A Big Hit: Wildcats' Impact First Rounders, Part 1
June 3, 2023 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Moncton Wildcats News Release
In this day and age, it's imperative that organizations get it right when looking at the drafting and developing process with their young talent. Every organization sees it differently and follow their own unique scouting analysis, evaluations and projecting framework when approaching the draft. Obviously, the scouting process is not an exact science, there are no guarantees. That's what makes hitting on draft picks so critical.
Over the course of its history the Moncton Wildcats have hit on several impact players that have left a lasting legacy. From memorable individual performances to triumphant team success the Wildcats former first round stars have left an indelible impression on the history of the organization.
Morgan Warren - 1997, 2nd overall
Morgan Warren was a highly skilled, two-way presence for the Wildcats for three seasons. In 171 regular season games with the Cats Warren recorded 60 goals, 62 assists while racking up 201 PIM's. In 27 playoff games Warren recorded 9 goals and 7 assists. Warren's impact on the organization went beyond the stat sheet. He took on a leadership role with the team and always took pride in playing the game the right way with grit, skill and character.
Warren made the jump to the American Hockey League in 2000-2001 where he played three seasons with the St. John's Maple Leafs, before making a move to Europe. After three seasons in Germany, Warren retired from professional hockey.
Steve Bernier - 2001, 1st overall
Steve Bernier's journey and impact on the Moncton Wildcats organization is incredibly well documented. To this day, Bernier is considered one of the best to ever wear the jersey. In four years with the Moncton Wildcats, Bernier played 271 games scoring 151 goals while adding 162 assists for 313 pts. The native of Quebec is still among franchise leaders in games played, goals and points. Bernier's ability to make everyone around him better and play a prototypical power forward style of game, gave the team a lethal scoring threat and compete two-way player every time he stepped on the ice.
Bernier was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the 1st round, 16th overall, in 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in 2005-06 and played in 707 career NHL games, amassing 253 points over that time.
Corey Crawford - 2001, 14th overall
The Moncton Wildcats needed a franchise netminder and they definitely found one in Corey Crawford. Corey Crawford was drafted by the Wildcats 14th overall in the 2001 QMJHL Draft. Crawford won the starting role from Matthew Davis by Christmas in 2001-2002. Crawford tried to backstop a young developing Wildcats team and finished the year with a 9-20-3 record with 3.74 goals against average.
In Crawford's second full season with the club the Montreal, PQ product dominated and turned in a 24-17-6 record with a 2.73 GAA. Crawford backstopped the Cats all the way to the President Cup Finals in the 2003-04 after posting incredible numbers between the pipes. He won 35 games that season with a 2.62 GAA and would play in all of the team's 20 playoff games.
Crawford's performance in his first two seasons in Moncton caught the eye of NHL scouts and the Chicago Blackhawks selected him in the 2nd round 52nd overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Crawford won Defensive Player of the Year honours in the QMJHL in 2003-04 for his incredible performance during the playoff run and as a result of the NHL lockout in 2004-2005 returned to play his overage year with the Cats.
Crawford's junior accomplishes are staggering but pale in comparison to his professional success. Crawford is a two-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Chicago Blackhawks and won the 2016 World Cup of Hockey with Team Canada. He played 383 NHL games and has a 2.37 GAA and has 21 career shutouts, 216 career wins and 115 losses.
Adam Pineault - 2002, 4th overall
Somethings are well worth the wait, the same could be said about Adam Pineault and his arrival in the QMJHL. Sometimes in the scouting business you take a swing for the fences. That's exactly what the Moncton Wildcats did by selecting Pineault at 4th overall in 2002.
There was some concern that Pineault would never report to the organization and decided to take the NCAA playing for Boston College in the 2003-2004 season. He only suited up for 29 games that season and decided to make the jump to the QMJHL the following season which paid immediate and massive dividends for the Wildcats organization. Pineault's first foray in the QMJHL saw the 6'1 ¬Â³, 200-pounder amass 26 goals and 20 assists for 46 points in 61 games. Pineault played 12 playoff games that season where he totaled 2 goals and 6 assists.
In 55 regular season games the following season, the talented winger scored 29 goals and added 30 assists, was + 30 and amassed 94 PIM's. Pineault's playoff performance in 2005-2006 will go down in the annals of Wildcats lore. In 21 games he fired 14 goals and 8 assists playing in every situation. The Wildcats won the President Cup in 2006, but lost in heartbreaking fashion in the Memorial Cup Final to their QMJHL rivals the Quebec Remparts. In two seasons with the Moncton Wildcats the talented winger amassed 135 points and 201 PIM's in 149 games.
Pineault went on to play 3 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets and 9 seasons of professional hockey before retiring from the game at the end of the 2013-2014 season.
Nicola Riopel - 2005, 14th overall
The face of the franchise when it came to netminding was none other than Nicola Riopel. The Moncton Wildcats landed their future number one and pillar of consistency with the 14th overall selection in 2005. Riopel gave the Cats a chance to win every time he was between the pipes.
Riopel's stats are truly incredible. He was the backbone of the organization. His return to the Cats propelled them to their championship run in 2010. In 4 seasons with the Cats, he played 168 games, had a 2.58 GAA coupled with a .915 save percentage, 10 shutouts, posted a 91-41-20 record. He played in 35 playoff games amassing a record of 22-8-4 with a 2.38 GAA and .923 save percentage.
'Rio' went on to play professionally in the AHL, ECHL and also played two seasons in Europe before retiring from the game in 2018. Nicola is still heavily involved in the game and represents countless players across the game as an agent and advisor.
Brandon Gormley - 2008, 1st overall
The Moncton Wildcats and Brandon Gormley were a match made in heaven. The gifted defenseman stepped onto the ice ready to leave his mark and definitely turned things around for the Wildcats. Gormley's ability to play at both ends of the ice and offensive upside made the Wildcats an instant contender. Gormley recorded 27 points in 62 games as a rookie and would add 4 points in 10 playoff games in the 2008-09 season.
During the 2010 season, Gormley was 2nd in defensive scoring behind David Savard with 43 points in 58 regular season games, and would add an impressive 17 points in 21 games in their playoff championship run. In all, Gormley played 229 games for the Moncton Wildcats and had 167 points during that time. Gormley was a part of the 2010 President Cup team that featured one of the best Major Junior blue lines ever assembled. Gormley's ability to read the game and make crucial defensive plays solidified the Wildcats' back end. But Gormley wasn't content with just shutting down opponents - he also showcased his offensive instincts, becoming a threat on the rush.
His remarkable talent earned him a selection in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, picked 13th overall by the Phoenix Coyotes. Gormley has played a total of 58 NHL games, 248 AHL games, 267 professional games in Europe and suited up countless times internationally for Team Canada. Brandon Gormley suited up for Sochi of the KHL this season
Louis Domingue - 2009, 13th overall
Louis Domingue's time with the Moncton Wildcats may have been short-lived, but his future success in the league and the game of hockey all started here in Moncton. Trades and the business side of the game is not always easy to understand for fans of any organization, but it's part of the game. Domingue came into the organization as they were loading up for another run at a President Cup. The return of Nic Riopel and emergence of OHL free agent signee Shane Owen put the organization in a tough position. Domingue and Matt Brown were traded to the Remparts for Kesley Tessier. Domingue played 34 games for the Cats posting a 16-12-2 record in the regular season had a combined 2.56 GAA over that time with a .916 save percentage. Trades are difficult in Major Junior hockey to get impactful players you have to give up impactful players.
Domingue's career took off as a member of the Quebec Remparts which led to him getting drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Domingue played three seasons in the AHL before making his NHL debut with the Coyotes in 2014-15. Since then he's suited for five other NHL organizations and is still going strong at the AHL level with the Hartford Wolf Pack. In 142 NHL games, Domingue has a 59-60-10 record, a 3.04 GAA, a .905 save percentage.
Moncton Wildcats 2023 Draft coverage is sponsored by Protrans Personnel Services.
The Wildcats hold the 1st overall pick on June 10 at the 2023 QMJHL Entry Draft in Sherbrooke. You can watch the Wildcats take the next step - 2023/2024 Season Seats are on sale now!
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from June 3, 2023
- QMJHLers Receive National Recognition at CHL Awards - QMJHL
- A Big Hit: Wildcats' Impact First Rounders, Part 1 - Moncton Wildcats
- Isles Sign Forward Matthew Butler - Charlottetown Islanders
- 7 Days to #1 - Ranking the Prospects - Moncton Wildcats
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