Jump to content

Moncton Wildcats

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Dsm mls (talk | contribs) at 20:33, 1 April 2016. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Not to be confused with Monkton Wildcats.
Moncton Wildcats
File:Moncton Wildcats.svg
CityMoncton, New Brunswick
LeagueQuebec Major Junior Hockey League
ConferenceTelus
DivisionTelus Maritimes
Founded1995−1996 season
Home arenaMoncton Coliseum Moncton Events Centre (2018)
ColoursRed, white, blue and gold
       
General managerRoger Shannon
Head coachDarren Rumble
Websitewww.moncton-wildcats.com
Franchise history
1995–1996Moncton Alpines
1996–presentMoncton Wildcats

The Moncton Wildcats are a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. They play at the Moncton Coliseum in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. The franchise was granted for the 1995–96 season, and they were known as the Moncton Alpines for that season only. After winning the 2005–06 QMJHL championship, the team hosted the 2006 Memorial Cup. The Wildcats also won the 2009–10 QMJHL championship. which sent the team to compete in the 2010 Memorial Cup in Brandon, Manitoba. They were eliminated from contention after going winless in the round robin portion of the tournament.

History

The Moncton Alpines joined the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in the wake of successful expansion to Halifax, Nova Scotia, for the 1995–96 season. They played for one season under the ownership of racing driver John Graham and coached by Lucien DeBlois. However, the Alpines struggled mightily both on and off the ice. The team went through an initial year of financial difficulty and struggled to attract fans. There was some discussion of folding or moving the team, but instead the franchise was purchased by Robert Irving on May 28, 1996. On June 19, 1996, the team was officially renamed to the Moncton Wildcats and the new uniforms and logo were unveiled. The Wildcats' first game took place on September 22, 1996, in front of 7,506 fans. They won 9-6 over the Victoriaville Tigres. The team finished 16–52–2 for 34 points and last place.

The first few years of the Wildcats in Moncton featured a gradual improvement in the team's fortunes as more teams were added to the Maritimes and junior hockey took hold in the region. The 1999–2000 team dominated with a 44−20−5−3 record. In the playoffs the team steamrolled to the QMJHL semi-final against Rimouski. Injuries robbed the Wildcats of Simon Laliberte and Mirko Murovic, but the final blow to the Wildcats came just before the semi-final started, when team leading scorer Jonathan Roy was diagnosed with cancer. The off-ice distractions took their toll and Moncton lost the series in five games. Roy would ultimately beat cancer and went on to a pro career in the minor pro, European and senior ranks.

The next few seasons featured more rebuilding. In 2002–03, Corey Crawford's goaltending and Steve Bernier's 101 points led the Wildcats to a 37−20−10−5 record. In the playoffs, they fell in the quarter-final four games to two against the Quebec Remparts. At the NHL Draft Steve Bernier was selected 16th Overall by San Jose, goalie Corey Crawford by Chicago in the 2nd Round, and Nathan Saunders by Anaheim in the 4th Round.

In 2003–04, Corey Crawford set a team record for wins with 35, and 4 players had 30+ goal seasons: Steve Bernier with 36, Mathieu Betournay with 33, Konstantin Zakharov with 33, and Mārtiņš Karsums with 30. In the first Round, Moncton defeated the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in four games. In the quarter-final, they beat the PEI Rocket four games to two. In the semifinal, they finally defeated arch-rival Rimouski Océanic four games to one. In the President's Cup Final for the first time, Moncton lost to the Gatineau Olympiques four games to one.

In 2004–05, the "Sidney Crosby Show" was selling out buildings everywhere, and with the NHL lockout, Corey Crawford stayed in Moncton. Helped by his backup, Jean-Christophe Blanchard, they finished with a combined 2.47 GAA, best in the QMJHL. Steve Bernier again had a 30+ goal season, with 36. Adam Pineault had 26 goals, while Bruce Graham chipped in 23, and Stéphane Goulet finished with 22. Nathan Saunders set a new club record with 198 penalty minutes, finishing with a career record of 794 PIMS. In the playoffs, the Cats took Drummondville in the first round, four games to two before being knocked out by the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies four games to two.

In 2005, it was announced that Moncton would host the 2006 Memorial Cup. The team hired former NHL coach of the year Ted Nolan, and acquired players such as Keith Yandle, and various rookies. The team's slogan for 2005–06 was "New Coach, New Team, New Attitude". The Wildcats finished in first place in the league, going 52-15-0-3 for 107 points and winning the Jean Rougeau Trophy for the first time in club history. The Cats acquired Victoriaville Tigres goalie Josh Tordjman halfway through the season, as well as Luc Bourdon from the Val-d'Or Foreurs. They defeated Victoriaville four games to one in the first round, and did the same to the Halifax Mooseheads. The Wildcats defeated the Gatineau Olympiques four games to one in the third round. to return to the President's Cup, this time against Patrick Roy's Quebec Remparts. In Game 1, Moncton beat the Remparts 4-3 in overtime. Some more OT heroics resulted in a 3-2 win in Game 2. Quebec battled back for Game 3, winning 3-1. The Remparts tied the series at 2-2 with a 4-3 OT victory in Game 4. In Game 5, Moncton again used OT to get by Quebec 3-2. In Game 6, in front of a sold-out Moncton Coliseum crowd, Moncton took the trophy home, winning 3-2.

In the Memorial Cup against the Remparts, Vancouver Giants and Peterborough Petes, Moncton finished second in the round-robin after defeating Peterborough and Vancouver but losing to Quebec. The Wildcats defeated the Giants in the semi-final, but lost to the Remparts 6-2 in the Memorial Cup final.

Nolan went on to an NHL coaching job with the New York Islanders, along with assistant coach Danny Flynn. He was replaced by another coach with an NHL resume in John Torchetti. Torchetti led a young team to a 39-25-4-2 record before losing to the Halifax Mooseheads four games to three in the first round of the playoffs. Torchetti moved on to accept a post as associate coach with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Wildcats goalie Nicola Riopel set the QMJHL record for fewest goals against average in the 2008–2009 season

The Wildcats brought Flynn back as their new head coach and director of hockey operations for 2007–08. Flynn traded away top veterans Phil Mangan, Matt Marquardt and Murdock MacLellan at the Christmas trading period and guided the team to a 21-34-5-10 record. The team set a new franchise mark for offensive futility, scoring just 191 goals. Ralph Diamond took over the captaincy after Mangan's departure, and was honoured as the QMJHL and Canadian Hockey League Humanitarian of the Year for his extensive work in the community.

In the 2008–09 season, the Wildcats set two QMJHL records. They beat the record for most games straight with at least one point at the start of a season.[citation needed] They also set the record for most consecutive road wins at the start of a season.[citation needed] They finished the season with the second highest points total in franchise history with 102. On March 15/09, Nicola Riopel became the first goaltender in the history of the league, to complete the regular season with a goal-against-average of 2.01.[citation needed] Previous record was established in 1997–98 by Patrick Couture (2.09). The 2008-2009 team also established a new League record of 149 goals allowed in one season. The Previous record was held in 2003–04 by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (164).

Coaches

NHL drafted alumni

Name Position Draft team Draft year Draft position NHL teams played for
Jean-Sébastien Aubin G Pittsburgh Penguins 1995 3rd round, 76th overall Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings
François Cloutier D Florida Panthers 1995 5th round, 114th overall Has not played
Pierre Dagenais LW New Jersey Devils 1996 4th round, 105th overall New Jersey Devils, Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens
Alexei Tezikov D Buffalo Sabres 1996 5th round, 115th overall Washington Capitals, Vancouver Canucks
Jean-François Damphousse G New Jersey Devils 1997 1st round, 24th overall New Jersey Devils
Jan Horacek D St. Louis Blues 1997 4th round, 98th overall Has not played
Jonathan Desroches D Montreal Canadiens 1997 6th round, 145th overall Has not played
Mathieu Benoit RW New Jersey Devils 1997 7th round, 188th overall Has not played
Dmitri Kalinin D Buffalo Sabres 1998 1st round, 18th overall Buffalo Sabres, New York Rangers, Phoenix Coyotes
Jonathan Girard D Boston Bruins 1998 2nd round, 48th overall Boston Bruins
Dmitry Afanasenkov LW Tampa Bay Lightning 1998 3rd round, 72nd overall Tampa Bay Lightning, Philadelphia Flyers
François Beauchemin D Montreal Canadiens 1998 3rd round, 75th overall Montreal Canadiens, Columbus Blue Jackets, Anaheim Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs,, Colorado Avalanche
Morgan Warren RW Toronto Maple Leafs 1998 5th round, 125th overall Has not played
Trevor Ettinger D Edmonton Oilers 1998 6th round, 159th overall Has not played
Jacques Larivière LW New Jersey Devils 1998 6th round, 172nd overall Has not played
Martin Bartek RW Nashville Predators 1998 8th round, 202nd overall Has not played
Simon Lajeunesse G Ottawa Senators 1999 2nd round, 48th overall Ottawa Senators
Mirko Murovic LW Toronto Maple Leafs 1999 4th round, 108th overall Has not played
Andrew Carver D Chicago Blackhawks 1999 8th round, 233rd overall Has not played
Jean-François Racine G Toronto Maple Leafs 2000 3rd round, 90th overall Toronto Maple Leafs
Jonathan Gauthier D Montreal Canadiens 2000 9th round, 275th overall Has not played
Evgeny Artyukhin RW Tampa Bay Lightning 2001 3rd round, 94th overall Tampa Bay Lightning, Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers
Thierry Douville D Philadelphia Flyers 2001 7th round, 208th overall Has not played
Johnny Oduya D Montreal Canadiens 2001 7th round, 221st overall New Jersey Devils, Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets, Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars
Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau RW Anaheim Ducks 2001 9th round, 264th overall Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs
Alexei Shkotov C St. Louis Blues 2002 2nd round, 48th overall Has not played
Jonathan Ferland RW Montreal Canadiens 2002 7th round, 212th overall Montreal Canadiens
François Caron D Anaheim Ducks 2002 9th round, 261st overall Has not played
Matthew Davis G Nashville Predators 2002 9th round, 264th overall Has not played
Steve Bernier RW San Jose Sharks 2003 1st round, 16th overall San Jose Sharks, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders
Corey Crawford G Chicago Blackhawks 2003 2nd round, 52nd overall Chicago Blackhawks
Konstantin Zakharov LW St. Louis Blues 2003 3rd round, 101st overall Has not played
Philippe Dupuis C Columbus Blue Jackets 2003 4th round, 104th overall Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs
Nathan Saunders D Anaheim Ducks 2003 4th round, 119 overall Has not played
Bruce Graham C New York Rangers 2004 2nd round, 51st overall Has not played
Adam Pineault RW Columbus Blue Jackets 2004 2nd round, 46th overall Columbus Blue Jackets
Mārtiņš Karsums RW Boston Bruins 2004 2nd round, 64th overall Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning
Stéphane Goulet RW Edmonton Oilers 2004 7th round, 208th overall Has not played
Luc Bourdon D Vancouver Canucks 2005 1st round, 10th overall Vancouver Canucks
Oskars Bārtulis D Philadelphia Flyers 2005 3rd round, 91st overall Philadelphia Flyers
Keith Yandle D Phoenix Coyotes 2005 4th round, 105th overall Phoenix Coyotes, New York Rangers
Brad Marchand RW Boston Bruins 2006 3rd round, 71st overall Boston Bruins
Andrew MacDonald D New York Islanders 2006 6th round, 160th overall New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers
Matt Marquardt LW Columbus Blue Jackets 2006 7th round, 194th overall Has not played
Kyell Henegan D New Jersey Devils 2006 7th round, 208th overall Has not played
Randy Cameron C Detroit Red Wings 2007 5th round, 148th overall Has not played
Nicolas Deschamps LW Anaheim Ducks 2008 2nd round, 35th overall Has not played
Kelsey Tessier C Colorado Avalanche 2008 4th round, 110th overall Has not played
Mark Barberio D Tampa Bay Lightning 2008 6th round, 152nd overall Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens
Jason Demers D San Jose Sharks 2008 7th round, 186th overall San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars
David Savard D Columbus Blue Jackets 2009 4th round, 94th overall Columbus Blue Jackets
Gabriel Bourque LW Nashville Predators 2009 5th round, 132nd overall Nashville Predators
Nicola Riopel G Philadelphia Flyers 2009 5th round, 142nd overall Has not played
Brandon Gormley D Phoenix Coyotes 2010 1st round, 13th overall Arizona Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche
Kirill Kabanov LW New York Islanders 2010 3rd round, 65th overall Has not played
Louis Domingue G Phoenix Coyotes 2010 5th round, 138th overall Arizona Coyotes
Dillon Donnelly D Colorado Avalanche 2011 7th round, 183rd overall Has not played
James Melindy D Phoenix Coyotes 2012 3rd round, 88th overall Has not played
Ivan Barbashev C/LW St.Louis Blues 2014 2nd round, 33rd overall Has not played
Patrick Thoresen LW Undrafted -- -- Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers
Josh Tordjman G Undrafted -- -- Phoenix Coyotes
Jérôme Samson RW Undrafted -- -- Carolina Hurricanes

Team records

Team records for a single season
Statistic Total Season
Most points 107 2005–06
Most wins 52 2005–06
Most goals for 345 2005–06
Fewest goals for 191 2007–08
Fewest goals against 149 2008–09
Most goals against 354 1996–97
Individual player records for a single season
Statistic Player Total Season
Most goals Sébastien Roger 53 1997–98
Most assists Conor Garland 94 2014-15
Most points Conor Garland 129 2014-15
Most points, rookie Keith Yandle 84 2005–06
Most points, defenseman Keith Yandle 84 2005–06
Most PIM Jacques Larivière 306 1998-99
Best GAA (goalie) Nicola Riopel 2.01 2008–09
Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played

Yearly results

  • 1995–96 Moncton Alpines
  • 1996–present Moncton Wildcats

Regular season

Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss

Season Games Won Lost Tied OTL SL Points Pct % Goals
For		 Goals
Against		 Standing
1995–96 70 14 48 8 - - 36 0.257 215 360 7th in Dilio
1996–97 70 16 52 2 - - 34 0.243 192 354 7th in Dilio
1997–98 70 39 32 9 - - 67 0.479 240 229 4th in Dilio
1998–99 70 38 25 7 - - 81 0.593 257 235 4th in Dilio
1999–2000 72 44 20 5 3 - 96 0.646 292 211 1st in Maritimes
2000–01 72 23 41 6 2 - 54 0.361 246 323 4th in Maritimes
2001–02 72 20 41 4 7 - 75 0.306 214 287 4th in Maritimes
2002–03 72 37 20 10 5 - 89 0.583 255 216 3rd in Maritimes
2003–04 70 46 19 3 2 - 97 0.679 270 206 2nd in Atlantic
2004–05 70 37 23 8 2 - 84 0.586 206 175 2nd in Atlantic
2005–06 70 52 15 - 0 3 107 0.776 345 184 1st in East
2006–07 70 39 25 - 4 2 84 0.557 254 263 3rd in East
2007–08 70 21 34 - 5 10 57 0.300 191 242 8th in East
2008–09 68 48 14 - 2 4 102 0.706 236 149 1st in East
2009–10 68 48 14 - 2 4 102 0.706 276 164 2nd in Atlantic
2010–11 68 33 25 - 3 7 76 0.485 232 256 3rd in Maritimes
2011–12 68 30 31 - 3 4 67 0.441 190 228 4th in Maritimes
2012-13 68 42 23 - 2 1 87 0.640 274 202 2nd in Maritimes
2013-14 68 33 32 - 0 2 69 0.507 214 226 3rd in Maritimes

Playoffs

Game Six of the QMJHL Final.
Saint John 4 @ Wildcats 7.
  • 1995–96 - Out of playoffs.
  • 1996–97 - Out of playoffs.
  • 1997–98 - Defeated Chicoutimi Saguenéens 4 games to 2 in first round.
    Lost to Rimouski Océanic and Quebec Remparts in round-robin.
  • 1998–99 - Lost to Rimouski Océanic 4 games to 0 in first round.
  • 1999–2000 - Defeated Acadie-Bathurst Titan 4 games to 0 in first round.
    Defeated Quebec Remparts 4 games to 3 in second round.
    Lost to Rimouski Océanic 4 games to 1 in QMJHL semi-finals.
  • 2000–01 - Out of playoffs.
  • 2001–02 - Out of playoffs.
  • 2002–03 - Lost to Quebec Remparts 4 games to 2 in first round.
  • 2003–04 - Defeated Baie-Comeau Drakkar 4 games to 0 in first round.
    Defeated P.E.I. Rocket 4 games to 2 in quarter-finals.
    Defeated Rimouski Océanic 4 games to 1 in semi-finals.
    Lost to Hull Olympiques 4 games to 1 in QMJHL finals.
  • 2004–05 - Defeated Drummondville Voltigeurs 4 games to 2 in first round.
    Lost to Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 4 games to 2 in quarter-finals.
  • 2005–06 - Defeated Victoriaville Tigres 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
    Defeated Halifax Mooseheads 4 games to 1 in conference semi-finals.
    Defeated Gatineau Olympiques 4 games to 1 in conference finals.
    Defeated Quebec Remparts 4 games to 2 in QMJHL finals. QMJHL CHAMPIONS
    Finished Memorial Cup round-robin in second place.
    Defeated Vancouver Giants 4-1 in the semi-final.
    Lost to Quebec Remparts 6-2 in Memorial Cup final.
  • 2006–07 - Lost to Halifax Mooseheads 4 games to 3 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2007–08 - Out of playoffs.
  • 2008–09 - Defeated P.E.I. Rocket 4 games to 1 in first round.
    Lost to Rimouski Oceanic 4-1 in Second Round
  • 2009–10 - Defeated Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 4 games to 1 in first round.
    Defeated Royun Noranda Huskies 4 games to 1 in second round.
    Defeated Drummondville Voltigeures 4 games to 1 in the third round.
    Defeated Saint John Sea Dogs 4 games to 2 in final round to win the Presidents Cup. QMJHL CHAMPIONS
    Advanced to the Memorial Cup in Brandon, Manitoba.
    Finished Memorial Cup round-robin in fourth place and eliminated from contention.
  • 2010–11 - Lost to Lewiston Maineiacs 4 games to 1 in first round.
  • 2011–12 - Lost to Halifax Mooseheads 4 games to 0 in first round.
  • 2012-13 - Lost to Victoriaville Tigers 4 games to 1 in first round.
  • 2013-14 – Lost to Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 4 games to 2 in first round.
  • 2014-15 - Defeated Chicoutimi Saguenéens 4 games to 1 in first round.
    Defeated Halifax Mooseheads 4 games to 3 in second round.
    Lost to Quebec Remparts 4 games to 0 in third round.

See also

References

  1. ^ http://moncton-wildcats.com/article/rumble-new-head-coach


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Moncton_Wildcats&oldid=713078598"