Played on Oct 15, 2025
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League
Game Played in Avenir Centre
General Game Notes: The Wildcats set the tone early, scoring just fourteen seconds into the game and carrying that momentum for the full sixty minutes. With four goals in the opening period and six unanswered in total, they controlled nearly every facet of the game from start to finish.
Jacoby Weiner (G, R, 6’4″, 233, Moncton Wildcats, 06/19/2008, Harvard)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Weiner did a good job at fighting through screens, seeing the puck into his chest, and usually due to the congestion, have to find the rebound and recover for a second chance. Couple times tonight he placed himself well for a puck that was inevitably hard to see from a distance, but he made the initial save and put himself in a great spot the rebound attack. It was the straight on shots that he was having trouble swallowing when their should not have been a second chance opportunity in the first place. Did not see a ton of shots tonight but was sound on the ones he did.
Gabe Smith (C, L, 6’4″, 216, Moncton Wildcats, 08/03/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Smith may not be the fastest player on the ice, but he can protect the puck as well as anyone on any given shift. He was able to show this on his teams fourth goal of the night where he was surrounded and still found a way to hold on to the puck and get it back door for an easy tap in to his teammate. His big size makes it near impossible for a lot of smaller opponents to get body position on him and steal the puck from him. He has to add some foot speed to his overall game, the size of the players he will play are only going to get bigger, for now, he stands out and plays his role of a power forward well.
Alex Mercier (C, R, 5’9″, 187, Moncton Wildcats, 09/22/2005, Merrimack)
Game Rating
B
Mercier demonstrated a knack for finding opportunities in the right spot at the right time, showcasing his ability to capitalize on rebounds and create scoring chances. He effectively utilized his speed and agility to outmaneuver defenders and drive offensive play, often beating them wide to get into prime position. In addition to his individual creativity, Mercier also demonstrated a willingness to set up teammates and lead the rush, highlighting his vision and playmaking skills.
1 Viewing
Comments: Mercier was able to show tonight that he has incredible vision and can thread the needle with the puck to make seemingly tough passes. He drives the offense with his pace of play and his ability to draw opponents in. Despite not being the strongest he is a smart enough skater to still find enough time and space with the puck to make plays. While he is not a physical player and will not fight his way to very many pucks in his own end, offensively, he shows that type of battle level it takes to retrieve loose pucks. It is just not consistent in a 200ft game.
Simon Binkley (C, L, 6’0″, 197, Moncton Wildcats, 02/14/2006, Alaska Fairbanks)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Binkley moves well with the puck and has some shifty feet when he has time and space along the wall. Scored a nice goal where he was able to stall the puck along the wall, throw it at the crease, and with a lucky bounce off the defenders foot, it found the back of the net. He wants to play a skilled game and with the combination of his hands and feet, he can, where he tends to get himself in trouble is the extra move which is relevant in his game. At times, one too many moves causes the puck to go the other way and he finds himself back checking.
Teddy Mutryn (C, R, 6’1″, 216, Moncton Wildcats, 02/16/2007, Boston College)
Game Rating
A-
Teddy Mutryn showcased impressive physicality at the net front, utilizing his size and strength to create space for himself. His stable center of gravity allowed him to capitalize on rebounds, often scoring second chances due to opponents struggling to move him. Notably, Mutryn demonstrated exceptional puck retention skills, holding onto the puck while drawing defenders towards him, which created openings in tight spaces. While he may not possess elite straight-line speed, his ability to accelerate after a few initial steps gives him an advantage on the rush.
1 Viewing
Comments: Mutryn exploded out of the offensive zone when he jumped on loose puck mis handled by a defenseman at the blue line. He was gone right when his stick touched the puck, showing his speed explosiveness from a slow start. His breakaway goal was a bit of a dagger in the game given the timing and the way it went in. Mutryn is a bulldozer with speed and can make any defenseman who does not have their gap set, look foolish. He wants to beat guys wide but has the skill to cut into the middle of the ice and draw players in. His speed with the puck is what sets him a part from his peers.
Rian Chudzinski (RW, R, 6’1″, 191, Moncton Wildcats, 12/30/2007, Boston University)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Chudzinski opened the scoring fourteen seconds into the game really just being in the right spot at the right time. After a fortuitous bounce off the end wall from a dump in, the puck pumped right at the crease where Chudzinski was able to bury it home. Yes lucky, but his five goals in five game says that he is creating a pattern. Chudzinski has some solid wheels on him which allowed him to get to the puck at the time that he did. He works hard with and without the puck, an important trait for someone as skilled as him. With another goal on the night, making it two, Chudzinski had himself a night that led the charge of a blowout win.
Adam Fortier-Gendron (D, L, 5’10”, 203, Moncton Wildcats, 01/21/2006)
Game Rating
A-
Fortier-Gendron’s physical presence is notable, as he uses his size and strength to create space in the corners of his own zone. He effectively holds his own in his own end, providing a solid defensive foundation. On offense, he excels at breaking out the puck cleanly, often taking hits in the process. While not overly flashy, Fortier-Gendron’s play is characterized by his ability to ensure the puck reaches its intended destination, frequently prioritizing his teammate’s needs.
1 Viewing
Comments: With one of the silkier goals of the night, Fortier-Gendron dove into the offensive zone where he got the puck in the slot and was all alone with the goalie. With a little fake, he froze the goalie, pulled the puck to his backhand where he had time to set it in the back of the net. Fortier-Gendron is an offensive defenseman who plays a typical game at his size and his position. He can skate the puck up the ice or beat multiple forecheckers with a pass to create the breakout. He likes to hold on to pucks, like most offensive defenseman, and always wants to be the reason the puck gets out of the defensive zone, whether it does or not. Where his game is at his best is when he is reading the rush and joining the play, little bit like his goal.
Niko Tournas (RW, R, 6’2″, 199, Moncton Wildcats, 02/17/2006, New Hampshire)
Game Rating
B+
Tournas’s greatest asset lies in his diligent work ethic, often taking the initiative to pressure opponents and create turnovers. When confident with the puck, he excels, using his agility to change direction and maintain possession. Conversely, when players panic and lose control, Tournas is not immune to making mistakes. He tends to hold onto the puck for longer periods, studying the game and waiting for opportunities to present themselves. This pass-first mindset often results in him taking too long to release the shot, showcasing a need for improved timing.
1 Viewing
Comments: Tournas scored a nice goal finding a way to get to the back post where he received a well timed pass for an easy tap in. He did this by slipping behind the defense and because the score was already three to zero, he decided to add a little risk to his game. He was able to show in this goal and throughout the game, he has good offensive instincts. He reads the play well and can pick up early where to be. He is not perfect in this regard, couple times, he was at the net hoping the puck to come his way and it ended up going back into his own zone. What he does really well is skating at length with the puck, his stride does not suffer going from zone to zone.
Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte (D, R, 6’1″, 186, Val d’Or Foreurs, 01/03/2008)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Cossette Ayotte is a skilled offensive defenseman. He skates incredibly well, has speed and agility, possesses great puck skills and vision, and is one of the most opportunistic defensemen on the ice. His aggressiveness on offense means he can also be somewhat prone to turning the puck over and with a lack of width and strength on defense, this means he is not a major factor in board battles. His defense is being first on pucks and skating his way out of trouble. He has solid height but his base strengths prohibits him from winning battles against larger forwards.
Samuel Fiala (C, R, 6’3″, 197, Val d’Or Foreurs, 04/09/2005)
Game Rating
A-
Fiala possesses a versatile skill set that enables him to generate offense and capitalize on scoring opportunities. His forechecking prowess allows him to create chaos in the opponent’s zone, often leading to odd-man rushes or breakaways. Additionally, Fiala is adept at utilizing space in front of the opposing team’s net, making it difficult for them to clear the puck. When not in possession of the puck, he excels at battling for position and creating open ice.
1 Viewing
Comments: Fiala scored a nice goal from the point on the power play and gave a little, only a little, hope that his team could mount some type of push back. Despite not being a defenseman, Fiala did a good job at walking the line, finding a lane and a screen, and shooting the puck against the grain. He was able to find the back of the net net that the goalie slid from due to his lateral movement up top.
Philippe Veilleux (C, L, 5’9″, 176, Val d’Or Foreurs, 03/26/2007)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Veilleux sees the ice well when he has time and space but showed on the power play that he can make that quick seam pass to open up the ice. He is smaller in stature is this hinders him along the wall and in front of the net but he has a motor that does stop when he feels pressure. He sees the ice so well that when pressure does come, he finds his way out by passing the puck to an open teammate. Too often tonight, he wanted to do to much when his team was in a clear losing situation, it made this worse and he found himself scrambling in his own end. His battle level for loose pucks can improve.
Nathan Brisson (C, L, 5’10”, 176, Val d’Or Foreurs, 09/22/2006)
Game Rating
B
Brisson’s impressive performance showcased his skilled playmaking ability and timing on the ice. He consistently demonstrated an understanding of when to release shots, often exploiting openings around opponents. On power plays, he displayed increased confidence, showcasing his comfort with generating scoring opportunities. In five-on-five situations, Brisson adeptly managed the puck early, minimizing pressure while maintaining possession. His speed allowed him to generate power quickly and find separation from defenders. Additionally, his agility enabled him to evade defenders with ease, revealing flashes of deceptive playmaking abilities in individual possessions.
1 Viewing
Comments: Brisson showed that he has good size but he is not the most physical player. Instead, he uses his intelligence and defensive awareness to be in the right place at the right time in his own end. Thanks to his ability to pickpocket pucks defensively, which he did a couple times tonight, and facilitate zone exits, he created a transition game that helped facilitate offense. His game is in the offensive zone though, and tonight the risks he took with cross ice passes or looking to beat guys one on one just did not work. You can see the skill he has when he handles the puck just the decision making could have been better.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images