Blogs from the Broadcast Booth - Les Stoodley

Blogs from the Broadcast Booth – Les Stoodley

As I wrote about in my last blog, the 2006-2007 season was an outstanding success for the Wildcats, they finished in first place in the League, then went on to capture their first Presidents Cup. It was outstanding hockey and the Moncton fans reacted with a passion to the ploys used by Quebec coach Patrick Roy in his attempt to get the Wildcats off their game.

Moncton was the host city for the Memorial Cup and everyone associated with the experience was thrilled to be a part of the most outstanding hockey event ever held in the city. Memorial Cup fever gripped us all. No one whether they were paid staff or volunteers complained about 16 hour days. We were all caught up in hockey excitement involving the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League, the Peterborough Petes of the OHL, the Remparts and our Moncton Wildcats. The old Coliseum never heard roars like those that echoed off the rafters during those seven days in May of 2006.

In an effort to gain any kind of advantage, Sir Patrick’s mind games continued into the Memorial Cup and his tactics did not impress the Wildcats fans. However, the Remparts prevailed in the final game and Moncton’s hope of being the home of the national champions ended with a Remparts win.

Now we’re down to the championship final series between the Wildcats and their provincial rivals the Saint John Sea Dogs. For the first time in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, two New Brunswick teams will meet for the right to claim ownership of the Presidents Cup.

It has been a tough road for the Wildcats winning all three lead-up series 4 games to 1. They faced a strong Cape Breton team in the first round, then went up against the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, a team predicted to be a league finalist. In the semi-final round, Moncton defeated the defending League champion Drommondville Voltigeurs.

The Sea Dogs route to the final involved weaker teams, they faced the PEI Rocket in the first round winning 4 games to 1. In the quarter finals, they rolled over a tired Gatineau squad sweeping the series in four straight then got bit of scare from the Victoriaville Tigres in a series that went six games. In total both teams have played a total of 15 games to get the chance for a trip to the Master Card Memorial Cup in Brandon, Manitoba.

Who will the victor be – my money is on the Wildcats. Trying to be somewhat unbiased, if you look at the eight games between the two clubs over the season, the Cats won four of the games in regulation which the Dogs won three in a shootout and one in overtime. Shoot out wins are really skill competitions while an overtime game can go either way. One thing is certain; it’s going to be a tough, hard series. None of the current members of the Wildcats team have played in a final series while the Sea Dogs have two players who have experience in going the distance.
Both teams are well coached. Summerside native Gerald (Turk) Gallant in his first year behind the Sea Dogs bench was voted the League’s coach of the year this year while last season, Danny Flynn, the Wildcats head coach was awarded the same honor.

Look for a six of seven game series. Look for great goaltending with Riopel and Cousineau giving us thrills by the dozen, look for edge of your seat, nail biting, heart stop action from both New Brunswick teams. I can’t wait to call a second Wildcats Preisents Cup win.