We have been trying for years to schedule a trip to see Le Colisee in Quebec City, a former NHL venue which was once home to the Quebec Nordiques. The QMJHL Quebec Remparts now play there, and since we’re doing the Grey Cup in Montreal this November, what better a time to finally tie in that visit.

The Q posted their 2008-09 regular season schedule today, and the frikkin’ Remparts are on the road both on Friday and Saturday that weekend. Their home date? SUNDAY, at the same time the Grey Cup is on, no less!

So as far as our ongoing tour of QMJHL venues, we’re not going to let this trip be a total loss… Friday night we will catch Montreal’s newest Q team, which is relocating from St. John’s, Newfoundland. They will be playing at Verdun Auditorium, which is a short subway ride from our hotel. (Betcha Kevin Jordan hasn’t been there yet we might actually beat him to a CHL rink!)

On Saturday we will take the 60 mile ride out to Drummondville to see the Votigeurs. It’s an afternoon game too so that will get us back to Montreal in plenty of time to check out the party/drinking scene on Rue Ste. Catherine on the eve of the Grey Cup.

And who will be the road team for both those games? Yep the Quebec Remparts! The cruelest of ironies.

UPDATE The 2008-09 schedule might not have been formally released after all. That link above now references last year’s schedule, and the tab for next year is gone from the Q web site. But I DID SEE IT. I am not crazy.

-Andrew Kulyk