3 97 274 202 719 1st, West Wons first round vs. Baie-Comeau 3-1
Won second round vs. Blainville-Boisbriand 3-0
Lost third round vs. Charlottetown 1-3
2022–23 68 50 13 3 2 105 317 172 765 1st, West Won first round vs. Blainville-Boisbriand 4-0
Won second round vs. Drummondville 4-0
Lost third round vs. Halifax 2-4
2023–24 68 32 30 1 5 70 215 239 735 4th, West Won first round vs. Blainville-Boisbriand 4-3
Lost second round vs. Drummondville 2-4

NHL alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "QMJHL Buys Mainiacs And Prepares To Dissolve Franchise, Announces Sherbrooke Team". Fox News. June 1, 2011. Archived from the original on June 3, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2011.
  2. ^ "Le gagnant du prix de l'Entraineur-chef de l'année annoncé" [Winner of the Head Coach of the Year award announced]. LHJMQ/QMJHL (in Canadian French). May 11, 2020. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.