Saguenéens win Gilles-Courteau Trophy

Vincent Éthier/QMJHL

For the first time since 1994, the Chicoutimi Saguenéens are Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League champions.

The Saguenéens defeated the Moncton Wildcats 5-1 inside an electric Georges-Vezina Centre on Sunday to take the championship series in six games, ending the longest Gilles-Courteau Trophy drought in the QMJHL (32 years).

Chicoutimi controlled the first period and grabbed a 2-0 lead at 4:26 of the second when Liam Lefebvre scored. The Wildcats, who had struggled to get much of anything going offensively, were finally able to gain some momentum as the period moved along. Captain Caleb Desnoyers scored at 14:28 to get the Wildcats within one and it felt like the tides may be turning in Moncton's favour.

But all of Moncton's momentum was lost when Chicoutimi captain Emmanuel Vermette made it 3-1 Sags with 50 seconds remanning in the period.

Chicoutimi didn't let Moncton get back into the game at all in the third, winning puck battles and holding the Wildcats to very few scoring opportunities. The Sags added two empty net goals to make it a 5-1 final and get the party going in Chicoutimi.

Despite losing the series, Wildcats forward Gabe Smith was named QMJHL playoff MVP. The St. Andrews native posted 19 goals and 33 points in the playoffs.

This is the third QMJHL championship for the Saguenéens franchise. They were playing in their first QMJHL final since 1997.

Chicoutimi will now represent the QMJHL at the 2026 Memorial Cup in Kelowna. Their first game will be Saturday against the WHL champion Everett Silvertips.

This was a heartbreaking series loss for the Wildcats who were aiming to become the first back-to-back QMJHL champion since the Saint John Sea Dogs in 2011 and 2012. That Game 5 loss on home ice – which saw them blow a 4-0 lead – is going to haunt a lot of people.

Moncton had one of the most entertaining playoff runs in recent history, featuring all kinds of dramatics. They now face an interesting off-season with the major question being: who is coming back?

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Max Vilen was a -1 with three shots in Sunday's loss. He finishes the playoffs with three goals and nine assists in 21 games.