On The Brink

The Moncton Wildcats are on the brink of their first QMJHL finals appearance in 15 years. Obviously, no one around the organization dares to talk about that possibility, especially up 3-0 on the road. 15 years is a long time, and to say a lot has happened over that time would be the understatement of the century for Wildcats fans and the organization.

Wildcats Head Coach Gardiner MacDougall balks at the idea to look too far ahead and wants his group to prepare for their “first shift” in Game 4, that’s their top priority.

Photo Credit Daniel St Louis

Clearly there’s been a different feel around the organization this season and of course that starts behind the bench.

The “Gardiner MacDougall Effect” has been in full effect all season long. Ask anyone around the game that knows MacDougall well and they will tell some sort of story about his routines and or superstitions. Call it what you want, Gardiner MacDougall has his own unique nuances and they’re less than subtle, but when it comes to the game of hockey and coaching, they work, they get results and in the business of hockey that’s wins and a lot of them.

Every day, every practice, every shift and every game matters when it comes to Gardiner MacDougall and that’s why winning has become a routine or ritual for him and his teams.

It’s clear that every player has bought in and believes in the message, echoes that message and trusts the very essence of a MacDougall coached team and ideology. At times it’s hasn’t been pretty to say the least especially during this particular series, but they find a way to win and perform when it matters most.

The nuances of a championship caliber team aren’t subtle either. It takes every player and everyone pulling in the same direction especially in Major Junior hockey to win. The Wildcats are so close to one of their objectives, but you will never hear that ever uttered from a coach or player.

Gardiner MacDougall lives in the moment, his teams live in the moment. You can call it whatever the hell you want, it works, is working and will continue to work moving forward in these playoffs, that’s the “Gardiner MacDougall Effect.”

15 years is a long time and a hell of a lot of things have happened over that time from a Moncton Wildcats perspective, but Gardiner MacDougall doesn’t want to hear any of that stuff even though he no doubt knows all about it. MacDougall’s mind is like a steel trap, he doesn’t forget anything especially when it comes to the game of hockey. That was on full display last night when he discussed his first victory in Rouyn in over 25 years.

It’s all about puck drop tonight, it’s all about the first shift, but there’s one thing that everyone can assume, the Moncton Wildcats as an entirety want no part of a Game 5 on Friday night at home, they want to end things tonight. The Moncton Wildcats are on the brink and the “Gardiner MacDougall Effect” is in full effect.