Moncton Wildcats

Not to be confused with Monkton Wildcats.

Moncton Wildcats
Wildcats de Moncton
CityMoncton, New Brunswick
LeagueQuebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League
DivisionMaritimes
Founded1995
Home arenaAvenir Centre
ColoursRed, white, blue and gold
       
General managerTaylor MacDougall
Head coachGardiner MacDougall
Websitemoncton-wildcats.com
Franchise history
1995–1996Moncton Alpines
1996–presentMoncton Wildcats
Championships
Playoff championships2006, 2010 QMJHL Champions

The Moncton Wildcats are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) based in Moncton, New Brunswick. The franchise was granted for the 1995–96 season, and were known as the Moncton Alpines for one season prior to rebranding as the Wildcats. The team played at the Moncton Coliseum from 1995 until 2018, and moved into the Avenir Centre prior to the 2018–19 season. After winning the 2005–06 QMJHL championship, the team hosted the 2006 Memorial Cup and reached the final game. The Wildcats also won the league championship in 2009–10, which sent the team to compete at the 2010 Memorial Cup in Brandon, Manitoba where 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 for the 1995–96 season. They played for one season under the ownership of racing driver John Graham and coached by Lucien DeBlois. The franchise was purchased by Robert Irving in May 1996, and renamed to the Moncton Wildcats with new uniforms and logo.

Moncton hosted 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 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. The Wildcats defeated the Quebec Remparts to the President's Cup. In the Memorial Cup, 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.

Coaches

Players

Retired numbers

NHL alumni

The following players have played in at least one National Hockey League (NHL) game as of the 2023-24 season:[6]

NHL first round draft picks

List of first round selections in the NHL Entry Draft:[7]

Year # Player Nationality NHL team
1997 24 Jean-François Damphousse (G) Canada Canada New Jersey Devils
2003 16 Steve Bernier (RW) Canada Canada San Jose Sharks
2010 13 Brandon Gormley (D) Canada Canada Phoenix Coyotes
2019 26 Jakob Pelletier (LW) Canada Canada Calgary Flames

Season-by-season results

  • 1995–96 Moncton Alpines[8]
  • 1996–present Moncton Wildcats[9]

Regular season

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 – 51 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 Telus Maritimes
2013–14 68 33 32 – 0 2 69 0.507 214 226 3rd in Telus Maritimes
2014–15 68 46 19 – 0 3 95 0.699 287 232 1st in Maritimes
2015–16 68 36 21 – 9 2 83 0.610 268 250 2nd in Maritimes
2016–17 68 14 51 – 2 1 31 0.228 170 356 6th in Maritimes
2017–18 68 27 33 – 5 3 62 0.456 233 282 5th in Maritimes
2018–19 68 38 21 – 4 5 85 0.625 274 222 4th in Maritimes
2019–20 64 50 13 – 1 0 101 0.789 276 148 1st in Maritimes
2020–21 31 11 17 – 2 1 25 0.403 105 136 5th in Maritimes
2021–22 68 28 31 – 6 3 65 0.478 208 273 5th in Maritimes
2022–23 68 35 29 – 2 2 74 0.544 255 249 2nd in Maritimes
2023–24 68 38 23 – 4 3 83 0.610 274 231 2nd in Maritimes

Playoffs

Season 1st round 2nd round 3rd round Finals
1995–96 Did not qualify
1996–97 Did not qualify
1997–98 W, 4–2, Chicoutimi 3rd, round-robin, Quebec/Rimouski
1998–99 L, 0–4, Rimouski
1999–2000 W, 4–0, Acadie–Bathurst W, 4–3, Quebec L, 1–4, Rimouski
2000–01 Did not qualify
2001–02 Did not qualify
2002–03 L, 2–4, Quebec
2003–04 W, 4–0, Baie-Comeau W, 4–2, P.E.I. W, 4–1, Rimouski L, 1–4, Hull
2004–05 W, 4–2, Drummondville L, 2–4, Rouyn-Noranda
2005–06 W, 4–1, Victoriaville W, 4–1, Halifax W, 4–1, Gatineau W, 4–2, Quebec
2006–07 L, 3–4, Halifax
2007–08 Did not qualify
2008–09 W, 4–1, P.E.I. L, 2–4, Rimouski
2009–10 W, 4–1, Cape Breton W, 4–1, Rouyn-Noranda W, 4–1, Drummondville W, 4–2, Saint John
2010–11 L, 1–4, Lewiston
2011–12 L, 0–4, Halifax
2012–13 L, 1–4, Victoriaville
2013–14 L, 2–4, Blainville-Boisbriand
2014–15 W, 4–1, Chicoutimi W, 4–3, Halifax L, 0–4, Quebec
2015–16 W, 4–1, Victoriaville W, 4–2, Gatineau L, 2–4, Rouyn-Noranda
2016–17 Did not qualify
2017–18 W, 4–3, Rimouski L, 1–4, Blainville-Boisbriand
2018–19 W, 4–3, Baie-Comeau L, 0–4, Halifax
2019–20 QMJHL playoffs cancelled due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 Lost round-robin tournament
2021–22 L, 0–3, Charlottetown
2022–23 W, 4–3, Baie-Comeau L, 1–4, Halifax
2023–24 L, 0–4, Chicoutimi


Game Six of the QMJHL Final.
Saint John 4 @ Wildcats 7.


Memorial Cup

The Memorial Cup is contested annually by the champions of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), and Western Hockey League (WHL), as well as a predetermined host team. The competition consists of a round-robin, a semifinal game, and a final game. Below are the results of every game the Moncton Wildcats have competed in.

Year Round-robin Semifinal Final
2006[a] W, 3–2 Vancouver Giants
W, 4–2 Peterborough Petes
L, 3–4 Quebec Remparts		 W, 3–1 Vancouver Giants L, 2–6 Quebec Remparts
2010 L, 4–5 Calgary Hitmen
L, 0–4 Brandon Wheat Kings
L, 3–4 Windsor Spitfires
  1. ^ Host team

See also

References

  1. ^ "John Torchetti announced as Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations – Moncton Wildcats". Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  2. ^ "Wildcats fire head coach, director of player operations John Torchetti". Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  3. ^ "Moncton Wildcats Name New Head Coach". 91.9 The Bend. December 23, 2019.
  4. ^ Bailey, Mitchell (May 15, 2014). "Gardiner MacDougall joins Moncton Wildcats as head coach, says goodbye to UNB". Global News. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  5. ^ Smith, Brad (November 8, 2023). "Moncton Wildcats to retire their first jersey". CHL.ca. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  6. ^ "Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) Alumni". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  7. ^ "Moncton Wildcats Drafted Player History". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  8. ^ "Moncton Alpines Statistics and History [QMJHL]". HockeyDB. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  9. ^ "Moncton Wildcats Statistics and History [QMJHL]". HockeyDB. Retrieved May 20, 2024.