Wildcats take 3-0 series lead; Cataractes get back in it

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The Moncton Wildcats are now one win away from the Gilles Courteau Trophy final.

The Wildcats defeated the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 4-3 on Tuesday night at Glencore Arena to take a 3-0 series lead in the QMJHL semifinal playoff series.

Mathis Rousseau got the start in net for Moncton and made 38 saves in the win. Preston Lounsbury scored a pair of goals for the Wildcats.

Moncton can secure their spot in the league final with a win on Wednesday. A Game 5, if needed, would be back in Moncton on Friday night.

The Wildcats have not played in a QMJHL final since facing the Saint John Sea Dogs in 2010.

In the other QMJHL semifinal, the Shawinigan Cataractes defeated the Rimouski Oceanic 5-2 on Tuesday to get back in the series. The Oceanic lead that series 2-1.

Former Sea Dogs forward Vince Elie had two assists and was a +3 in the win. Eriks Mateiko, meanwhile, was a -2 and was held without a shot on goal in the loss.

Oceanic goaltender Mathis Langevin, who has been Rimouski's No. 1 netminder this post-season after an injury to William Lacelle, was pulled in the first period due to an injury. Lacelle made his first appearance of the playoffs in relief and allowed five goals on 26 shots. It was his first game action since March 16.

Game 4 takes place Wednesday in Shawinigan.

Some other Tuesday night notes...

• At the IIHF U18 Men's World Championship in Texas, Sea Dogs head coach and general manager Travis Crickard and Team Canada defeated Norway 8-1 on Monday to finish the preliminary round with a 4-0 record. Canada will face Czechia in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
• Former Sea Dogs forward Florian Schenk and Switzerland will have to face Norway in Wednesday's relegation game after finishing 0-4. Schenk has posted three goals in four games.

  Norway and Switzerland will play in the relegation game on Wednesday and I think Norway's a real threat to send the Swiss down.
  
  The last time Switzerland was in the Division 1A tournament at the U18 men's level was in 2006. Would be 20 years.

  — Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) April 29, 2025

• In the ECHL playoffs, Kelly Bent and the Orlando Solar Bears are moving on to the South Division final after defeating the South Carolina Stingrays 2-0 in Game 7 on Tuesday night. South Carolina finished first overall in the ECHL's regular season standings. The Solar Bears will face the Florida Everblades in the next round.
• Matt Murphy and the Fort Wayne Komets are moving on after defeating the Iowa Heartlanders 4-1 in Game 7 on Tuesday. Murphy had an assist and was a +1 in the win. The Komets will face the Toledo Walleye in the Central Division final.
• Drew Elliott and the Tulsa Oilers had their season come to an end on Monday, falling 4-0 to the Kansas City Mavericks and losing the first round series in six games. Elliott had four goals and two assists in six playoff games, leading the Oilers in scoring.
• In the USHL playoffs, the Muskegon Lumberjacks are heading to the Clark Cup final after defeating the Dubuque Fighting Saints 3-1 on Tuesday to complete a series sweep. Fredericton native Tynan Lawrence scored an empty net goal in the win.

  The Jacks are headed to the #ClarkCup final! 🪓@MuskegonJacks | #USHL pic.twitter.com/iEmpHnKhLn

  — USHL (@USHL) April 30, 2025