‘Hardest game I ever had to coach': Moncton Wildcats deal with tragedy at Memorial Cup

CTV News

27-05-2025

Head coach of the Moncton Wildcats, Gardiner MacDougall, is pictured at the Avenir Centre in Moncton, N.B.
The Moncton Wildcats are dealing with the loss of a member of their hockey family.
Moments after the team's Monday night loss to the Medicine Hat Tigers, Wildcats head coach Gardiner MacDougall spoke to the media during a post-game press conference.
MacDougall said about 20 minutes before the game Rimouski RCMP contacted his son Taylor, the team's general manger, to notify him that his father-in-law Pat Buckley died of a heart attack while golfing in Rimouski.
'Taylor told me about five minutes before we started the game. So, it is certainly a devastating loss and it's the hardest game I ever had to coach,' said MacDougall, who was clearly emotional.
MacDougall said Buckley was an unbelievable sportsman.
'A topnotch golfer. A former university hockey player. He was a second father to my son Taylor. They bonded like no other. Obviously, the hardest game I've ever had to coach,' said MacDougall.
A spokesperson for the Wildcats said the Canadian Hockey League has given Gardiner and Taylor the day off from media on Tuesday.
MacDougall said the players, who are scheduled to speak to the media after their practice Tuesday afternoon, were not aware prior to the game.
Tough loss
Moncton was defeated 3-1 by the Medicine Hat Tigers on Monday.
Ryder Ritchie scored twice and added an assist for the Tigers (0-2).
Medicine Hat will play the London Knights (2-0) Tuesday night and the winner will advance to Sunday's final.
Riverview, N.B.'s Dyllan Gill scored the lone goal for the Wildcats (0-2).
Down 2-1, the Wildcats pulled their goalie late in third period but were called for too many on the ice with 1:22 remaining.
Gavin McKenna scored an empty-net goal with seven seconds left in the game.
Medicine Hat outshot the Wildcats 41-22.
Moncton will play the host Rimouski Oceanic (0-2) on Wednesday evening with the loser being eliminated from the four-team tournament.
The winner will player the loser of the London/Medicine Hat game in Friday night's semi-final.
The Wildcats defeated the Oceanic in six games in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League championship final.
With files from the Canadian Press.
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