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Junior Majeur (2017) movie poster

Plot Summary

Junior Majeur (2017) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 115 mins · French
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Directed by
Éric Tessier
Starring
Rémi Goulet, Claude Legault, Guy Nadon, Antoine Olivier Pilon, Madeleine Péloquin, Robert J. Tavenor

Five years after leading his team to victory in the Quebec Pee-Wee tournament, 18-year-old Janeau Trudel finds himself playing for the Chicoutimi Saguenéens in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The film explores his journey as a young hockey prodigy navigating the pressures of professional sports and the challenges of growing up.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle
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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Junior Majeur: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Junior Majeur (2017) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Five years after winning the Tournoi Pee-Wee de Québec, Janeau Trudel wears the Team Canada banner at the World Junior Hockey Championship in Saint-Petersburg, Russia, and helps them reach the final where they fall to the Russian National Team led by Yuri Karpov. Trudel then returns home to Chicoutimi to pick up his season with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, and he is celebrated at a local bar where he reconnects with Julie Morneau and Joey Boulet, his teammate and closest ally on and off the ice.

After a party-filled night, Janeau takes the wheel of Joey’s pickup truck. While glancing at his cell phone, he loses control, and when two police officers spot him, he switches seats with Joey (who had fallen asleep), creating the impression that Joey was the one driving drunk. The pair is brought back to their pension house, but they face no immediate consequences.

Back on the ice, the Saguenéens struggle, and the club owner fires their head coach, replacing him with Stéphane Côté, the former Pee-Wee coach of Janeau and Joey. Janeau slides to second in the running for the next professional draft, trailing behind Karpov.

Meanwhile, Louis Drouin — one of Chicoutimi’s most influential journalists — hires Julie for an internship, and Drouin learns about the arrest story. This prompts Joey to admit that he was the one at the wheel, though he didn’t realize it was Janeau behind the incident. The Saguenéens respond by trading Joey to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies the next day. Ahead of the departure, the team owner cautions Joey to distance himself from his alcoholic father, who acts as his agent.

Luke Boulet moves into a Rouyn house with his son, and they agree to abandon alcohol. Joey is also approached by Nathalie Leblanc, the league’s director of player services, about his drinking problem. Feeling guilty that Joey’s trade was tied to his own behavior, Janeau begins to develop real feelings for Julie, and the two start a romantic relationship. Janeau is named captain, and the pair rides a successful winning streak. But Julie eventually learns from a school janitor that Janeau was the driver that night and confronts him, ending their relationship.

Julie writes an article that reveals the truth, but she decides to call Joey to share it directly, leaving him devastated. Janeau resolves to tell the truth in person and drives to Drummondville, but arrives too late. He records a video explaining what happened that night and posts it, concluding the season with 39 points in 12 games and boosting his draft stock.

In the first round of the QMJHL playoffs, the Huskies and Saguenéens clash in a tense series sparked by the revelations. A knee-to-knee hit by Joey sidelights Janeau for the rest of the playoffs, and Joey is suspended from the postseason. He breaks the news to his drunken father, who shows little remorse, arguing that Janeau had it coming. Frustrated and angry, Joey packs his bags and leaves his father’s house.

Months later, at the Draft, Karpov goes first to Buffalo, leaving Janeau disappointed until Montreal makes a move to grab the second overall pick and selects him. Joey lands in Philadelphia in the seventh round. Joey’s father makes it to the draft, and Janeau’s family throws him a surprise party to celebrate the milestone. As Janeau contemplates his next steps, he attempts to reconnect with Julie, who plans to study in France. He later goes to the local arena and finds Joey skating nearby; the two of them share a quiet moment, passing the puck to one another as a sign of reconciliation and renewed friendship.

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 13:05

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Plot questions answered

Junior Majeur Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Junior Majeur (2017): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why was Joey Boulet traded to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies?

Joey was traded because the truth came out about the drunk driving incident. When journalist Louis Drouin learned about the arrest story during Julie's internship, Joey admitted he wasn't actually driving that night, Janeau was. The Saguenéens traded Joey to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies the next day, partly because the team wanted to distance him from the scandal and his alcoholic father who served as his agent.

Foreshadowing: The trade was triggered by Joey's confession to Drouin about the real driver, which happened after Julie started her internship at the newspaper.

  • joey boulet
  • trade
  • rouyn-noranda
  • huskies
  • drunk driving
  • chicoutimi
Q2

Why did Julie Morneau break up with Janeau?

Julie broke up with Janeau after learning he was the actual driver during the drunk driving incident, not Joey. She discovered the truth from a school janitor and confronted Janeau, ending their relationship. She later wrote an article exposing the truth and called Joey directly to tell him, devastating him with the revelation.

Foreshadowing: Janeau and Julie's relationship began shortly after the accident, but Julie only learned the full truth mid-season.

  • julie morneau
  • janeau
  • breakup
  • relationship
  • truth
  • drunk driving
Q3

What really happened the night of the drunk driving incident?

After a night of partying, Janeau was driving Joey's pickup truck while looking at his phone and lost control. When police approached, Janeau switched seats with the asleep Joey so it appeared Joey was driving. This lie protected Janeau's career but unfairly blamed Joey, who didn't realize what had happened until later.

Foreshadowing: The incident occurred right after Janeau's celebration at the bar with Joey and Julie, establishing the pattern of choices that would haunt the season.

  • drunk driving
  • accident
  • police
  • joey
  • janeau
  • arrest
Q4

Why did Joey hit Janeau with a knee-to-knee check in the playoffs?

Joey delivered a knee-to-knee hit on Janeau during the first round of the QMJHL playoffs when their teams faced each other. The hit was motivated by the emotional fallout from Joey learning the truth about the drunk driving incident, that Janeau had let him take the blame all season. Joey was suspended for the rest of the postseason, and Janeau was sidelined indefinitely.

Foreshadowing: The playoff collision was the culmination of the season's off-ice drama between the former friends and teammates.

  • joey boulet
  • janeau
  • knee-to-knee hit
  • playoffs
  • suspension
  • qmjhll
Q5

Why did Janeau's draft stock drop to second overall?

Janeau fell to second in the NHL draft behind Yuri Karpov because his performance with the Saguenéens was inconsistent during the season. The team struggled as a whole, and despite his individual talent, scouts reacted to his uneven play. His off-ice controversies and the emotional turmoil likely contributed to his inconsistent performance on the ice.

Foreshadowing: Janeau's draft position was tied to his performance regression after returning from the World Juniors.

  • janeau
  • draft
  • nhl
  • karpov
  • sagueneens
  • scouts
Q6

Does Janeau end up with Julie at the end of the movie?

No, Janeau and Julie do not end up together. After their breakup, Janeau tries to reconnect with her after the draft, but Julie reveals she plans to study in France. Their relationship remains fractured despite Janeau's success.

Foreshadowing: The romantic storyline was already damaged when Julie discovered Janeau's deception about the accident.

  • julie
  • janeau
  • relationship
  • france
  • ending
Q7

What happens to Joey's relationship with his father?

Joey's relationship with his alcoholic father Luke remains troubled throughout the film. After being traded, Joey and his father move in together in Rouyn and agree to stop drinking, but the father shows little support. When Joey is suspended for hitting Janeau, he tells his drunken father, who responds dismissively, claiming Janeau had it coming. Joey finally leaves his father's house in anger.

Foreshadowing: The team owner warned Joey to distance from his alcoholic father when trading him, foreshadowing the eventual fallout.

  • joey
  • luke boulet
  • father
  • alcohol
  • abandonment
Q8

Why did Janeau drive to Drummondville to find Joey?

Janeau drove to Drummondville intending to confess to Joey in person about being the actual driver the night of the accident. He felt guilty that Joey had taken the blame and paid the price with a trade. However, he arrived too late and missed his chance to tell Joey face-to-face, so he instead recorded a video confession to set the record straight.

Foreshadowing: Janeau's guilt began growing after Joey was traded and he started developing real feelings for Julie.

  • janeau
  • drummondville
  • confession
  • video
  • joey
  • truth
Q9

What happens at the NHL Draft for Janeau and Joey?

At the NHL Draft, Russian player Yuri Karpov was selected first by Buffalo. Janeau was disappointed until Montreal traded up to select him second overall. Joey was drafted in the seventh round by Philadelphia. The draft fulfilled Janeau's professional dreams while Joey's career took a much smaller step forward.

Foreshadowing: Janeau's strong finish to the season (39 points in 12 games) helped boost his draft stock despite the controversy.

  • draft
  • nhl
  • montreal
  • philadelphia
  • janeau
  • joey
  • karpov
Q10

Why was Stéphane Côté hired as the new coach?

Stéphane Côté was hired as the new head coach of the Saguenéens after the owner fired the previous coach due to the team's poor performance. Côté was significant because he had previously coached Janeau and Joey during their Pee-Wee championship days, giving him a personal connection to the star player and understanding of his development.

Foreshadowing: Hiring Côté connected Janeau's past success to his present challenges, as he had previously led Janeau to victory.

  • stephane cote
  • coach
  • sagueneens
  • pee-wee
  • fired
Q11

Do Janeau and Joey reconcile at the end of the movie?

Yes, Janeau and Joey reconcile in the final scene. After Janeau's family throws him a surprise party to celebrate his draft selection, Janeau goes to the local arena and finds Joey skating there alone. The two share a quiet moment and pass the puck back and forth, symbolizing the repair of their friendship despite everything that happened throughout the season.

Foreshadowing: Their reconciliation was foreshadowed by Joey's initial loyalty in taking the blame for the accident and their history as teammates.

  • janeau
  • joey
  • reconciliation
  • final scene
  • puck
  • forgiveness

Movie threads

More Movies Like Junior Majeur, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Junior Majeur tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about the cost of ambition like Junior Majeur

Stories of professional triumph achieved at a heavy personal cost. Find more movies like Junior Majeur that delve into the bittersweet reality of ambition. These stories follow driven characters who achieve their goals but must grapple with the personal losses and moral dilemmas they faced along the way, resulting in a complex and reflective ending.

  • bittersweet
  • reflective
  • melancholic
  • dramatic
  • hopeful
  • tense
  • Tone: bittersweet, reflective
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread follow a character's climb towards a clear professional or personal goal. The central conflict arises from the toll this journey takes on their relationships, ethics, or well-being. The climax often brings success, but the resolution focuses on the emotional fallout and the character's reconciliation with the choices they made.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a specific tonal blend of hope and melancholy. They balance the excitement of achievement with the sobering weight of consequence, creating a deeply reflective and emotionally resonant experience centered on the theme of sacrifice.

Coming of age under pressure movies like Junior Majeur

Young protagonists navigating the intense pressures of elite, demanding environments. If you liked Junior Majeur, explore more films about young people coming of age in high-stakes environments. These movies capture the tension between professional expectations and personal growth, featuring tense drama, moral choices, and the heavy weight of potential failure.

  • tense
  • dramatic
  • hopeful
  • melancholic
  • competitive
  • reflective
  • Tone: tense, dramatic, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, structured
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically follow a prodigy or dedicated young individual within a structured, high-expectation environment. The plot revolves around a major challenge or season that tests their talent and character. Subplots often involve friendships, first loves, and ethical dilemmas, all complicating their path to becoming an adult in a world that treats them as a commodity.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a specific setting and character archetype: a pressurized microcosm that accelerates the coming-of-age process. They blend the external drama of competition with the internal drama of identity formation, resulting in a tense, dramatic, and emotionally engaging vibe.

Every angle

Junior Majeur (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Junior Majeur in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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