Yes hockey fans, there is more to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League than Sidney Crosby – plenty more.

Sure the Rimouski phenom is already on pace for 210 points (at three points per game so far), but the Oceanic’s defense has already proven susceptible to defeat in a 9-2 shellacking by Chicoutimi on Tuesday, and their goaltending has not improved over last season, when the team finished as the sixth-best team in the league.

Still, Rimouski will be the team to beat in the Eastern Division this season, knowing that it can indeed put up five goals at the drop of a hat trick by Crosby. Or Dany Roussin. Or Jean-Michel Bolduc. Or Marc-Anthoine Pouliot.

The stiffest challenge to the Oceanic’s two-year hold on the division will come from three different teams, and may well rest on the goaltenders of those teams.

Lewiston will be the uncertain team in the bunch, with two untested QMJHL rookies starting the season in the net – Jaroslav Halak and Jonathan Bernier.

Chicoutimi has two proven back-ups, but no proven starter. Still, Alexandre Vincent and former Lewiston back-up Brandon Verge have not lost in three games, and have not allowed more than two goals in any game.

Quebec’s goaltending situation will rest on the experienced Jean-Michel Filiatrault, who has been there and back before. If it comes down to goaltending experience, the Remparts certainly have the edge, but Halak will be a surprise to many in the league with years of experience playing in Slovakia and in international competition.

On defense, Lewiston has the most experienced of the three contending teams, with five players back from last year’s team, while Quebec and Chicoutimi both have youth in that position.

Offensively, the division will be fun to watch. Lewiston has NHL first-rounder Alexandre Picard and several other speedy veterans, including Mathieu Aubin, Marc-Andre-Cliche and Alex Bourret.

Chicoutimi can put up numbers, as exhibited in its pasting of Rimouski on Tuesday, while Quebec continues its pattern of playing small, speedy forwards, such as Josh Hennessy.

Baie-Comeau, while wholly entertaining to watch last year, and likely again to be fun to watch as a fight enthusiast this year, will likely again finish in or near the division’s basement. Too many penalties and inconsistent lines will plague the Drakkar this season.

Outside of the Eastern Division, Halifax will benefit from the return of the “boomerang boys” and should be a top contender in the Atlantic Division. In a return-trade agreement that has since been grandfathered out of the league, Halifax received several players from Cape Breton this year after “loaning” them to the Screaming Eagles for two seasons.

Moncton should contend with Halifax for the league title in the Atlantic, with P.E.I, Cape Breton and Acadie-Bathurst fighting it out for playoff positioning.

In the West, Gatineau just never seems to go away. Despite not drafting a goaltender in this year’s draft, and despite missing several players from their back-to-back President’s Cup-winning team, the Olympiques have again started strong, and should prove to be a formidable opponent to any team they face.

Rouyn-Noranda, last year the No. 8 team that knocked the Maineiacs out of the playoffs in seven games, should also be strong.

Shawinigan has a very good crop of youth and are one or two years from being the best team in the league, while Drummondville and Victoriaville will fight with Val d’Or to stay out of the cellar.

Predicted Order of Finish

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Lewiston Maineiacs first game: Friday, September 24, 7 p.m. against the Halifax Mooseheads at the Halifax Metro Centre.