Less than two years after expanding its market base into the United States, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League announced Saturday that it was targeting St. John’s, Newfoundland, and St. John, New Brunswick, for expansion franchises for next season.

According to a release published by the Canadian Press late Saturday afternoon, the league will present its criteria for expansion to the two cities by the third week of November and hopes to have a final vote by owners on Nov. 30. The expansion would see the league grow from 16 to 18 clubs.

“It’s a very good day for the QMJHL,” league commissioner Gilles Courteau told the CP after the owners’ meeting at a Montreal hotel. “It will improve our situation not only in the Atlantic territory, but overall in the league.

“We’re looking at two great markets that want to be in the QMJHL. If they agree to our conditions, we’ll bring in two groups of owners with lots of credibility down there.”

Two groups are currently bidding for a team in St. John, which would play out of the 6,100-seat Harbour Station Arena, which last held an AHL franchise in 2003.

In St. John’s, the 6,200-seat Mile One Stadium would house that franchise, which would replace the St. John’s Maple Leafs of the AHL, currently playing out their last season in the Newfoundland capitol.

“There’s lots of work to do, but I’m convinced we’ll meet all our deadlines and we’ll do our best to have them in our league next year,” said Courteau.

The last league expansion was in 1999, when the Montreal Rocket joined the league. The Rocket moved to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island prior to the 2003-04 season. Other Atlantic teams are in Halifax, Cape Breton, Moncton and Bathurst, N.B.

“I don’t think we’re too spread out,” said Courteau. “We don’t look at it as different provinces. We’re all operating under the same umbrella.”

There had been a widespread rumor that a team would again find its way to Montreal, but an ownership group that would have consisted of NHL stars Mario Lemieux and Luc Robitaille was deemed “not ready” by current league owners.

“A majority of owners are in favor of returning to Montreal, but not under any conditions,” Courteau said. “Because of our past experiences and because we’d want them to be there for many years, it has to be done right.

“The franchise (bid) for Montreal maybe wasn’t as ready right now to be part of the league for 2005-06 as St. John’s and Saint John were. I’m sure we’ll keep their interest alive and eventually find the right time and opportunity to bring them into our league.”

The league structure and playoff schedule would have to be reformatted, and league entrance fees in excess of $2 million are expected. In addition, any team in Newfoundland would have to compensate the rest of the league for the exorbitant travel expense incurred when traveling to the Eastern-most point of Canada.