The 2003–04 QMJHL season was the 35th season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league continued to expand to new eastern markets, with teams relocating to Maine and Prince Edward Island. Conferences were abandoned and teams were divided into three divisions by geography. Sixteen teams played 70 games each in the schedule.
The Lewiston Maineiacs became the league's second American-based team in history after the Plattsburgh Pioneers, and first to survive a full season. The P.E.I. Rocket also became the first major junior hockey team based on Prince Edward Island.
Rookie Sidney Crosby led the league in scoring as a 16-year-old, and won the Michel Brière Memorial Trophy as the MVP of the regular season.
The Gatineau Olympiques finished first overall in the regular season winning their fourth Jean Rougeau Trophy, and also won their sixth President's Cup, defeating the Moncton Wildcats in the finals.
The Hull Olympiques were renamed the Gatineau Olympiques.The Montreal Rocket relocated to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, becoming the P.E.I. Rocket.The Sherbrooke Castors relocated to Lewiston, Maine, becoming the Lewiston Maineiacs.Final standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OL = Overtime loss; PTS = Points; GF = Goals For; GA = Goals Against
y-received first-round byex-made playoffscomplete list of standings.Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
complete scoring statisticsThe 2003–04 season was the first time the Canada-Russia challenge was played. The event, then known as the RE/MAX Canada-Russia Challenge was hosted by the Halifax Mooseheads and the Rimouski Océanic. On November 20, 2003, the Russian Selects defeated the QMJHL All-stars 3–2 at the Halifax Metro Centre. On November 24, 2003, the QMJHL All-stars defeated the Russian Selects 6–2 at Colisée de Rimouski.
Each regular season division winner received a first round bye, and ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd overall. Remaining teams were ranked 4th to 13th, regardless of division.
Maxime Talbot was the leading scorer of the playoffs with 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists).
First teamGoaltender - Martin Houle, Cape Breton Screaming EaglesLeft Defence - Doug O'Brien, Gatineau OlympiquesRight Defence - Jonathan Paiement, Lewiston MaineiacsLeft Winger - Danny Roussin, Rimouski OcéanicCentreman - Sidney Crosby, Rimouski OcéanicRight Winger - Jean-Michel Daoust, Gatineau OlympiquesCoach - Benoît Groulx, Gatineau OlympiquesSecond teamGoaltender - Corey Crawford, Moncton WildcatsLeft Defence - Mathieu Dumas, Val-d'Or ForeursRight Defence - Mario Scalzo, Victoriaville TigresLeft Winger - Alexandre Picard, Lewiston MaineiacsCentreman - Maxime Talbot, Gatineau OlympiquesRight Winger - Steve Bernier, Moncton WildcatsCoach - Alain Vigneault, P.E.I. RocketRookie teamGoaltender - Julien Ellis, Shawinigan CataractesLeft Defence - Nathan Welton, Quebec RempartsRight Defence - Mathieu Carle, Acadie-BathurstLeft Winger - Guillaume Latendresse, DrummondvilleCentreman - Sidney Crosby, Rimouski OcéanicRight Winger - Martins Karsums, Moncton WildcatsCoach - no eligible candidateList of First/Second/Rookie team all-stars.Trophies and awards
TeamPresident's Cup - Playoff Champions, Gatineau OlympiquesJean Rougeau Trophy - Regular Season Champions, Gatineau OlympiquesLuc Robitaille Trophy - Team that scored the most goals, Gatineau OlympiquesRobert Lebel Trophy - Team with best GAA, Cape Breton Screaming EaglesPlayerMichel Brière Memorial Trophy - Most Valuable Player, Sidney Crosby, Rimouski OcéanicJean Béliveau Trophy - Top Scorer, Sidney Crosby, Rimouski OcéanicGuy Lafleur Trophy - Playoff MVP, Maxime Talbot, Gatineau OlympiquesTelus Cup – Offensive - Offensive Player of the Year, Sidney Crosby, Rimouski OcéanicTelus Cup – Defensive - Defensive Player of the Year, Corey Crawford, Moncton WildcatsJacques Plante Memorial Trophy - Best GAA, Martin Houle, Cape Breton Screaming EaglesEmile Bouchard Trophy - Defenceman of the Year, Doug O'Brien, Gatineau OlympiquesMike Bossy Trophy - Best Pro Prospect, Alexandre Picard, Lewiston MaineiacsRDS Cup - Rookie of the Year, Sidney Crosby, Rimouski OcéanicMichel Bergeron Trophy - Offensive Rookie of the Year, Sidney Crosby, Rimouski OcéanicRaymond Lagacé Trophy - Defensive Rookie of the Year, Julien Ellis-Plante, Shawinigan CataractesFrank J. Selke Memorial Trophy - Most sportsmanlike player, Benoît Mondou, Shawinigan CataractesQMJHL Humanitarian of the Year - Humanitarian of the Year, Josh Hennessy, Quebec RempartsMarcel Robert Trophy - Best Scholastic Player, Nicolas Laplante, Acadie-Bathurst TitanPaul Dumont Trophy - Personality of the Year, Sidney Crosby, Rimouski OcéanicExecutiveRon Lapointe Trophy - Coach of the Year, Benoît Groulx, Gatineau OlympiquesJohn Horman Trophy - Executive of the Year, Sylvie Fortier, Baie-Comeau DrakkarJean Sawyer Trophy - Marketing Director of the Year, Johanne Lefebvre, Baie-Comeau Drakkar 