The Moncton Wildcats are now one step closer to the Gilles Courteau Trophy as they battle the Rimouski Océanic in the QMJHL final.
Head coach Gardiner MacDougall, who joined the team with his son ahead of this season, said the team’s success has been fueled by the dedication of both the players and staff.
“The players have been outstanding. Been fortunate to have a great staff here, both the coaching and our medical and fitness staff,” MacDougall said.
“They’ve done a great job of making a difference and getting the best out of our group.”
The Wildcats have been dominant throughout the playoffs, securing 14 wins so far.
Their latest victories came over the weekend against Rimouski, taking a 4-1 victory on Saturday night before battling through double overtime to win 4-3 on Sunday.
MacDougall explained the team has built their playoff identity around finding ways to win, especially in tight games.
“I think maybe our mantra in playoffs is find a way,” MacDougall said.
“They either found a way to have success or they’ve made a way to have success. And we’ve become the master of the one-goal wins.”
Special weekend for Wildcats fans
Sold-out crowds at the Avenir Centre added to the intensity of the weekend matchups, with fans eager to support Moncton in its championship run.
“What better way to spend one or two days on Mother’s Day weekend?” MacDougall said.
“Very rarely do you have the opportunity to attend and cheer your local team on the Wildcats on Mother’s Day weekend in May.”
MacDougall added that the Wildcats have built momentum in their gameplay and community engagement, with more people talking about the team’s success.
“I tell our players, somebody’s watching for the first time, someone maybe watching for the last time, and we want to put the best performance possible for these people,” he said.
The Wildcats travel to Rimouski for game three on Wednesday night, continuing their push toward a league championship. They have already secured a spot at the Memorial Cup in Rimouski, which begins May 22.
