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Wildcats lose in game six, big win for Chicoutimi

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A heartbreaking loss for the Moncton Wildcats to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens.

It was a hard-fought game, but the Sags beat the Cats on Sunday night, 5 to 1, in game six the QMJHL Championships.

The emotions were flowing as the realization sank in for the Cats, surrounded by cheers from Chicoutimi fans, as the two teams shook hands following the game.

“I can’t say enough about the group we had this year. That’s the total group, right from our owner down and down, our support staff, our unbelievable fans in Moncton, and the contributions of our players,” Head Coach Gardiner Macdougall stated following the loss.

This gives the Sags the Gilles-Courteau Trophy for the first time in 32 years, and a trip to the Memorial Cup in Kelowna, British Columbia, next week.

The Wildcats were seeking a repeat of last year’s victory, when they earned the championship win.

A disappointing end to a strong season for players, including Rudy Guimond, Alex Mercier, and Preston Lounsbury, who have reached the end of their junior playing careers.

“It’s always about the players. We had a lot of players who had career-best seasons and really grew as people, grew as players. It is a fine line, and it’s heart-wrenching for these guys who put so much into the efforts of trying to continue to get better,” Macdougall added.

Gabe Smith received the Guy Lafleur Trophy as the MVP for the QMJHL Playoffs.

A large crowd of Wildcats fans gathered outside the Avenir Centre in Moncton last night to show their support at a watch party in the Ian Fowler Oval. Despite the loss, there was still much love for the team, with the fans taking the time to thank them for a great season.

“It’s been a real honour and privilege for my son and myself to be part of the Moncton Wildcats. I can’t say enough about the passion of the fans in Moncton, in our province, in the Atlantic region. It’s certainly disappointing that we had such a capacity crowd that we didn’t leave where we should have won in the third period. The people at the airport, when we left yesterday, just the passion of those people, it means so much. Our goal is to make a significant difference with our players, but with the community of Moncton,” Macdougall said.

Moncton Wildcats 3

Chicoutimi beats Moncton with massive comeback in third

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Chicoutimi has taken the lead after a monumental comeback in Game 5 of the QMJHL final in Moncton Friday night.

By the end of the second period, it looked Moncton had the game under control. They were leading 4-1.

But the Sagueneens came back and scored a massive six goals in the third period. Although Moncton added two to their total, it was not enough, and Chicoutimi closed the game with a 7-6 win.

Now they lead the series 3-2. Game 6 happens Sunday in Saguenay, Quebec.

Saint John_Sea Dogs_Logo_

Sea Dogs assistant takes position in Sherbrooke

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The Saint John Sea Dogs announced Friday that one of their assistant coaches is moving on.

In a post to social media, the team announced Tim Archambault had accepted an opportunity to move closer to home and will join the coaching staff of the Sherbrooke Phoenix next season.

According to Elite Prospects, Archambault joined the Sea Dogs as a scout for the 2024-25 season before moving behind the bench for this past season.

Moncton Wildcats 3

Wildcats and Saguenéens tied, game 5 goes Friday night

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The Moncton Wildcats were looking for a win, and they got it.

Two big goals in the third period on Wednesday night were the comeback the Moncton Wildcats needed for a big win, 4 to 3 over the Chicoutimi Saguenéens in the QMJHL championships.

The two teams are now tied at two games apiece.

The Wildcats will look to continue the momentum in Game 5. It goes on Friday night at the Avenir Centre at 7 o’clock.

Moncton Wildcats 3

Chicoutimi now leads Wildcats in QMJHL finals

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A dramatic goal in overtime has given the Chicoutimi Sagueneens a 2-1 series lead over the Moncton Wildcats in the QMJHL finals.

Game three was played on Tuesday night at Centre Georges-Vézina. Chicoutimi pulled out the win 5-4 in OT.

Game 4 goes tonight, to be played again on the Sagueneens home ice.

Play will return to Moncton on Friday night for game five at the Avenir Centre. The puck drop is at 7 pm.

Moncton Wildcats (May 2026)

Moncton Wildcats victorious in Game 7 against the Armada

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It’s back to the QMJHL League Championship finals for the Moncton Wildcats.

A big win over the Blainville Boisbriand Armada on Tuesday night, 6 to 2 in game 7, gave the Wildcats the series win in the deciding game

The Cats scored three goals in the third period, giving them a strong finish and helping to clinch the victory.

It was a packed house at the Avenir Centre with around 7500 fans.

League championship play begins Friday at 7 pm against the Chicoutimi Sagueneens at the Avenir Centre in Moncton. Game 2 will also be played at home for the Wildcats on Saturday night.

Moncton Wildcats Avenir Centre

Moncton Wildcats heading to game 7

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The Moncton Wildcats still need one more win for a trip to the QMJHL finals.

The Blainville Boisbriand Armada stole that opportunity from them on Sunday, scoring with just 1.5 seconds left to win the game 3 to 2.

That leaves the series tied at 3 games apiece.

Game 7 goes on Tuesday at the Avenir Centre in Moncton.

three gold chalice

QMJHL announces some individual awards

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As the Moncton Wildcats wait to find out who their next playoff opponent will be, two members of the team have been honoured with some individual hardware by the QMJHL.

The league announced the winners of eight trophies on April 16.

Wildcats forward Gabe Smith took home the Guy Carbonneau Trophy, awarded to the top defensive forward.

Smith had a breakout season, nearly doubling his career-best point total from 39 to 77.

He was frequently matched against the opposition’s top players and was the team’s most-used centre for faceoffs, posting a 58.9 per cent success rate.

Tommy Bleyl received the Raymond Lagacé Trophy as defensive rookie of the year.

Bleyl set a QMJHL record for rookie defencemen with 81 points and led the league in assists with 68.

Bleyl is eligible for this year’s NHL draft, so it’s fitting he was also a finalist for the Micheal Bossy Trophy as top professional prospect.

The Wildcats had a few other finalists for awards.

Adam Fortier-Gendron was a finalist for the Kevin Lowe Trophy, given to the best defensive defenceman.

General manager Taylor MacDougall made the short list for the Maurice Filion Trophy for GM of the year.

Caleb Desnoyers was a finalist for the Paul Dumont Trophy, given to the personality of the year.

Saint John Sea Dogs forward Alexis Joseph was also a finalist for the Paul Dumont Trophy.

Joseph was a finalist for the Michel Bergeron Trophy, awarded to the offensive rookie of the year.

QMJHL Golden Puck awards

David Desharnais Trophy – Most sportsmanlike player while being effective

  • Alex Huang – Chicoutimi Saguenéens
  • Samuel Beauchemin – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
  • Philippe Veilleux – Val-d’Or Foreurs

Guy Carbonneau Trophy – Top defensive forward

  • Gabe Smith – Moncton Wildcats
  • Thomas Desruisseaux – Chicoutimi Saguenéens
  • Thomas Verdon – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

Kevin Lowe Trophy – Top defensive defenceman

  • Félix Plamondon – Shawinigan Cataractes
  • Peteris Bulans – Chicoutimi Saguenéens
  • Adam Fortier-Gendron – Moncton Wildcats

Maurice Filion Trophy – General manager of the year

  • Yanick Jean – Chicoutimi Saguenéens
  • Gordie Dwyer – Newfoundland Regiment
  • Taylor MacDougall – Moncton Wildcats

Michael Bossy Trophy – Top professional prospect

  • Maddox Dagenais – Québec Remparts
  • Tommy Bleyl – Moncton Wildcats
  • Egor Shilov – Victoriaville Tigres

Michel Bergeron Trophy – Offensive rookie of the year

  • Egor Shilov – Victoriaville Tigres
  • Alexis Joseph – Saint John Sea Dogs
  • Alexey Vlasov – Victoriaville Tigres

Paul Dumont Trophy – Personality of the year

  • Glenn Stanford – Newfoundland Regiment
  • Caleb Desnoyers – Moncton Wildcats
  • Alexis Joseph – Saint John Sea Dogs

Raymond Lagacé Trophy – Defensive rookie of the year

  • Tommy Bleyl – Moncton Wildcats
  • Jan Larys – Drummondville Voltigeurs
  • Malik L’Italien – Halifax Mooseheads

Italics denote winner

QMJHL Logo

Wildcats back at it in QMJHL playoffs

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The Moncton Wildcats resume their second-round playoff series Tuesday night.

The Wildcats took both home games over the weekend to take a 2-0 series lead in the best-of-seven matchup with the Val d’Or Foreurs.

Game 3 finds the team in Val d’Or at the Centre Agnico Eagle for the first of at least two games in western Quebec.

Game time is 8 p.m. Atlantic Daylight Time.

Elsewhere in the QMJHL playoffs Tuesday, the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada will try for a 3-1 series lead over the Newfoundland Regiment.

The other game features Rouyn-Noranda going for a 3-0 lead over Shawinigan.

sea dogs

Wildcats, Sea Dogs named to Q’s all-star, all-rookie teams

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The QMJHL announced its all-star teams this week, and there’s plenty of good news for the New Brunswick teams.

After finishing first overall in the league, the Moncton Wildcats have three players on the first all-star team.

Defenceman Tommy Bleyl, forward Caleb Desnoyers and goaltender Rudy Guimond all made the top squad.

Bleyl led the Wildcats in scoring with 13 goals and 68 assists in 63 games.

Desnoyers only made it into 45 games this season but still had 22 goals and 56 assists. He was also the only player from the Q to earn a spot on Team Canada at the World Juniors.

He signed an entry-level deal with the Utah Mammoth earlier this year.

RELATED: Wildcats star signs NHL deal

Guimond put up stellar numbers between the pipes, playing 50 games and winning 40 of them to go with a 2.27 GAA, a .922 save percentage and three shutouts.

Bleyl also made the all-rookie all-star team.

He was joined by Saint John Sea Dogs standout Alexis Joseph, selected first overall in the 2025 QMJHL draft.

Joseph put up 24 goals and 36 assists in 54 games with the Sea Dogs.

Here are the full rosters for the all-rookie, first and second all-star teams:

Rookie All-Star Team

  • Goaltender: Jan Larys, Drummondville
  • Defenceman: Tommy Bleyl, Moncton
  • Defenceman: Malik L’Italien, Halifax
  • Forward: Egor Shilov, Victoriaville
  • Forward: Alexey Vlasov, Victoriaville
  • Forward: Alexis Joseph, Saint John

Second All-Star Team

  • Goaltender: William Lacelle, Rimouski/Blainville-Boisbriand
  • Defenceman: Tomas Lavoie, Cape Breton/Chicoutimi
  • Defenceman: Marcus Kearsey, Charlottetown
  • Forward: Philippe Veilleux, Val-d’Or
  • Forward: Justin Carbonneau, Blainville-Boisbriand
  • Forward: Nathan Leek, Charlottetown

First All-Star Team

  • Goaltender: Rudy Guimond, Moncton
  • Defenceman: Tommy Bleyl, Moncton
  • Defenceman: Alex Huang, Chicoutimi
  • Forward: Maxim Massé, Chicoutimi
  • Forward: Caleb Desnoyers, Moncton
  • Forward: Thomas Verdon, Rouyn-Noranda

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