The Moncton Wildcats are now in a must-win situation in the battle for the Memorial Cup.
Moncton lost to the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers 3-1 during their second round-robin game on Monday night.
Ryder Ritchie scored for the Tigers early in the first period and added a second goal midway through the second to give them a 2-0 lead.
The Wildcats closed the gap early in the third with a goal by Dyllan Gill, assisted by Loke Johansson and Alex Mercier.
But an empty-net goal by Gavin McKenna with just seven seconds left in the game secured the win for the Tigers.
During a post-game news conference, an emotional Wildcats head coach Gardiner MacDougall says it was one of the hardest games he has ever had to coach.
He told the media that he received devastating news just five minutes before the game started.
“The Rimouski RCMP contacted my son, Taylor, with the news that his father-in-law, Pat Buckley, had been golfing in Rimouski — drove from Fredericton today — had a heart attack and passed away,” said MacDougall.
“Pat Buckley was an unbelievable sportsman, a top-notch golfer, and a former university hockey player. He was a second father to my son, Taylor. They bonded like no other.”
When asked about facing Rimouski on Wednesday, MacDougall explained they would begin looking at strategies on Tuesday.
Moncton must win that final round-robin game to secure a spot in Friday’s semifinal.
Memorial Cup action continues on Tuesday night as the Tigers (2-0) take on the OHL’s London Knights (2-0), with the winner advancing to the final.
