The Gatineau Olympiques are a major junior ice hockey team based in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, that plays in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Starting with the 2021–22 season, the Olympiques play home games at Centre Slush Puppie, having previously played at the Robert Guertin Centre dating back to its beginnings in the Central Junior A Hockey League. The club, then known as the Hull Festivals, was granted membership in the QMJHL in 1973. The Olympiques have appeared in the Memorial Cup seven times, winning once in 1997. Over eighty former players and coaches have gone on to play or coach in the National Hockey League (NHL), including Martin Biron, Aleš Hemský, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Luc Robitaille, Jeremy Roenick, Michael Ryder, Maxime Talbot, José Théodore, Colin White, Claude Giroux, David Krejčí, Jack Adams-winning head coaches Alain Vigneault and Pat Burns, and 2011 Stanley Cup-winning coach Claude Julien.
History
Before joining the QMJHL, the team was a member of the Central Junior A Hockey League, known originally as the Hull Blackhawks (Les Éperviers de Hull) but later as the Hull Beavers (Les Castors de Hull) and Hull-Volant Junior A. Originally Hull and the CJHL were eligible to compete for the Memorial Cup, the Major Junior crown, but were relegated to Tier II Junior "A" in 1970. The season before joining the QMJHL in 1973 they became the Hull Festivals, and in 1976, they became the Hull Olympiques; the team name was changed to the Gatineau Olympiques one year after the city of Hull was amalgamated into Gatineau in 2002.
The Olympiques share a junior hockey market with the Ottawa 67's, across the Ottawa River. Pre-season games between the two teams were a regular occurrence from 1975 to 1986. The teams have played interleague regular-season home and home games in the 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2009–10 seasons since.
The Olympiques have won the President's Cup seven times, most recently in 2007–08. The team has been to four Memorial Cup finals, losing three (1986, 2003 and 2004) and winning the 1997 Memorial Cup, which they also hosted.
From 1985 until 1992, the Olympiques were owned by Wayne Gretzky; it was under his ownership that the team first adopted black, silver and white as their team colours, similar to those of the Los Angeles Kings, whom Gretzky played for in 1988.
On May 31, 2010, it was announced that former Olympiques coach Benoit Groulx, who had left the organization to coach the Rochester Americans would be returning to be the general manager and head coach.
For the 2011–12 season, the Olympiques returned to the colours of black, silver and white following an eight-year absence.
In 2016, coach Groulx left the Olympiques again to become the head coach of the Syracuse Crunch. He was replaced by Mario Duhamel who would only coach 47 games with a 19–24–4 record. Duhamel was replaced by assistant coach Éric Landry.
Championships
Memorial Cup Canadian Hockey League champions
1986 – Finalist vs. Guelph Platers
1988 – 3rd place in tournament
1995 – 4th place in tournament
1997 – Champions vs. Lethbridge Hurricanes
2003 – Finalist vs. Kitchener Rangers
2004 – Finalist vs. Kelowna Rockets
2008 – 4th place in tournament
President's Cup – League playoff champions
1985–86 – Champions vs. Drummondville Voltigeurs
1987–88 – Champions vs. Drummondville Voltigeurs
1994–95 – Champions vs. Laval Titan Collège Français
1996–97 – Champions vs. Chicoutimi Saguenéens
1998–99 – Finalist vs. Acadie-Bathurst Titan
1999–00 – Finalist vs. Rimouski Océanic
2002–03 – Champions vs. Halifax Mooseheads
2003–04 – Champions vs. Moncton Wildcats
2007–08 – Champions vs. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
2010–11 – Finalist vs. Saint John Sea Dogs
Jean Rougeau Trophy – Regular season champions
1985–86, 1987–88, 1996–97, 2003–04
Division titles – Regular season champions
1985–86, 1987–88, 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2008–09, 2021–22, 2022–23
Coaches
Notable coaches for the Olympiques include, Jean Bégin, Pat Burns, John Chabot, Benoit Groulx, Claude Julien, Bob Mongrain, Marcel Pronovost, Guy Trottier, and Alain Vigneault.
Season-by-season record
Hull Hawks (1969–1970) Hull Festivals (1970–1976) Hull Olympiques (1976–2003) Gatineau Olympiques (2003–present)
Regular season
Complete results before 1969 unavailable. OL = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss, Pct = Winning percentage
NHL alumni
Lists of National Hockey League alumni. No player from the "Hull Hawks" went on the play in the NHL.