The égialféHockey collégial féminin RSEQ is an amateur women's ice hockey league in Quebec, Canada. The former name of the League was Ligue de hockey féminin collégial AA. In autumn 2011, the names of different Leagues by letters AA and A within the Quebec Student Sports Federation are changed. The Hockey collégial féminin RSEQ is considered to be the highest level of young women's ice hockey in the Quebec collegiate system. The league has a wide range of talent from pre-university programs and is sanctioned by Hockey Quebec (Fédération québécoise de hockey sur glace) and the Quebec Student Sports Federation.
The Hockey Collégial féminin RSEQ is a development league serving as springboard towards the university women's ice hockey and afterward towards the professional level.
History
Prior to the existence of the League, some collegial teams played with university teams in the Quebec University Women's Hockey League (QSSF). The first-ever Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (CIAU) National title for women's ice hockey was held at the end of the 1997-98 CIAU season and two Québécois college teams participated at the tournament: Cégep St-Laurent and Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf. The Ligue de hockey féminin collégial AA was founded in 1999 to provide opportunities for young females to develop into collegiate student-athletes. It was developed to bring together teams that regularly produce players for competition at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport women's ice hockey championship and NCAA National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Championship levels, respectively. The inaugural season was in 1999-2000, and the Patriotes du collège St-Laurent won the Playoff Championship title. A national championship for college athletics in Canada was approved at the advent of the 2001-02 season.
Current teams
The Hockey collégial féminin RSEQ consists of 8 college teams: Cheminots du Cégep St-Jérôme, localized in St-Jérôme. Dragons du Collège Laflèche, localized in Trois-Rivières. Dawson College Blues, localized in the west of downtown Montreal. John Abbott Islanders, localized in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue in Montreal's West Island. Lynx du Collège Édouard-Montpetit, localized in Longueuil Nordiques du Collège Lionel-Groulx, localized in Sainte-Thérèse Patriotes du Cégep St-Laurent, localized in Montreal Titans du Cégep Limoilou, localized in Limoilou a borough of Quebec City.
Former teams
Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, localized in Montreal. Faucons du Cégep de Lévis-Lauzon (close in 2010) localized in Lévis, near Quebec city. Trappeurs du Cégep Marie-Victorin (close in 2008) localized in Montreal.
Expansion
The league has ambitions to expand from 8 teams to up to 10 teams for the 2012-13 season. The two proposed teams to be added are: Cougars du Collège Champlain localized in Lennoxville. Pionniers du Cégep de Rimouski localized in Rimouski.
Championship regular season
The team that claims the regular season championship does so by accumulating the best won-loss record in a season consisting of 21 matches:
2011-12 – Titans du Cégep Limoilou
2010-11 – Lynx du Collège Édouard-Montpetit
2009-10 – Lynx du Collège Édouard-Montpetit
2008-09 – Dawson College Blues
2007-08 – Cheminots du Cégep St-Jérôme
2006-07 – Dawson College Blues
2005-06 – Cheminots du Cégep du St-Jérôme
2004-05 – Patriotes du Cégep St-Laurent
2003-04 – Non-available
2002-03 – Non-available
2001-02 – Titans du Cégep Limoilou
2000-01 – Non-available
1999-2000 – Non-available
Championship playoff
Following the regular season, a playoff is held to determine the Collégial women's champion in Quebec. A list of collégial winners includes (winner is in bold):