When It Matters

When It Matters

Have you ever put something together and tightened all of the screws and bolts only to realize that the instructions said to leave them lose until the very end?

The Moncton Wildcats are hopeful they’re building something very special, but they’re still putting things together and a matter of fact they’re tightening things up and will continue to tighten things up until it matters.

Clearly puck management, movement and spacing are ongoing issues, but you could say that about any Major Junior team.

If one was to look at the core group they are still adapting and growing. They had some bad habits to break and are continuing to work through those aspects and grow as a collective.

Last night’s 1st period versus the Titan was no doubt the most complete and clean period the group has played in a while.

Their exits were crisp, they skated well and really hunted pucks on the forecheck. Their overall puck movement and support was bang on. The Cats didn’t give up a ton on the defensive side during the first stanza either.

When things got nasty in the 2nd period the Wildcats didn’t back down. Teams have and will continue to test the Cats toughness as the season progresses. Again more lessons are being learned. One takeaway from last night is when you’re up 5-0 you probably shouldn’t chirp the other teams bench. That’s exactly what happened and the Titan weren’t going to stand for that and rightfully so. Things get said on the ice all of the time, but knowing the temperature and feel of the game is vital for any team, but especially for teams with Championship aspirations.

Clearly everyone has circled tonight’s game vs Rimouski on their calendars. Sure, it’s a measuring stick game, but in the grand scheme of things it’s just another game in January, just another test.

One would argue that the Moncton Wildcats are like the Toronto Maple Leafs of the QMJHL when it comes to the attention surrounding the team, intrigue, fan interaction and reaction on social media and pressure to win.

Ironically, in a year where the Wildcats have so much going for them on so many levels, the mainstream media attention around the team has been nothing compared to years previous.

Again all that doesn’t matter until it does.

The Cats have been a “marked” team from the get go, and the group is learning how to handle that kind of pressure and attention.

In 2019-2020 when they loaded up, there was an air of confidence and swagger around that team, but they still had to figure stuff out and they needed time to do that. On February 19, 2020, the Cats had a showdown with the Oceanic, the buzz and hype around that game was to be reckoned with. Saying a lot has happened since then would be a massive understatement, but the Cats find themselves in a similar situation.

Much like the Leafs, when the Wildcats drop a game or don’t play up to the “perceived” standard the Cats social media goes ballistic. Again that’s the sign of a loyal hockey crazed fan base, but as crazy as this might sound the Wildcats are still figuring shit out right now.

As for the shit they are deciphering, it’s called chemistry and they are still ratcheting it up.

You see a big game in January let’s say versus the Memorial Cup hosts, is a “big game” depending on how you want to look at it, but it’s how the group reacts, plays and responds that is the most telling.

If the Cats were to lay an egg tonight and have a stinker which can happen especially after an emotionally charged game, people will start questioning this or that and try to find fault or start to lay blame. That’s what fanbases do, but you have to look beyond all of that and zero in on what matters right now.

Right now the Cats are a team that’s working on tightening things up to win games in April, May and June.

It’s safe to say the Cats have principles and standards they are trying to meet and accomplish right now so they can win the games that matter most.

To be brutally honest, the Wildcats will learn more by being tested right now or dropping a few games here in the second half then running the table or dominating their opponents the rest of the way.

If you’re the Moncton Wildcats you want to get tested now. You want to see what works and what doesn’t, but more importantly you want to know how players react, adjust and adapt, that’s what really matters right now.

Case in point the power play.

The units continue to change, they’re building chemistry, continuity and capacity. To rip the power play right now doesn’t make a ton of sense. Now you can rip or comment on effort, urgency, player tendencies or poor habits like perhaps for example one player’s inability to pass the puck in time or decision making or shot selection, but to rip the PP for the sake of ripping something just because the team hasn’t looked sharp or executed lately on it misses the mark.

Right now it’s about effort and showing up every night and working on the aforementioned standards and principles so when it matters they will be ready.

The Moncton Wildcats are in the early stages of tightening things up to meet a championship standard. That shit takes time.