Acadie-Bathurst Titan Relocating to St. John’s, Newfoundland

In a surprising move that sent ripples through the junior hockey world, the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)’s Acadie-Bathurst Titan announced its relocation to St. John’s, Newfoundland for the upcoming season.

The QMJHL confirmed the sale of the team to a consortium of investors: John Harvey Patten, John R. Steele, and Jason Sharpe. This deal, which began in January, marks the end of a long process to secure new ownership for the franchise.

St. John’s will welcome the Titan to the Mary Brown’s Centre, a modern arena with a capacity of almost 6,300 fans. The team’s arrival marks a return to major junior hockey for the city, which previously hosted the Fog Devils (2005-08), and also served as home to the AHL’s St. John’s Maple Leafs and St. John’s IceCaps, as well as the ECHL’s Newfoundland Growlers.

For the Titan, the move signals a new chapter after 27 successful years in Bathurst, New Brunswick. Since their arrival from Laval, Quebec, in 1998, the team, founded in 1969 as the Rosemont National, has made a significant impact on the community.

“It’s a sad day,” said Titan president Serge Thériault in a release. “The Titan has been an integral part of the Bathurst community for 27 years. The team gave us great moments and rallied the population. Unfortunately, we were playing in the smallest major junior market in Canada, and attendance dropped over the years. This made it impossible for us, the owners, to continue.”

QMJHL commissioner Mario Cecchini echoed the sentiments of loss felt in Bathurst. He confirmed that the league and team owners actively sought investors to keep the Titan in their original home, but were ultimately unable to find a viable solution.

The QMJHL and the Titan are scheduled to hold a press conference in January to provide more details about the upcoming move.

Want to learn more about the Titan’s new chapter in St. John’s?

Stay tuned for updates on the team’s website and social media channels!