The 1982–83 QMJHL season was the 14th season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league undergoes its first expansion since the 1973–74 QMJHL season by adding two new teams in Drummondville and Longueuil. Divisions are restored, and eleven teams played 70 games each in the regular season.
Rookie centreman Pat LaFontaine of the Verdun Juniors posts 234 points in the regular season, the second highest season total in junior ice hockey history at the time, behind only Pierre Larouche's 251 points from the 1973–74 QMJHL season. LaFontaine would go on to win six individual trophies at the season's end.
The Longueuil Chevaliers coached by Jacques Lemaire, set the Canadian Hockey League record for the best first season by an expansion team posting 37 wins and a winning percentage of 0.557 in 70 games, ahead of the 2003–04 Everett Silvertips with 35 wins and a winning percentage of 0.556 in 72 games. The Chevaliers also became the first expansion team to reach the championship series of the playoffs, a feat later equalled by the Silvertips.
The Laval Voisins and Shawinigan Cataractes both set a QMJHL record with 33 wins on home ice during the regular season. The Laval Voisins finished first overall in the regular season, winning the Jean Rougeau Trophy. The Verdun Juniors won the President's Cup, defeating the Longueuil Chevaliers in the finals.
The Sherbrooke Castors relocate to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, becoming the Saint-Jean Castors.The Montreal Juniors relocate to Verdun becoming the Verdun Juniors.The Drummondville Voltigeurs join the league as an expansion franchise.The Longueuil Chevaliers join the league as an expansion franchise.Final standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; Pts = Points; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against
complete list of standings.Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in Minutes
complete scoring statisticsPat LaFontaine was the leading scorer of the playoffs with 35 points (11 goals, 24 assists).
QuarterfinalsLaval Voisins defeated Hull Olympiques 4 games to 3.Shawinigan Cataractes defeated Saint-Jean Castors 4 games to 0.Verdun Juniors defeated Trois-Rivières Draveurs 4 games to 0.Longueuil Chevaliers defeated Chicoutimi Saguenéens 4 games to 1.SemifinalsLongueuil Chevaliers defeated Laval Voisins 4 games to 1.Verdun Juniors defeated Shawinigan Cataractes 4 games to 2.FinalsVerdun Juniors defeated Longueuil Chevaliers 4 games to 1.First teamGoaltender - Mario Gosselin, Shawinigan CataractesLeft defence - J. J. Daigneault, Longueuil ChevaliersRight defence - Michel Petit, Saint-Jean CastorsLeft winger - Sylvain Turgeon, Hull OlympiquesCentreman - Pat LaFontaine, Verdun JuniorsRight winger - Bobby Mormina, Longueuil ChevaliersCoach - Jacques Lemaire, Longueuil ChevaliersSecond teamGoaltender - Luc Guenette, Quebec RempartsLeft defence - Jocelyn Gauvreau, Granby BisonsRight defence - Bobby Dollas, Laval VoisinsLeft winger - Claude Vilgrain, Laval Voisins & Ronald Choules, Trois-Rivières DraveursCentreman - Mario Lemieux, Laval VoisinsRight winger - Denis Dore, Chicoutimi SaguenéensCoach - Ron Lapointe, Shawinigan CataractesList of First/Second/Rookie team all-stars.Trophies and awards
TeamPresident's Cup - Playoff Champions, Verdun JuniorsJean Rougeau Trophy - Regular Season Champions, Laval VoisinsRobert Lebel Trophy - Team with best GAA, Shawinigan CataractesPlayerMichel Brière Memorial Trophy - Most Valuable Player, Pat LaFontaine, Verdun JuniorsJean Béliveau Trophy - Top Scorer, Pat LaFontaine, Verdun JuniorsGuy Lafleur Trophy - Playoff MVP, Pat LaFontaine, Verdun JuniorsJacques Plante Memorial Trophy - Best GAA, Tony Haladuick, Laval VoisinsEmile Bouchard Trophy - Defenceman of the Year, J. J. Daigneault, Longueuil ChevaliersMike Bossy Trophy - Best Pro Prospect, Pat LaFontaine, Verdun Juniors & Sylvain Turgeon, Hull OlympiquesMichel Bergeron Trophy - Offensive Rookie of the Year, Pat LaFontaine, Verdun JuniorsRaymond Lagacé Trophy - Defensive Rookie of the Year, Bobby Dollas, Laval VoisinsFrank J. Selke Memorial Trophy - Most sportsmanlike player, Pat LaFontaine, Verdun JuniorsMarcel Robert Trophy - Best Scholastic Player, Claude Gosselin, Quebec Remparts 