There is a lot to celebrate in Moncton these days. For one, Saturday night will mark the home opener for the team and their first chance to get back in front of their home fans after winning the Gilles-Courteau Trophy last season as QMJHL champions. It’s also the 30th anniversary season for the Wildcats.

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The palatial Avenir Centre will certainly be rocking on Saturday night as Moncton plays host to rival Saint John Sea Dogs. But before the action heats up on the ice, fans will get a last chance to salute one of the greatest seasons in the club’s history.

Looking back, the numbers are hard to believe. Moncton won 53 of its 64 games in the QMJHL last season. They outscored opponents by 150 goals. 

During the QMJHL playoffs, the club went 16-3, sweeping Quebec in the opening round and Rouyn-Noranda in the conference final before dispatching the high-powered Rimouski Oceanic in six games before hoisting the Gilles-Courteau Trophy. 

That was Moncton’s third QMJHL title and first since 2010. 

While the Wildcats fell just short of bringing home the club’s first Memorial Cup, losing to eventual champs London in the semifinal, the 2024-25 season was nothing short of remarkable.

It also was maybe predictable. Bringing in legendary USports coach Gardiner MacDougall as head coach and his son Taylor as GM paid immediate dividends. MacDougall has more trophies than most coaches have coffee mugs, with seven University Cup championships to his name.

He was the QMJHL and CHL Coach of the Year, and I’m sure it wasn’t particularly close.

Now MacDougall has a bigger challenge on his hands. He’s got to find a way to take a roster that had significant turnover to get back to being competitive. The Wildcats are also without No. 4 overall pick Caleb Desnoyers, who remains in recovery from offseason surgery to repair injuries to his wrists. 

Despite that, Moncton has gone 2-1-1 to open the season with a tough couple of road losses to the brand new Newfoundland Regiment. The inexperienced team bounced back in a big way though, pulling out shootout and overtime victories against Cape Breton. 

The club has played 10 rookies so far in game action. Tommy Bleyl and Rian Chudzinski have been among standouts with Bleyel posting five points and Chudzinski scoring three goals so far. 

As would be expected, Alex Mercier – one of the team’s most experienced players – has led the way with four goals and six points through four games. 

The club was also excited to welcome back primary starter and Detroit Red Wings prospect Rudy Guimond, who got the start in net in both games against Cape Breton. He started his second Q campaign with a pair of wins and a sparkling .926 save percentage. 

The @AvenirCentre is the place to be Saturday!

We'll raise the 2025 QMJHL Champions banner in a pre-game ceremony. The party starts outside at 4pm. Doors open at 5:30.

📰 https://t.co/MeAsB7h58M pic.twitter.com/8p2KJmVgSo

— Moncton Wildcats (@monctonwildcats) October 3, 2025

Saturday night will prove to be another important test. After celebrating the accomplishments of last season, the Wildcats will take on a familiar foe in the Saint John Sea Dogs who are 2-2 to start the season.

It should be a great night of junior hockey in one of its best venues. You can catch the banner raising and the game right here on FloHockey.

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