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. Unfortunately, the happiness was short-lived.

Amid the QMJHL champions gearing up to face the Western Hockey League champion, the Medicine Hat Tigers, in their Memorial Cup Clash, disaster struck just minutes before the game. Coach Gardiner MacDougall revealed what he heard from his son Taylor MacDougall, who is also the Wildcats’ GM, moments ahead of puck drop.

Captioned, “Such terrible news. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire MacDougall family during these tough times. 🙏 @monctonwildcats,” in a video clip shared by QMHL on May 26, coach MacDougall was heard saying in the post-game conference, “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 from a heart attack while he was out golfing. “Taylor told me about five minutes before we started the game,” said the coach in a somber voice, before revealing the role Buckley had played in his son’s life.

“So it’s a devastating loss and certainly the hardest game I ever had to coach. Pat Buckley was an unbelievable sportsman, top-notch golfer and former university hockey player. He was a second father to my son Taylor. They bonded like no other. And obviously the hardest game I’ve ever had to coach,” Gardiner concluded, clearly overwhelmed by emotions, which showed inside the rink, too.

On the back of Ryder Ritchie’s double score and one assist, the Medicine Hat Tigers outdid their Memorial Cup opponents with a 3-1 win. “They’re finding me and I’m just trying to put myself in good spots for them. It was a huge win for us, but we still need to clean up a few things going forward in this event,” Ritchie said after the game.

As for Gardiner MacDougall—who continued to coach the team despite his family’s massive loss—his commitment to his team touched the entire hockey community’s heart.

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 ultimately lost with Tigers’ win helping 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.

“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, wrote, “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.” Meanwhile, the Moncton Wildcats GM is yet to make an official statement.

If there is a silver lining in this tragedy it 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.