The 1978–79 QMJHL season was the tenth season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The QMJHL unveils a new logo for its tenth anniversary, using the letters of league's French acronym shaped as an ice skate. Ten teams played 72 games each in the schedule. The Trois-Rivières Draveurs finished first overall in the regular season winning their second consecutive Jean Rougeau Trophy, and defended their President's Cup title defeating the Sherbrooke Castors in the finals.
Team changes
- The Shawinigan Dynamos are renamed the Shawinigan Cataractes.
Final standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; Pts = Points; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against
Dilio Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trois-Rivières Draveurs | 72 | 58 | 8 | 6 | 122 | 527 | 233 |
Sherbrooke Castors | 72 | 45 | 21 | 6 | 96 | 406 | 291 |
Quebec Remparts | 72 | 28 | 31 | 13 | 69 | 324 | 339 |
Chicoutimi Saguenéens | 72 | 26 | 36 | 10 | 62 | 337 | 346 |
Shawinigan Cataractes | 72 | 24 | 43 | 5 | 53 | 310 | 424 |
Lebel Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Verdun Éperviers | 72 | 41 | 24 | 7 | 89 | 367 | 313 |
Montreal Juniors | 72 | 39 | 25 | 8 | 86 | 384 | 291 |
Cornwall Royals | 72 | 29 | 36 | 7 | 65 | 361 | 397 |
Laval National | 72 | 22 | 43 | 7 | 51 | 316 | 469 |
Hull Olympiques | 72 | 10 | 55 | 7 | 27 | 262 | 491 |
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
J. F. Sauve | Trois-Rivières Draveurs | 72 | 65 | 111 | 176 | 31 |
Denis Savard | Montreal Juniors | 70 | 46 | 112 | 158 | 88 |
Normand Aubin | Verdun Éperviers | 70 | 80 | 69 | 149 | 54 |
Bob Mongrain | Trois-Rivières Draveurs | 72 | 66 | 76 | 142 | 55 |
Guy Carbonneau | Chicoutimi Saguenéens | 72 | 62 | 79 | 141 | 47 |
Pierre Lacroix | Trois-Rivières Draveurs | 72 | 37 | 100 | 137 | 57 |
Bob Crawford | Cornwall Royals | 65 | 62 | 70 | 132 | 43 |
Louis Begin | Sherbrooke Castors | 72 | 46 | 85 | 131 | 32 |
Denis Cyr | Montreal Juniors | 72 | 70 | 56 | 126 | 61 |
Serge Boisvert | Sherbrooke Castors | 72 | 50 | 72 | 122 | 45 |
Playoffs
J. F. Sauve was the leading scorer of the playoffs with 38 points (19 goals, 19 assists).
- Quarterfinals
- Trois-Rivières Draveurs defeated Shawinigan Cataractes 4 games to 0.
- Sherbrooke Castors defeated Chicoutimi Saguenéens 4 games to 0.
- Verdun Éperviers defeated Cornwall Royals 4 games to 3.
- Montreal Juniors defeated Quebec Remparts 4 games to 2.
- Semifinals
- Trois-Rivières Draveurs defeated Montreal Juniors 4 games to 1.
- Sherbrooke Castors defeated Verdun Éperviers 4 games to 0.
- Finals
- Trois-Rivières Draveurs defeated Sherbrooke Castors 4 games to 0.
All-star teams
- First team
- Goaltender - Jacques Cloutier, Trois-Rivières Draveurs
- Left defence - Pierre Lacroix, Trois-Rivières Draveurs
- Right defence - Ray Bourque, Verdun Éperviers
- Left winger - Louis Begin, Sherbrooke Castors
- Centreman - Normand Aubin, Verdun Éperviers
- Right winger - Jimmy Mann, Sherbrooke Castors
- Coach - Michel Bergeron, Trois-Rivières Draveurs
- Second team
- Goaltender - Vincent Tremblay, Quebec Ramparts
- Left defence - Kevin Lowe, Quebec Remparts
- Right defence - Michel Leblanc, Trois-Rivières Draveurs
- Left winger - Gilles Hamel, Trois-Rivières Draveurs
- Centreman - J. F. Sauve, Trois-Rivières Draveurs
- Right winger - Denis Cyr, Montreal Juniors
- Coach - Ron Racette, Quebec Remparts
- List of First/Second/Rookie team all-stars.
Trophies and awards
- Team
- President's Cup - Playoff Champions, Trois-Rivières Draveurs.
- Jean Rougeau Trophy - Regular Season Champions, Trois-Rivières Draveurs.
- Robert Lebel Trophy - Team with best GAA, Trois-Rivières Draveurs.
- Player
- Michel Brière Memorial Trophy - Most Valuable Player, Pierre Lacroix, Trois-Rivières Draveurs.
- Jean Béliveau Trophy - Top Scorer, J. F. Sauve, Trois-Rivières Draveurs.
- Guy Lafleur Trophy - Playoff MVP, J. F. Sauve, Trois-Rivières Draveurs.
- Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy - Best GAA, Jacques Cloutier, Trois-Rivières Draveurs.
- Emile Bouchard Trophy - Defenceman of the Year, Ray Bourque, Verdun Éperviers.
- Michel Bergeron Trophy - Rookie of the Year, Alain Grenier, Laval National .
- Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy - Most sportsmanlike player, Ray Bourque, Verdun Éperviers, and J. F. Sauve, Trois-Rivières Draveurs.