The QMJHL publishes its official calendar of the 2003 – 2004 regular season
The QMJHL, in this, its 35th season since its foundation, published its official calendar covering the 560 games to be played in the coming season beginning September 11.
Compared with last season, there will be 9% more games played during the week-ends. Indeed, 75% of the games will be played Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays compared with 66% during the 2002 – 2003 season. Moreover, 31% of the games in this calendar will be played on Friday evenings.
<b>Highlights</b>
– The calendar totals 560 games
* Each team will play 70 games this season compared with 72 last season
– The teams are regrouped within 3 divisions:
* Six teams form the Western Division: Rouyn-Noranda, Val-d’Or, Gatineau, Drummondville, Victoriaville and Shawinigan
* Five teams make up the Eastern Division: Lewiston, Quebec, Chicoutimi, Baie-Comeau and Rimouski
* The Atlantic Division comprises five teams: Acadie-Bathurst, Moncton, P.E.I., Halifax and Cape Breton
– The 2003 – 2004 calendar is unbalanced as far as the distribution of games is concerned
* Within a division, a team will play eight games against the other teams of its division
* Between division; the Western division will face the Eastern and Atlantic teams three times. The Eastern and Atlantic divisions will meet four times.
– The opening game of the regular season will oppose the champions and the finalists of the 2002 – 2003 season. The Halifax Mooseheads will visit the Gatineau Olympiques on Thursday September 11.
– March 14, 2004 will mark the conclusion of the regular calendar as the 16 teams will be playing. The playoffs will begin the following Friday March 19, 2004.
– No team will be playing between Sunday December 21 and Saturday December 26 inclusively, for the regular break around Christmas day.
– Between December 27 to January 4th, no less than 39 games will be played throughout the Holiday Season. Two of them will be played on Thursday January 1st at 2:00 pm when Baie-Comeau visits Chicoutimi, and Drummondville, Shawinigan.
– Two teams will be playing their first game in their new home city: the P.E.I. Rocket further to its relocation from Montreal to Charlottetown P.E.I. and the MAINEiacs in Lewiston Maine further to their relocation from Sherbrooke. The P.E.I. Rocket will open their season Sunday September 14 against the visiting Titan from Acadie-Bathurst at the Charlottetown Civic Centre. The MAINEiacs will inaugurate their season locally at the Central Maine Civic Centre Friday September 19 against the Voltigeurs from Drummondville.
In conclusion, on the Web site of the QMJHL at www.lhjmq.qc.ca , you may visit and check following versions of the calendar:
<b><a HREF=" http://www.lhjmq.qc.ca/lang_en/index.php?page=234342412&id_type_cal=0&id_saison=2&browse_mode=1&month=06&year1=2003&year2=2004&month1=9&month2=3&month2=3&day1=9&day2=15&id_saison_equipe=-1&teammode=1 " TARGET="_blank" class="lnkBase9px">- Calendar of the League, in order of date and time</a></b>
<b><a HREF="http://www.lhjmq.qc.ca/lang_en/index.php?page=234342412&id_type_cal=0&id_saison=2&browse_mode=1&month=12&year1=2003&year2=2004&month1=9&month2=3&day1=9&day2=15&id_saison_equipe=-1&teammode=2&dynOrderBy=nom_saison_equipe_dom&dynOrderMode=ASC" TARGET="_blank" class="lnkBase9px">- Calendar by team, at home, in order of date</a></b>
<b><a HREF="http://www.lhjmq.qc.ca/lang_en/index.php?page=234342412&id_type_cal=0&id_saison=2&browse_mode=1&month=12&year1=2003&year2=2004&month1=9&month2=3&day1=9&day2=15&id_saison_equipe=-1&teammode=3&dynOrderBy=nom_saison_equipe_vis&dynOrderMode=ASC" TARGET="_blank" class="lnkBase9px">- Calendar by team, away, in order of date</a></b>
You will also have access to the pre-season calendar of games, no later than Friday June 20. Please note that changes may be brought at the beginning of the month of August.
<b><a HREF=" http://www.lhjmq.qc.ca/lang_en/index.php?page=234342412&id_type_cal=1&id_saison=2&browse_mode=1&month=06&year1=2003&year2=2003&month1=8&month2=9&month2=9&day1=10&day2=10&id_saison_equipe=-1&teammode=1" TARGET="_blank" class="lnkBase9px">- 2003 QMJHL Pre-season schedule</a></b>