Blogs from the Broadcast Booth - Les Stoodley

Wasn't it just a couple of weeks ago we were trudging out of the J. Louis Levesque as the Wildcats ended their season losing to Rimouski? Hard to believe it was April 10th when the Oceanic won game five 1-0 to take the series four games to one.A lot has changed in the past five months. There have been awards for the Wildcats, especially to Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Danny Flynn, who was named coach of the year in the QMJHL. Goaltender Nicola Riopel was justly named the League's MVP for his amazing 2.01 goals against average during the regular season. The Cats won the Robert Lebel Trophy for their outstanding defensive play allowing only 149 goals against in a 68 game schedule. The players and coaching staff could look back on the season with a pride and optimism for the new season. Brandon Gormley and Louis Domingue starred for Team Canada in the under-18 tournament in the Czech Republic in August.Training camp presented, as Coach Flynn called it, "the best group of rookies I've seen in a long time." It was a difficult call to let some of the young players go back for another year of seasoning or be told they wouldn't be making the team. There were the pleasant surprises shown especially by the Saulnier twins of Cape Pele. Allain and Alex had a great exhibition series run. Allain scored his first Q goal in the season opener in Charlottetown last Friday night.Now the season is underway. The Wildcats go into Home Opening Weekend with a 1-1 record after a hard fought 2-1 over the Titan, Sunday afternoon in Bathurst.Home Opening weekend promises to be three days of entertainment and heavy duty hockey. Two Tail Gate Parties in the Coliseum Parking lot, one Friday afternoon starting at 5, the other Sunday getting underway at 2. Saturday is Cats Cup Day on Main Street along with the formal introduction of the team, autograph signing and a Bar-B-Q at the Farmers Market at noon.Friday's game will give fans their first look at the team many predict will be in the top 10 across the country and should repeat as Atlantic Division champions. However, predictions don't win hockey games, the players and coaches do. If preparation is a measuring stick, the Wildcats are ready and looking for a level of redemption when they face the Rocket, who've lifted off to a fast start with two wins in their opening games.The opening game at the Coliseum may not show the depth of the Wildcats with Mark Barberio, David Savard and Scott Brannon at NHL camps but it will show, a faster team than last year, with some sharp shooting rookies, out to prove they belong in the Q. It augers well for the season ahead. I'm looking forward to a great season and to having you join us on News 91.9 as we call the home and away games.