Wildcats – Fourteen - 2009-10
Year fourteen was a magical year for the Moncton Wildcat organization. The 2009-10 Moncton Wildcats were able to fight through injuries and adversity all year enroute to one of the most successful season in the history of the organization.
With a majority of the defensive core that lead the league in goals against the previous year returning, the Wildcats were considered strong contenders to win their second President Cup. Those odds grew significantly on December 17th when the Philadelphia Flyers sent the 2008/09 QMJHL MVP Nicola Riopel back to the Cats. With the reigning league MVP back as their last line of defense Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Danny Flynn and the Moncton Wildcats set their sights on a second Presidents Cup crown. During the December trade period the Wildcats bolstered their lineup by acquiring the services of Gabriel Bourque, Nicolas Dechamps, Kelsey Tessier, Alex Wall, and Alex MacDonald.
With a roster loaded with high end talent the Wildcats caught fire during the 2nd half of the season, finishing with 102 points for the second straight season, good enough for 3rd overall in the league. Nicolas Dechamps tied Sean Couturier for the league lead in points. David Savard won both the QMJHL defenseman of the year as well as the CHL Defenseman of the year. (the 2nd Wildcat to receive this honor). Savard also broke Keith Yandle’s franchise record for most assists in a season by a defenseman, registering 64 helpers. The Wildcats were the best defensive club in the league for the 2nd consecutive year, only conceding 164 goals over the course of 68 games. The team also tied the franchise record for fewest road losses in a season by only losing eight games in enemy territory.
In the first round of the playoffs the Wildcats eliminated division rival the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in five games. The Cats were able to dispose of both the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and the Drummondville Voltigeurs in five games setting up the first ever all New Brunswick final against the Saint John Sea Dogs.
Hockey fever swept through New Brunswick with the two provincial rivals battling for QMJHL supremacy. All six games of the final series sold out within minutes of tickets going on sale. In the end the Wildcats captured their second Presidents Cup in five years by winning game six with a score of 7-4. With this win the Wildcats earned a trip to Brandon, Manitoba to participate in the 2010 Memorial Cup.
A tough playoff run and injuries to key players finally caught up to the Cats in Brandon. As a result the team went 0-3 in the tournament. Moncton opened its first game against the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen strong. However, with the Cats leading 4-2 with six minutes remaining in third period Calgary scored three goals in four minutes to win the game 5-4. The Cats couldn’t recover from the heartbreaking loss and less than 24 hours later found their record at 0-2 following a 4-0 setback to the host team the Brandon WheatKings. The lost setup a must win game against the defending Memorial Cup champions the Windsor Spitfires. With the game tied at three in overtime Eric Wellwood scored the sudden death goal ending Moncton’s dream of bringing the Memorial Cup to Atlantic Canada for the first time.
Despite a disappointing Memorial Cup the 2009-10 Moncton Wildcats have a lot to be proud of and will always be remembered for the adversity they faced throughout the season and of course beating those Sea Dogs in the first ever all New Brunswick final.
Team Photo
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