'Whatever happens tonight, we are going to live tomorrow'
Article content
Article content
As Taylor MacDougall, general manager of the Moncton Wildcats, and his family dealt with the sudden passing of his father-in-law Patrick Buckley on Monday, the Wildcats continued preparation for their final preliminary game of the Memorial Cup.
Article content
Article content
That came with an understanding that regardless of the result against the Rimouski Oceanic in a contest that could end their season, the game itself is just that – a game.
Article content
Article content
More importantly, a philosophy the team embraced early in the season, F.O.E. – Family Over Everything – is serving as foundational pillar, more significant than any final score.
Article content
'Yes, it is a hockey game, but it's not like Patrick the other day, that lost his life,' Gardiner MacDougall said during his pre-game availability prior to Wednesday's contest in Rimouski. 'Whatever happens tonight, we are going to live tomorrow.'
Article content
On Monday, just 20 minutes before the Wildcats were set to hit the ice against the Medicine Hat Tigers, Taylor MacDougall was contacted by Rimouski RCMP, who told him Buckley had passed away in Rimouski. Buckley had driven to the city from New Brunswick that day and was out golfing.
Article content
Article content
Taylor informed his father Gardiner, the Wildcats head coach, five minutes before the puck dropped and immediately went to the police department.
Article content
'Instead of watching the first period of the game, he has to go to the RCMP and identify his father-in-law that's passed away,' Gardiner MacDougall said. 'You don't have a manual or a manuscript for that kind of thing. He has handled it amazing, as he has handled this year.'
Article content
Through 48 extremely difficult hours, the team players, staff and organization were united in their support for Taylor and his family as well as the Buckleys.
Article content
Expressions of condolences came in from across the hockey world in the two days since, offering support for the Wildcats' GM and his family.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Vancouver Sun
a day ago
- Vancouver Sun
NCAA exodus hits Vancouver Giants again as D-man Colton Roberts jumps to Colorado College
Mazden Leslie told the Vancouver Giants last February that he was going to the NCAA rather than returning to the team this coming season, and now fellow rearguard Colton Roberts has done the same. Roberts, 19, let the Giants know this week that he's going to suit up instead for the Colorado College Tigers this fall. The 2024 San Jose Sharks fifth-round draft pick has two more years of junior eligibility remaining. The WHL doesn't publish ice time stats, but Roberts was likely third on Vancouver last season. He seemed destined to play even more this coming campaign, the most logical successor to take over Leslie's spot on the first pairing alongside Ryan Lin, 17, last year's rookie standout. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Leslie, 20, announced midway through last season that he wasn't going to come back to Vancouver this year , and would play for the Bowling Green State University Falcons if he didn't land a pro contract. The Giants traded Leslie's WHL rights in May to the Kelowna Rockets . The Rockets are hoping he gets an NHL deal and then is reassigned to the Rockets. Kelowna is guaranteed to play deep into next spring because they're hosting the Memorial Cup national championship tournament. Vancouver has plenty of company with its WHL rivals in regards to losing players who would have been key contributors to the American collegiate ranks. The Victoria Royals are among the most notable teams right now, having forward Cole Reschny, 18, and defenceman Keaton Verhoeff, 17, cut ties with them to join the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks. Reschny is expected to be a first-round pick in next week's NHL Draft. Verhoeff is touted as a possible top-10 selection in next year's NHL Draft. Medicine Hat Tigers winger Gavin McKenna, 17, is already being pegged as the No. 1 choice for next year's draft. He's said to be looking at schools for the fall. Former Vancouver Canuck Byron Ritchie is McKenna's family adviser and his son Ryder Ritchie, 18, recently told the Tigers that he'd be playing with the Boston University Terriers this coming season. He's a winger who was a 2024 Minnesota Wild second rounder. The NCAA announced last fall that for the first time they'd be opening up scholarship opportunities for this coming season to players from Major Junior leagues like the WHL. There was a school of thought in some junior circles that it would be mainly 20-year-olds who take advantage of that, but the NCAA has chased after the best and brightest. Roberts, for one, has two years of junior eligibility remaining. Verhoeff has the potential for four more years, although you'd expect him to play pro early as well. The Giants are trying to navigate all this without a coach or a general manager. The team announced in late April that it had agreed to part ways with GM Barclay Parneta, whose contract was up. In May, team announced that coach Manny Viveiros wouldn't be back for the third and final year of his deal because he had signed on as bench boss of Red Bull Salzburg, an Austrian pro team. A committee featuring vice-president of operations and assistant general manager Pete Toigo, director of player personnel Greg Batters and head scout Terry Bonner led the way for the Giants with the WHL Draft and the expansion draft involving the new Penticton Vees franchise. There's no word on who handled the Giants' side of the Leslie deal. The 6-foot-1, 202-pound Leslie was the second leading scorer among WHL defencemen last season with 72 points, including 21 goals. He could still get picked in next week's draft — NHL Central Scouting has him as the No. 133 North American skater — but at his age a free-agent deal is the better bet. He's been passed over in the past two drafts but has got free-agent invites to camps afterwards from the Toronto Maple Leafs and then Vegas Golden Knights. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Roberts had six goals and 36 points for Vancouver this season. Giants forward Ty Halaburda, 20, has committed to Colorado College for the 2026-27 campaign. SEwen@ @SteveEwen
Global News
3 days ago
- Global News
London Knights acquire forward Max Crete from the Niagara IceDogs
The glow might not be off the London Knights' 2025 Memorial Cup championship, but the push toward next season and beyond is well underway. On June 19, London acquired 17-year-old forward Max Crete from the Niagara IceDogs in exchange for Jacob Monks and a 9th-round draft pick in 2028. Crete was selected 30th overall by the IceDogs in 2024 and played all 68 games for Niagara last year as a 16-year-old rookie. Crete scored 11 times and added eight assists. He is from Ottawa and played for the Upper Canada Cyclones growing up. He was the captain of the Cyclones in his U16 year and led them in scoring. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Crete, who is five-feet-nine-inches tall and 182 pounds, is known as an excellent skater and playmaker who also has a scoring touch. Story continues below advertisement He joins Logan Hawery, Caleb Mitchell, Max Mews, Jaxon Cover and Eddie Hickson as prospects on the London roster from the 2024 draft. Monks is also a skilled forward who was a fifth-round pick of the Knights in 2024 and spent last year split between the U.S. National Development Team Program and the Little Caesar's U16 AAA team. Monks also played one game with the Fargo Force of the North American Hockey League. The Wyandotte, Mich., native is committed to Merrimack College for the 2027-28 season and has not signed an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement to this point. The Knights will open the season and raise their third Memorial Cup championship banner to the rafters of Canada Life Place on Sept. 19, 2025, against the Owen Sound Attack. On June 1, London joined the Windsor Spitfires, the Kamloops Blazers and the Cornwall Royals as the only franchises to win the Memorial Cup three times since the tournament format was adopted in 1972. The Knights defeated the Medicine Hat Tigers 4-1 in the final game in Rimouski, Que. London has won two consecutive Ontario Hockey League titles.
Global News
6 days ago
- Global News
City of Kelowna reaping the economic benefits brought on by the Brier Cup
Kelowna, B.C., is quickly gaining recognition for more than just its scenic landscapes and wineries. Following the success of the 2025 Montana's Brier, the city is proving it has the capacity and appeal to host major national events — and reap the economic rewards that come with them. Earlier this year, the Canadian men's curling championship brought over 89,000 spectators to Kelowna. The event delivered a direct economic impact of $15.2 million and a total impact of $22.7 million, far exceeding expectations. 'On that particular event, we were at the high end of our expectations — and actually a couple hundred thousand dollars beyond that,' said Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy For city leaders and tourism officials, the success of the Brier is about more than just impressive numbers. 'The numbers from the Brier really solidified that Kelowna can host these major events successfully,' said Lisanne Ballantyne, CEO of Tourism Kelowna. 'But it's not just about the numbers — it's about the legacy it leaves behind.' Story continues below advertisement That legacy continues to grow, with two more national events on the horizon. The Canadian Country Music Awards are set to take place in September, followed by the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026. Kelowna is aiming to match or surpass the economic performance seen in other host cities. 'When the CCMAs were in Hamilton, the economic impact was $11 million and over 2,000 hotel room nights,' said Ballantyne. 'With Kelowna's destination appeal, we believe we'll match or even exceed that.' The city is also thinking long-term. A new Economic Prosperity Task Force has been launched to build on this momentum and explore other opportunities beyond events. 'It's not just from an event standpoint,' said Dyas. 'The task force is looking at what else we can bring to Kelowna — whether it's industry, manufacturing, or anything that creates lasting economic impact.' As Kelowna continues to attract attention, city leaders are working to ensure it's ready for what's ahead. 'We're considered a small city, and things like infrastructure, venues, and even how many volunteers we can mobilize become important factors in deciding what events we can host in the future,' said Ballantyne.
