THE CANADIAN PRESS
MONTREAL — On a night honouring the best of the 2011-12 season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the best of the league’s past were also celebrated.
Steve Duchesne, Michel Goulet, Pierre Sevigny and Richard Brodeur were inducted into the QMJHL’s Hall of Fame on Wednesday for their exploits on the ice while Charles Henry was inducted as a builder.
The five were officially selected to the Hall during the league’s annual awards night when the best and brightest QMJHLers of this past season were honoured.
A 12th round draft pick by the Drummondville Voltigeurs, Duchesne spent three seasons (1982 to 1985) on the club’s blue-line, recording 28 goals and 109 assists in 198 career games. In 1984-85, he earned a spot on the QMJHL’s first all-star team, thanks to a record-setting 81 points in 69 games — a mark that still stands.
"It’s truly an honour," Duchesne said of his induction. "It’s been 30 years since the Voltigeurs have been around and I was a part of the first edition. What I went through in Drummondville became a part of my career; it helped me become a better man, both on and off the ice."
Passed over by NHL teams in the draft, the Sept-Iles, Que., native signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 1, 1984. He would go on to play 16 seasons in the NHL with six teams, including the Detroit Red Wings, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2002. Duchesne was also named to the NHL’s all-rookie team and appeared in three all-star games.
"I hope that the young players in the league today can look at my past and say, he wasn’t drafted but he made it," he said. "If I can be an inspiration, all the better."
Michel Goulet only spent two seasons (1976 to 1978) in the QMJHL — both with the Quebec Remparts — but he left his mark. In 1977-78, the former left-winger scored 73 goals and added 62 assists in 72 games played.
He finished his junior career with 170 points in 109 games.
"I remember when I was first called up (to the QMJHL). I barely played in my first game," Goulet recalled. "In my second game, we were down 8-2 after two periods. The coach put me with Jean Savard and Eddy Godin and we finished the night with three goals and three assists. We ended up winning the game 9-8.
"After the game, the coach looked at me and, ‘You’ll be sticking around with us for the next game."’
The Quebec Nordiques made Goulet their first pick (20th overall) in the 1979 NHL Draft. He would go on to suit up for 15 seasons with the Nordiques and Chicago Blackhawks, amassing 548 goals — including seven seasons of 40 or more goals — and 1,152 points in 1,089 career NHL games.
Pierre Sevigny played with three different teams in his four QMJHL seasons — the Trois-Rivieres Draveurs, Quebec Remparts and Chicoutimi Sagueneens. During that time, the defenceman scored 318 points in 256 games, while earning first team and third team all-star honours in 1981 and 1982, respectively.
Goaltender Richard Brodeur went 62-33-2 in 101 games over two seasons with the Verdun Maple Leafs and Cornwall Royals in the early 1970s. Tops in the league in wins (43), goals-against average (2.93) and shutouts (5) in 1971-72, Brodeur was awarded the Jacques Plante Trophy.
Selected in the seventh round by the New York Islanders in 1972, the Longueuil, Que., native enjoyed a nine-year NHL career with the Islanders, Vancouver Canucks and Hartford Whalers.
Charles Henry earned his greatest recognition as governor and general manager of the Hull/Gatineau Olympiques from 1985 to 2010. While at the helm, Henry helped guide the organization to 27 consecutive playoff appearances, a record seven league championships and a Memorial Cup title.
His eye for talent produced numerous players that have gone on to successful NHL careers, including Luc Robitaille, Martin Gelinas, Jeremy Roenick, Jose Theodore, Michael Ryder, Ales Hemsky, Maxime Talbot and, most recently, Claude Giroux.
