QMJHL Moncton Wildcats

Playoff Coffee Cup

Published on April 29, 2010 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Moncton Wildcats News Release


The Match Up:

It's the first time in the history of the QMJHL that two New Brunswick teams have met for the Presidents Cup. The Wildcats won the league championship in 2006 while the Sea Dogs will have their first shot at the title after five years in the league.

Regular Season :

The Sea Dogs were first overall in league standings winning the league championship with a record of 53 wins, 12 losses, one overtime loss and two shootout defeats. The Dogs had a 22 game winning steak during the season, stopped by the Cats!

The Wildcats were third overall in the standings with 102 points on 48 wins, 14 losses, and two overtime losses and lost four times in the shootout. The best Wildcats winning streak was 12 games.

Against each other, the Wildcats won 4 games in regulation including the final game 5-2 in front of a national television audience.

The Sea Dogs won three games in a shoot-out and one in overtime

David Savard lead the Cats in points against the Dogs, he had 10 assists. Daniel Petterson and Marek Hrivik each had 5 goals during in the eight games and each added 3 assists.

For the Dogs in regular season play, Tomas Jurco was their top point getter with 5 goals and 4 assists. Yann Sauve had 3 goals and 5 assists while Michael Kirkpatrick had a pair of goals and 6 helpers

The Playoffs:

Both teams have played 15 post season games.

The Wildcats downed Cape Breton, Rouyn-Noranda and Drummondville in 5 games.

The Sea Dogs defeated PEI, Gatineau and Victoriaville to reach the final series.

On the power play, Moncton has a 25.9% scoring percentage and short handed have been successful with an 82% rating.

Saint John's power play is scoring at a 30% average while shorthanded they've killed off penalties at 84.1%

Goaltenders:

Nicola Riopel of the Wildcats has a 2.29 goals against average and a .939 save percentage while Marco Cousineau has a 2.18 goal against and a save percentage of 9. 25 save percentage.

Other interesting facts:

The Wildcats have won 5 games on the road; have had only 9.6 penalty minutes per game.

Gabriel Bourque of the Cats has 11 goals and 47 hits and has at least one point in each of his last six games.

Moncton captain Scott Brannon will hit the 350 games played plateau on Friday night, Scotty has played 302 regular season games and 47 in the playoffs,

The Sea Dogs lost only two consecutive games only four times during the season and have not lost two in a row in the playoffs.

Rookie Jonathan Huberdeau has 11 goals in the playoffs to date, the best for a 16 year old since 1980.

Gerard Gallant, the Sea Dogs coach is 5th among all time playoff leaders in the Q with 90 points.

Players to watch:

For the Wildcats, veteran forwards Gabriel Bourque, Kelsey Tessier, who has a team leading 21 points in the playoffs. Nick Deschamps, Scott Brannon and Randy Cameron. Cameron has 14 points in post season play. On defence, Mark Barberio has 15 playoff points, Brandon Gormley has 14 points and David Savard with a +16 rating has 8 points.

On the Sea Dogs side, Michael Kirpatrick is the offensive leader with 24 points, Nicolas Peterson has 23 and centre Mike Hoffman has 19. On the blueline, the Dogs have Simon Despres leading all defensemen with 17 points, while Yann Sauve and Pierre Durepos have been outstanding both on defence and offence.

All of that points to a classic series. Not to be forgotten is the fact the Wildcats defended the Rivalry Cup this season beating the Sea Dogs in fan attendance percentage and had a lopsided win in the Food Bank drive.

Latest reports indicate a full house at Harbour Station on Friday night and the line-ups were long and steady at the Coliseum when tickets went on sale at noon Wednesday. Book your tickets by calling the Coliseum Box Office, open from 10am to 6pm Friday and Saturday and from 10am to game time Sunday, the number is 857-4100, for on-line ticket purchase go to www.moncton-wildcats.com .

All games will be carried by News 91.9, the official voice of the Wildcats and on the Telus webcast.

Check out the Moncton Wildcats Statistics

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from April 29, 2010


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