Wildcats – Year seven - 2002-03

As year seven of the Wildcats franchise began, there was an air of optimism from the players and the fans. 

Added to an already maturing line-up were 20-year-olds Sébastien Strozynski, acquired from the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and Yannick Searles from the Quebec Remparts.  Daniel Hudgin was the third overager and was named the team captain.  Carl McLean was back in a Wildcats jersey after spending time with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.

Moncton’s top pick in the draft was American Adam Pineault, who opted for the U.S. under 18 program and did not report to the Wildcats. 

In order to obtain the top two European players in that draft, Patrick Thoresen was traded to the Baie Comeau Drakkar.  Evgeny Artukhin, a power Russian forward joined the team but second round pick Alexei Skhotov remained in his homeland to play in the Elite league.

Alan Power became the new director of hockey operations and during the trading period, held fast to the plan to develop from within rather than change the chemistry of the team with trades during mid-season.  “There were players we would have liked to become Moncton Wildcats but the price was just too high.  We were not about to make trades for the sake of trading, we wanted value as did the teams we talked with,” he commented. “During the three years of my tenure with the team, the way business was done changed.

The League developed a philosophy of building each team from within which makes trading very difficult.  You can’t give away the future of a team, so we maintained the status quo.  The market decides how many trades will be made and if the price is out of reach, as it was that year for us, you stay with what you have,” Power said.

The Wildcats finished the season, third best in the Maritime Division of the Frank Dilio Conference, behind Halifax and Acadie-Bathurst.  They improved their previous years point total by 38 with a 37-20-10 and 5 record. 

Steve Bernier became the highest scoring 17-year-old in the team’s history with 49 goals and 52 assists for 101 points.  James Sanford, from Alma, New Brunswick established a new points record for defencemen, with 16 goals and 45 assists.  Two more team records were established, most ties for a season 10; lowest number of road losses 15.

The Wildcats were strong in goal with Corey Crawford playing in 50 games.  His stats were impressive, 24 wins, 17 losses and 6 ties.  The Montreal native had a 2.73 goals against average and a save percentage of 91.5 which was second best in the QMJHL.

After missing the playoff for two seasons, Moncton prepared to meet a strong Quebec Remparts squad in the opening round.  The two teams were only a point apart during the 72 game league schedule.

At the start of the post season, the Wildcats were traumatized when Bernier was hit with appendicitis and lost for the remainder of the year.  Without the high scorer winger, Moncton’s potent year long offensive proved to be no match for the Remparts, who had built a championship contender as they prepared to host the Memorial Cup. 

The best of seven series went six games with Quebec emerging the victor.  Despite the bitter disappointment, Moncton had gained valuable experience, still had a maturing team and knew that better things were in place for season eight.

Team Photo

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TOP ROW: Josh Hepditch, Mathieu Betournay, Ryan Salvis, Karl Gagne, Jonathan Favreau, Kevin Hamel, Michel Dube. MIDDLE ROW: Graham Black (Athletic Therapist), Steve Bernier, Kyle Murnaghan, Luke Pelham, Evgeni Artukhin, Patrick Sampson, Bruce Graham, Maxime Desruisseaux, Francois Caron, Nathan Saunders, Kevin Glode, Robert Cormier, Serge Leblanc (Equipment Manager). BOTTOM ROW: Corey Crawford, Karl MacLean, Don Leblanc (Assistant Coach), Yannick Searles, Christian La Rue (Head Coach), Daniel Hudgin, Daniel Lacroix (Assistant Coach), Sebastien Strozynski, Frantz Bergevin-Jean (Goalie Coach), James Sanford, Matt Davis.

View Individual Stats

QMJHL Standings 2002-03

2002 QMJHL Entry Draft

2002 CHL Import Draft