Wildcats & Oceanic start Cup battle Saturday
It all comes down to the regular season’s #1 Moncton Wildcats taking on the #2 Rimouski Oceanic in the QMJHL Final — a matchup most Moncton hockey fans were hoping for — best on best for the Cup!
Reminder: It’s a WHITE-OUT! Fans are encouraged to wear white to the QMJHL Final. Get there early to buy a white ‘GET WILD’ t-shirt for just $8 (supply is limited).
Riverview music group The Causeways will be rocking the Oval pre-game.
The Wildcats (53-9-2-0, 108 pts) come into the Final series healthy & rested after a 4-game sweep over Rouyn-Noranda. It was 4 straight wins, but not 4 easy wins — all games were settled in the 3rd period or beyond.
Wildcats star Caleb Desnoyers leads the way for the Cats & the QMJHL with 24 points (9G, 15A) in 13 games. Big Gabe Smith sits second in team scoring with 4 goals & 13 assists — including 6 helpers versus the Huskies. Juraj Pekarcik (6G, 8A) is third in Cats Playoff scoring with 14 points.
Wildcat goalie duo Mathis Rousseau (2.59 GAA, .912 SV%) & Rudy Guimond (2.00 GAA, .927 SV% ) have shared the 12 Playoff victories. Guimond has 7 wins and Rousseau 5.
The Cats & Oceanic split their season series — Rimouski taking the January 25 game 5-3 in Moncton & The Cats evened things with a 3-2 win on Oceanic ice on March 5.
The 2024-2025 Oceanic (46-14-2-2, 96 Pts) won the East Division, entered the Playoffs as the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference, and finished 2nd overall in league play. Rimouski made short work of the Islanders in Round 1, took Round 2 in 6 games over Chicoutimi, and went the distance, and then some, to defeat Shawinigan in 7 games, plus double OT. Eriks Mateiko played hero to send the Oceanic to the Final.
Rimouski is led offensively by overager Jacob Mathieu (13G, 11A) who is tied with the Cats’ Desnoyers with 24 points. Winger Alexandre Blais (5G, 12A) & centreman Jonathan Fauchon are also in the Top 10 of QMJHL Playoff scoring. Riverview native (and brother of Wildcats’ Dyllan) Spencer Gill is out with a long-term lower body injury.
The Oceanic, like the Cats, boast 2 solid keepers — rookie William Lacelle (2.96 GAA, .903 SV%) finished up the QMJHL semifinal with a win, loss and game 7 2OT victory. Before that, Mathis Langevin (1.38 GAA, .947 SV%) had carried the load and put up 10 wins against only 2 losses.
The Wildcats & Oceanic have quite a Playoff history with Rimouski holding the upper hand:
- 2018 – #14 MON upset #3 RIM in 7 games in RD 1
- 2009 – #7 RIM defeat #2 MON 4-1 in RD 2
- 2004 – #4 MON beat #3 RIM 4-1 in RD 3, while shutting down a young Sidney Crosby
- 2000 – Top-ranked RIM beat #2 MON 4-1 in RD 3
- 1999 – #8 RIM sweep #6 MON in RD 1
- 1998 – MON fall in RD 2 round robin scenario that included RIM & QUE
Don’t miss the Cats in QMJHL Final — It’s all on the line! Tickets will go fast, so buy early.
Save on tickets with a Family 4-Pack — 2 adults & 2 youths for $85.64 +tax/fees. Add extra youths for $21.41 each. Available at the Avenir Centre Box Office or ticketmaster.ca.
Take advantage of new 60 Minute Powerplay pricing at the Avenir Centre — $4 hot dogs, $3 Aquafina bottles of water, and $5.75 Moosehead Light & Alpine (355mL cans). The Avenir Centre doors open at 3:30pm — prices in effect for 60 minutes after doors open for the game (3:30 to 4:30pm).
Our 50/50 raffle has a $25,000 jackpot guarantee.
The Moose Light Ice Level Bar will not be set up for this game, as seating will be available behind the net.
THINGS TO KNOW FOR SATURDAY
- The 50/50 raffle has a $25,000 Jackpot guarantee. Don’t forget to buy your raffle tickets online now or at the game. We accept cash, debit, Visa or Mastercard at the arena.
- DJ Psycadelix & Lynden Steeves on the Wildcats organ
- Access your season seats or flex tickets through your Ticketmaster Wildcats Account Manager.
- Avenir Centre doors open at 3:30pm.
- Check out the poster station in the Avenir Centre lobby — kids can make their own signs for the game!
- The Roar Store Item of the Game is Wildcats car flags ($5)
- The Jersey Raffle is for a white #18 DESNOYERS game-worn autographed jersey.
