It’s barely been a week since the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League team, the Moncton Wildcats, finally regained their throne atop the league. Under coach Gardiner MacDougall, the Wildcats captured the QMJHL Championship title for the first time since 2010. Their success in the league gave the team another chance to capture glory, this time at the Memorial Cup.
Things were looking up for the QMJHL champions as they geared up to face the Western Hockey League champion, the Medicine Hat Tigers, in their Memorial Cup Clash. However, the disaster struck just minutes before the hockey game. Coach Gardiner MacDougall revealed what he heard from his son Taylor MacDougall, who is also the Wildcats’ GM, moments ahead of puck drop.
“Before we get started, just prior to the game, 20 minutes probably before the game started, Rimouski RCMP contacted my son, Taylor,” said the head coach. They informed the Moncton Wildcats GM that his father-in-law, Pat Buckley, had passed away. The news stunned Taylor MacDougall because his father-in-law was out golfing when tragedy struck, and he took another 15 minutes before dialing his father’s number.
“Taylor told me about five minutes before we started the game,” said the coach. While we don’t know much about Pat Buckley, Coach MacDougall had nothing but praise for his son’s late father-in-law. “Pat Buckley was an unbelievable sportsman, a top-notch golfer, a former university hockey player,” said the QMJHL Championship-winning coach. Maybe that’s why they shared such a close relationship.
Such terrible news. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire MacDougall family during these tough times. @monctonwildcats pic.twitter.com/ZBvLThB3vC
— QMJHL (@QMJHL) May 27, 2025
The Moncton Wildcats coach explained the late Pat Buckley was like a “second father” to his son. “They bonded like no other,” said the coach, clearly overwhelmed by emotion. And it wasn’t just his son who felt devastated by the loss. “The hardest game I’ve ever had to coach,” said the former University of New Brunswick men’s hockey coach. However, the fact that MacDougall continued to coach the team despite his family’s massive loss urged the entire hockey community to voice their support.
An unfortunate day for the Moncton Wildcats on all fronts
Junior hockey fans showed their support for the Wildcats and especially the MacDougall and Buckley families amidst their loss. “Sincere condolences, Coach,” commented one fan. “So tragic. If anyone can overcome this and coach a team, it’s Gards,” commented another, admiring the coach’s zeal to be there for his team despite losing someone so close to the family.
However, the bad news didn’t just end there. Despite their best efforts, the Moncton Wildcats lost their game against the Western Hockey League champions, the Tigers. The Medicine Hat Tigers won their Memorial Cup slash 3-1 against the Wildcats. The win helped them stay undefeated in the Memorial Cup after they beat Rimouski Oceanic 5-4 last Friday.
Neither coach MacDougall nor his son announced the tragic news before the game, lest it affect the morale. “We’ve been fortunate to create that culture where there’s an abundance of joy and love in the group,” Gardiner MacDougall said after winning the QMJHL title, as per CBC News. The hockey coach didn’t let his family’s shock and grief affect his mindset just minutes before the match.
However, the Wildcats still couldn’t keep Tigers’ Ryder Ritchie at bay, who scored twice to give his team to win. The Moncton Wildcats coach only announced the news when the media waited for him to answer questions regarding their loss. Naturally, the hockey community was shocked that his son’s father-in-law had passed away because of a heart attack, and here MacDougall was, talking to the media after pushing through the grief to help his team.
Credits: Instagram/UNB REDS
“Prayers to the Buckley and MacDougall families, sending strength and condolences,” commented DraftingHockey’s Ontario Region Scout Dave Horne. Even the official handles of other hockey leagues commented on the QMJHL’s post. “The CHL extends its deepest condolences to the MacDougall family during this difficult time,” commented the Canadian Hockey League.
The Ontario Hockey League, whose 2025 championship winner, the London Knights, will take on the Tigers Tuesday, also commented. “The OHL community extends our deepest condolences to the Wildcats and the MacDougall family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this incredibly difficult time,” wrote the official handle. Meanwhile, the Moncton Wildcats GM is yet to make an official statement.
If there is a silver lining in this tragedy is that the Moncton Wildcats are still in the tournament. They’ll once again face their QMJHL rivals, Rimouski Oceanic, to fight for a semifinal berth. IF they win, then the Wildcats will face the losers of the Tigers vs. Knights game. And like the fan said, if there is one man who can coach the team through this tough time, then it’s Gardiner MacDougall.
The post “So Tragic”: Hockey Community Mourns as Moncton Wildcats’ Coach Discloses Son’s Tragic Loss Amidst Crucial Game appeared first on EssentiallySports.