XMA0319A0401
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Page 4 MONCTON WILDCATS COLLECTOR’S EDITION PLAYOFFS 2015 Change of Seasons When the 2014-15 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League season comes to an end for the Moncton Wildcats, it will surely be remembered as one of the most memorable since Moncton hosted the 2006 Memorial Cup. Moncton finished last season 12th overall in the 18-team league at 33-32-0-3. The Wildcats were third in the Maritime Division and with the uncertainty of whether they would have Russian stars Ivan Barbashev and Vladimir Tkachev both back not many predicted they would finish any higher this season. Someone forgot to tell the Wildcats. Training camp saw a group of returning veterans like goaltender Alex Dubeau, defencemen Jacob Sweeney and Matthew Klebanskyj and centre Stephen Johnson, a handful of newcomers in Kyle Tibbo, Cameron Askew and highly touted rookie defenceman Zachary Malatesta, 40-goal forward Christophe Lalonde and rising star Conor Garland. ``The biggest difference in the team this sea- son is the experience factor,’’ said Klebanskyj. ``Last season, we were younger. Plus, we have developed chemistry as a team now. I think everyone is really comfortable in the room and are enjoying their roles on the ice right now.’’ The Wildcats burst out of the gate at 7-3-0-0 in the opening 10 games this season, but two road trips through Quebec in mid October saw the club drop five of the next seven outings. When October was over, Moncton was second in the Maritime Division at 10-7-0-0 and five points behind the Saint John Sea Dogs. With key snipers Lalonde and Tkachev out of the lineup due to injuries, by early November head coach Darren Rumble formed a new line with Johnson at center, Barbashev at right wing and Garland at left wing. The impact was immediate. Throughout November and December, the Wildcats were 14-5-0-0 and the duo of Barbashev and Garland terrorized opposing goaltenders. New career highs in points were reached by many players with two weeks remaining in the season. Sweeney had 46 points and Johnson’s 38 points surpassed his previous two seasons combined. ``I was told to focus on the offensive part of my game over the summer,’’ said Johnson, who returned to the lineup in mid February after missing almost 10 weeks with an injury. ``So, I shot a lot of pucks during the summer and it has reflected in my game.’’ Moncton also made a series of deals before the trade deadline, sending captain Christophe Lalonde and Mathieu Olivier to the Shawinigan Cataractes and Vladimir Tkachev to the Quebec Remparts. The Wildcats acquired veteran for- wards Taylor Burke from Quebec, Noah Zilbert from the Gatineau Olympiques and Bronson Beaton from the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. ``I think when we made the trades for Beaton, Zilbert and Burke that made our team official,’’ said Wildcats goaltender Alex Dubeau. ``(Director of hockey operations) Roger Shannon and coach Rumble made it clear that in order for us to be successful we needed to have the right team chemistry to go far in the playoffs. I really believe we have that now. We want to win every game and we believe we can win every night.’’ Moncton took over sole possession of first place in the Maritime Division on Dec. 18 and never relinquished it. The Wildcats continued to roll through the competition throughout January and February, stringing together a series of victories that included a three-game, four-day sweep in Baie-Comeau, Chicoutimi and Victoriaville. Garland amassed nine points on that im- pressive three-game trip. What’s more, he was named first star in each of these outings. ``Every win is exciting for this t e a m ,’ ’ said Wildcats director of hockey oper- ations Roger Shannon. ``I think part of our success is that the guys are enjoying it so much. I don’t think there is any pressure on our guys because no one expected us to be where we are right now in the standings.’’ March has been filled with highlights for Moncton. The team claimed the fourth division title in franchise history, guaranteeing it a top three finish in the overall league. Dubeau established a record for career wins by a Wild- cats goaltender. Garland, who was poised to win the league scoring title, set a record for most points in a season by a Wildcats player. It truly has been a great season and more excitement is on the horizon with the playoffs. Reserve your playoff tickets today by calling the ticket office at 506-382-5555 and watch the Wildcats do #WhateverItTakes. ROGER WHITE MONCTON WILDCATS, PLAy By PLAy ANNOuNCER
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Transcript of XMA0319A0401
Page 4 MONCTON WILDCATS COLLECTOR’S EDITION PLAYOFFS 2015
Change of SeasonsWhen the 2014-15 Quebec Major Junior HockeyLeague season comes to an end for theMonctonWildcats, it will surely be remembered as oneof the most memorable since Moncton hostedthe 2006 Memorial Cup.Moncton finished last season 12th overall in
the 18-team league at 33-32-0-3. The Wildcatswere third in the Maritime Division and withthe uncertainty of whether they would haveRussian stars Ivan Barbashev and VladimirTkachev both back not many predicted theywould finish any higher this season.Someone forgot to tell the Wildcats. Training
camp saw a group of returning veterans likegoaltender Alex Dubeau, defencemen JacobSweeney and Matthew Klebanskyj and centreStephen Johnson, a handful of newcomers inKyle Tibbo, Cameron Askew and highly toutedrookie defenceman Zachary Malatesta, 40-goalforward Christophe Lalonde and rising starConor Garland.``The biggest difference in the team this sea-
son is the experience factor,’’ said Klebanskyj.``Last season, we were younger. Plus, we havedeveloped chemistry as a team now. I thinkeveryone is really comfortable in the room andare enjoying their roles on the ice right now.’’The Wildcats burst out of the gate at 7-3-0-0
in the opening 10 games this season, but tworoad trips through Quebec in mid October saw
the club drop five of the next seven outings.When October was over, Moncton was secondin the Maritime Division at 10-7-0-0 and fivepoints behind the Saint John Sea Dogs.With key snipers Lalonde and Tkachev out of
the lineup due to injuries, by early Novemberhead coach Darren Rumble formed a new linewith Johnson at center, Barbashev at rightwing and Garland at left wing. The impactwas immediate.
Throughout November and December,the Wildcats were 14-5-0-0 and the duo ofBarbashev and Garland terrorized opposinggoaltenders. New career highs in points werereached by many players with two weeksremaining in the season. Sweeney had 46points and Johnson’s 38 points surpassed hisprevious two seasons combined.``I was told to focus on the offensive part
of my game over the summer,’’ said Johnson,who returned to the lineup in mid Februaryafter missing almost 10 weeks with an injury.``So, I shot a lot of pucks during the summerand it has reflected in my game.’’Moncton also made a series of deals before
the trade deadline, sending captain ChristopheLalonde and Mathieu Olivier to the ShawiniganCataractes and Vladimir Tkachev to the QuebecRemparts. The Wildcats acquired veteran for-wards Taylor Burke from Quebec, Noah Zilbertfrom the Gatineau Olympiques and BronsonBeaton from the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.
``I think when we made the trades for
Beaton, Zilbert and Burke that made ourteam official,’’ said Wildcats goaltender AlexDubeau. ``(Director of hockey operations)Roger Shannon and coach Rumble made itclear that in order for us to be successful weneeded to have the right team chemistry togo far in the playoffs. I really believe we havethat now. We want to win every game and webelieve we can win every night.’’
Moncton took over sole possession of firstplace in the Maritime Division on Dec. 18 andnever relinquished it. The Wildcats continuedto roll through the competition throughoutJanuary and February, stringing together aseries of victories that included a three-game,four-day sweep in Baie-Comeau, Chicoutimiand Victoriaville.
Garland amassed nine points on that im-pressive three-game trip. What’s more, he wasnamed first star in each ofthese outings.
``Every winis exciting forthis team,’ ’said Wildcatsdirector ofhockey oper-ations RogerShannon. ``Ithink part ofour success isthat the guysare enjoying it
so much. I don’t think there is any pressureon our guys because no one expected us tobe where we are right now in the standings.’’
March has been filled with highlights forMoncton. The team claimed the fourth divisiontitle in franchise history, guaranteeing it atop three finish in the overall league. Dubeauestablished a record for career wins by a Wild-cats goaltender. Garland, who was poised towin the league scoring title, set a record formost points in a season by a Wildcats player.
It truly has been a great season and moreexcitement is on the horizon with the playoffs.Reserve your playoff tickets today by callingthe ticket office at 506-382-5555 and watchthe Wildcats do #WhateverItTakes.
ROGER WHITEMONCTON WILDCATS, PLAy By PLAy ANNOuNCER
