The Moncton Wildcats continue to find a way to win hockey games and stay competitive despite a massive roster overhaul and lack of scoring depth. The resilient Wildcats somehow find themselves 13th overall in the circuit and only 8 pts out of 3rd overall which is remarkable at this stage of the season.
There’s no question the Cats could be considered underdogs almost every time they lace them up. Gardiner MacDougall’s group has been punching way above their weight through 19 games and by all accounts don’t show signs of stopping, but as the season progresses it’s going to be very difficult for the “retooling” Cats to sustain .500 hockey. Injuries woes have already started and every team will have their share of those, the Cats need everyone to be healthy and pulling in the same direction to maintain their current pace.
The Wildcats have to play an almost perfect game and be relentless within their structure in order to be in hockey games and that’s exactly what they have done so far.
Clearly, one has to credit the players for buying in and executing, but there’s no question Gardiner MacDougall and the staff deserve a ton of credit for “coaching them up real good” thus far. The Cats fitness level far exceeds that of most clubs and that was on full display against the Cape Breton. last week. They had jump when the Eagles were really flat and listless.
The 2026-27 Moncton Wildcats are potentially MacDougall’s toughest test and biggest challenge as a coach in quite sometime or perhaps ever, but to their credit the group continues to show up ready to play and willing to stay in the fight.
To say the Wildcats have overachieved so far this season is a true and valid statement. The collection of new players are working hard to gain traction in the league and it’s evident that there’s been an influx of growing pains a long the way.
The Cats were outmatched on Wednesday night when they faced the Remparts, but still turned in a gritty performance and kept things respectable losing 3-1 versus one of the circuits best. The Cats coaching staff continue to do an excellent job with the group and are showing great patience and persistence. There’s been no visible signs of frustration setting in behind the bench which speaks to the professionalism and experience of the coaching staff. The improvement with the group is noticeable and if this team stays above the .500 mark and makes the playoffs it will be a great accomplishment.
This weekends set of games provide yet another massive test for a team trying to sustain or surpass their .500 record. The Sea Dogs and Oceanic will be ready to play and send a message and you can bet your arse they won’t be taking the Cats lightly.
The Cats speed and transition game is still pretty lethal when clicking on all cylinders. The Wildcats backend has struggled moving pucks and generating momentum on a consistent basis which also points to a young and inexperienced group.
Speciality teams have also struggled at times this season which is to be expected with so many new faces and different roles assigned. The returning players/veterans have played well for the Cats for the most part, but if they hope to maintain their .500 pace they will have to continue to contribute in all facets.
Things could be far worse off for the Cats if it wasn’t for their goaltending tandem. Ignoring the wins and losses, Weiner and Rbykin’s other numbers speak for themselves. Sub 3.00 goals against average for that duo given the influx of changes on the backend is outstanding. They aren’t getting a lot of run support either so to speak. The Cats are tied for second with the fewest goals scored in the league at 52. Rbykin and Weiner have to be in full “Dominik Hasek” mode every night if they want to be competitive and have already stolen some games.
It’s far too early to start speculating on the direction the Wildcats will take to manage or if in fact move assets heading into the upcoming “QMJHL Trade Period.” There are always a lot of questions surrounding a retooling team and especially one with high expectations. It seems like ages ago now, but losing the Memorial Cup bid could also drastically change the potential plan of attack for the Wildcats management and scouting department.
Finding the right mix of players and finding a way to stay competitive and win is clearly the prime objective for this version of the Cats. A .500 to .600 winning percentage will surpass expectations this year, but there’s no surprise that this team would be coached up really good.
