A strong program brings strong results
By Neil Hodge – The Moncton Wildcats have won two Quebec Major Junior Hockey League championships in the past five seasons, but that’s only part of their success story.
“We’re proud of the program we’ve built in Moncton,” said head coach and director of hockey operations Danny Flynn. “Not just the hockey program, but also the school program. We have a full-time education coordinator.
“We make a strong commitment to school. It’s part of the culture here. The kids have great resources and great tools. (Team owner) Mr. (Robert) Irving gives all kids in school a laptop computer for use during the season. They take it on the road and stay on top of their studies. We have wireless Internet on the bus so it’s a good setup.”
Moncton has 16 players back from last season’s President Cup winner, but it has also lost numerous big names.
The Wildcats parted with their graduating 20-year-olds — goaltender Nicola Riopel turned pro and forwards Scott Brannon and Randy Cameron are now in university hockey. Defencemen David Savard and Mark Barberio and forwards Nicolas Deschamps, Kelsey Tessier and Gabriel Bourque have all turned pro.
Savard, Barberio, Deschamps, Tessier and Bourque were all eligible to return to the QMJHL as 20-year-olds this season. They signed pro contracts during the summer.
“Except for Deschamps, all those guys were later round NHL draft picks and we were able to help them in their development,” said Flynn. “Savard and Tessier were fourth rounders, Riopel and Bourque were fifth rounders and Barberio was a sixth rounder.
“To have so many later round picks get NHL contracts is a credit to the kids and their hard work. But we also take a lot of pride that our program in Moncton helped bring out the best in them.”
Moncton competed in the 2006 and 2010 Memorial Cups. It’s significant that during this period of five seasons all 15 of the club’s 20-year-olds either moved on to pro hockey or continued their studies in university.
These 20-year-olds were: Riopel, Brannon and Cameron last season; Matt Eagles, Tomy Joly and Zach Sill in 2008-09; Phil Mangan, Matt Marquardt and Chris Morehouse in 2007-08; Andrew MacDonald, Nathan Welton and Christian Gaudet in 2006-07 and Philippe Dupuis, Josh Tordjman and Josh Hepditch in 2005-06.
Riopel, Joly, Sill, Marquardt, Morehouse, MacDonald, Dupuis and Tordjman are playing pro hockey this season. Morehouse went to university and then pro hockey. Gaudet started in pro hockey and then went to university.
“If you go back the last five seasons, every one of our 20-year-olds has either signed an NHL contract or headed back to university to complete their degree with significant scholarship money from the Quebec League and the Wildcats,” said Flynn. “That’s something we’re very proud of.”
“A lot of guys finish their university degree in two or three years because they had a head start on it when they were still playing junior. They graduate from school at age 23 or 24 and decide to give pro hockey another try knowing they have a degree tucked in their pocket.”
Flynn and Moncton associate coach Fabian Joseph are former head coaches in university hockey. When they took charge of the Wildcats in 2007-08, they took a keen interest in the club’s education component.
The theme for the Wildcats education program is `We’ve Got Goals.’ That means goals in terms of trying to reach the NHL, but if that doesn’t work out then becoming a professional in another area of life.
“As a coaching staff, we stay in touch with our full-time education coordinator and keep a close watch on the school program,” said Flynn. “The culture here is that you go to school and you look after your future when hockey is done. We have 14 players in university this season.
“Kids can play three or four years in this league and then if pro hockey isn’t their best option they can make good use of significant scholarship money and go to school. They can play five more years in a tremendous university league while they pursue a career in another field.
“I shake my head when people question the schooling side of major junior hockey. There’s a ton of guys who came through this league, got a good education with the scholarship money that’s provided and went on to successful careers inside and outside of hockey.”
– Photo credit: Daniel St-Louis
