Everything Will Be “Different”

It didn’t take Taylor and Gardiner MacDougall too long to make everything different for the Moncton Wildcats.

Different is one of those words in the game of hockey that doesn’t sit well with a lot of people.

When someone does something “different” in the hockey world, people take notice and more times than not instantaneously criticize or question it.

In this case “different” is just the way it is with what you will see around the entire organization this year and beyond.

When it was announced that Gardiner and Taylor would take over the helm, a general consensus around the hockey world in this region anyway was one of shock and dismay. More questions than answers ensued, those questions were subtly different, but definitely had an undercurrent of doubt.

How could people ever doubt Gardiner MacDougall as a coach? The vast majority of people on the outside looking in and even “really strong” hockey people raised what some coined as “legitimate hockey questions” surrounding his would be approach.

From a GM perspective, people automatically questioned Taylor’s qualifications for the job and subsequent resume and knowledge of the Q circuit.

Those that really know the game, know full well things are going to be drastically different in “Wildcat” land this year.

Different how?

Let’s start with accountability and communication.

From Day 1 things have been different. A different feel, a different vibe around the entire organization.

How is it going to be so different on the ice? Well, you don’t have to wait too much longer to observe the changes because training camp is fast approaching.

You will instantly see the difference in the players and how they will be approaching everything this season.

The Wildcats veterans and prospects alike will be in the best shape of their lives. If they’re not things won’t go well for them and it doesn’t matter who they are or what role they played on the team the year or years before.

That might sound harsh, but that’s the harsh reality of it. It all comes back to the standard that was set or established on Day 1 when the MacDougall’s were hired and first spoke to the players on a Zoom call.

Standards and expectations surrounding the Wildcats will be different. Every hockey person on the day they’re hired promises things and those things will be different and unique, but very few ever truly deliver during their tenure.

Standards around the Moncton Wildcats will be different, from top to bottom, everything will be different.

Players will be held accountable on and off the ice because of those “new” “different” standards.

Those standards will be communicated, modelled and followed to the letter.

Training Camp will be different, practices will be different, the overall approach to every aspect of the game this season and beyond will be different for the Wildcats.

For example players that have subpar performances will be held accountable and won’t be “thrown back out there,” just because of who they are. Accountability and communication will be at the forefront of everything the Moncton Wildcats do this season.

As for those “legitimate hockey questions,” I guess you could call them “fair” given the circumstances, but why question and criticize?

“How will Gardiner be able to motivate, deliver and sustain his model or approach to the game at the Major Junior level for that long of a season?”

“He’s only coached four games in a tournament setting at the CHL level, how can he sustain that style over a 64 game schedule?”

Again, one could say those are fair questions and will that aspect be a challenge for the Gardiner and the coaching staff? Potentially, but you could say that about every Major Junior team and coaching staff across the CHL.

Everything will be different this year, and you will see how good “different” will be for the Moncton Wildcats.

Structurally and systematically the Wildcats offensively and defensively will be vastly different this year. The addition of Paul Boutilier as a special defensive consultant will be a game changer, well, it already has been a game changer, but you won’t see that until training camp, but like everything it won’t take too long to see how different the Cats entire defensive scheme will be.

Everything will be different.

Things are only different for so long until they become standard practice, that’s how you build a new culture and a champion.

Things will be different, and the answers to those “fair” hockey questions will be all answered soon enough!