Moncton Wildcats break losing streak

The Moncton Wildcats broke their 25 game losing streak with a win over the Sherbrooke Phoenix Saturday.

The team won the game 5-4 on home ice in front of 4915 fans at the Moncton Coliseum.

The Wildcats needed the win to avoid getting closer to setting a new Quebec Major Junior Hockey League record for the longest losing streak.

The league record for consecutive losses is 27, set by the Shawinigan Dynamos in 1975-76.

"It feels fabulous," said Coach Darren Rumble of he team's first win since Christmas. "The guys have been going through a tough spell."

The tough spell is a result of the team's decision to trade some veteran players whose careers in the league would soon end because of their ages. From there the team began rebuilding.

"We've got a ton of young kids out there that are getting better every day and while going through their growth process, haven't had any success in the win column."

Final goal

Rumble said he felt happy for the team after they got the win, scoring the final goal in the last few minutes of play.

"We went from high to low to high again in about a 23 second span last night."

The coach said the team could feel the excitement from the fans who wanted to see the team get a win.

"I can understand their frustration but I think 95 per cent of them understand what's going on," said Rumble in response to declining attendance.

Rumble said they had no choice but to begin rebuilding the team when they did.

"We had to do it. We haven't had a lot of [draft] picks so it was just something we had to do - short term pain for long term gain."

Fan support

Rumble continued, describing the losing streak as three months of tough times for several good years going forward as part of the team's plan to rebuild.

The team has 14 wins, 42 losses, two overtime losses and one shootout loss.

Local fan Melissa Fournier admits she was getting frustrated with all the team's losses but was happy to be at Saturday's game to see the Wildcats win.

"It was really exciting. It was awesome."

Corey Lounsbury, who watched highlights of the team's win Sunday, said the Wildcats still have the diehard fans that will come out and watch the team.

"Any city wants a winner but they're still hanging out and supporting the team."

Lounsbury said he believes it may take a few years for the team to get back to where it was.

"I think they want to have a nice team when they move into the new stadium."