The end of 2000-2001 season for the Moncton Wildcats was as dark as their away jerseys that year. At the midway point of that season the Cats were in first place of the Maritimes Division, nevertheless, they experienced an epic collapse going from first to last, failing to earn a single point in their final 10 games of the campaign.
In the final game of the season versus Acadie-Bathurst Titan, the Cats were down a man late. With a mere two seconds remaining in the game, former Wildcat Simon Laliberté scored the game winning goal eliminating the Wildcats from the playoff picture and cementing them in the basement of the QMJHL.
As the saying goes ‘everything happens for a reason’. From dark days, into the light, from a horrible winless streak to end the season, to having the first overall selection in the 2001 QMJHL Entry Draft.
All of the stars would align for the Moncton Wildcats, they were about to the select arguably one of the best Wildcats ever with the 1st pick overall in Steve Bernier. Bernier quickly became the face of the Moncton Wildcats.
“Draft day is special,” said Bernier proudly.
“I was extremely relieved when I heard my name that quick,” confessed Bernier.
“I grew up in Quebec City, so you know that you’re going to play for that team, you’re going to play Midget AAA for that team, once you arrive at the draft for junior, it’s a weird felling, because you don’t know where you’re going to end up.”
“It’s a special feeling.”
“I knew there was a chance that I would be first overall, but there were two other guys in the Midget AAA ranks that year on my team when we won the Air Canada Cup that were both extremely good as well, so we didn’t know which one of us would be first.”
What was going through Bernier’s mind when he heard his named called that day?
“It was extremely special when I heard my name, it’s cliché, but it’s a lot of work, a lot of dedication and sacrifice to be able to play at that level, and to be able to go first round, first overall, it’s special because of all of the work, but at the same time it was a fun feeling.”
“Obviously now that I have kids that play hockey as well, it’s a lot of sacrifices for parents as well, a lot of drives to rinks, practices and for tournaments.”
“When I heard my name that day, I was also thinking a lot about my parents as well.”
Being selected first overall or the “chosen one” to kick start or fast track a rebuild can be incredibly stressful. Unfair and unrealistic expectations and harsh criticism from an organizations fanbase often times can be demoralizing and debilitating to a young players confidence and psyche.
Bernier never felt that pressure coming to Moncton. “I wasn’t nervous about hockey. I started playing when I was four, so playing the game was always the fun part of the equation.”
“The biggest aspect that I was worried about was my English, I didn’t speak very well and I didn’t realize that Moncton was a bilingual city.”
Once the highly touted skilled two-way forward arrived in Moncton all of his worries and anxiousness went away. “Once I arrived in Moncton, I quickly realized that almost everyone spoke French, and I was lucky to have great billets, Joanne spoke English and Gary Boudreau spoke both languages. They made it easy for, if I needed any help I would speak French, but they also helped me get better at speaking English.”
The Wildcats are confronted with a completely different scenario than that of Bernier’s draft year. The rebuild was in full effect in 2001, but the team now is possibly set up to contend for a championship for the next two seasons.
“Obviously, we aren’t in the same situation as we were back then,” said Bernier who was hired last June to take on a Player Development role with the team.
“What’s fun about the Q, is usually most of the time there’s a quick turnaround, only if we won sixteen or seventeen games that first season, the second year we went to the second round and the third year we went to the finals against Hull, so it was a quick turnaround.”
“Right now, we have a good team, we lost in the second, we lost to a team that went to the finals, they ended up losing the finals, but having three first round picks and one being first overall, it’s a huge step, but you have to do it right and we have a lot of good people and that’s what they want.”
“This is going to be a huge step towards everyone’s dream of winning a Memorial Cup,” stressed Bernier.
“I think what we are going to get with the first pick is something that we are going to need along the way.”
“Any player that goes first overall will be a guy that everyone is going to follow, from their leadership, to hard work on the ice and really every aspect of their game. Everyone will look at that player and will want to work as hard as him. I think, if the team does that we have the pieces in place to bring a championship to Moncton in a few years.”
The obvious 1st overall selection in the 2023 QMJHL Entry Draft was Caleb Desnoyer. Desnoyer has been incredibly solid in his first foray in the QMJHL.
Bernier’s memories of being Wildcat are memorable and something that he will never forget. “Moncton was my second home. I loved my time in Moncton, my four years as a player in the city were amazing, it was so much fun to play there.”
“The people in Moncton are incredibly kind. Sometimes when you go to a big city that’s usually not the case, but in Moncton everyone is nice, everyone is raised to be so kind,” said Bernier.
“Every time I have a chance to come to Moncton, I get extremely excited.”
“I owe the GM’s, coaching staff and everyone who helped me along the way a lot of credit, but the way Mr. Irving does business with the organization is as close as you will see to an NHL team.”
“When you play for the Wildcats, you’re treated extremely well. Anything you need to perform well on the ice, you’re going to get it.”
“Mr. Irving and the entire organization are doing an incredible job preparing players for the next level in hockey, the world and life.”
“It’s so much fun to be back in my role with the organization. As a player, I was always on the other side of the medal so to speak. As players you’re always practicing, training and school, but I didn’t know the role of the coaches, gm’s and all of the other stuff going on behind the scenes that no players see and do, it’s fun to see that part of the game,” Bernier said.
“That side of the game is very very interesting for me.”
“I love being with the team, I love being around the players and being on the ice with them, personally it’s very rewarding and I just hope I can help them in some way.”
“It’s always great to work with any prospects,” explained Bernier.
Steve Bernier will be forever etched in the minds of fans for his individual performances and team success. The spotlight and high expectations that came with being selected 1st overall never derailed the impact Steve Bernier had on the City of Moncton and the Moncton Wildcats organization. He was the cornerstone of the organization as a player and will no doubt have the same impact in his role with the organization today.
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