Caleb Desnoyers Leads Moncton Past 6-2 Win Into QMJHL Final
caleb desnoyers returned to Moncton, wore the captain’s letter and pushed the Wildcats into the QMJHL final with a 6-2 Game 7 win over the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. He had a goal and two assists in the clincher, a strong finish after Moncton lost Game 1 of the semifinal in quadruple overtime and then survived a series that went the distance.
Desnoyers Returns to Moncton
The Wildcats selected Desnoyers with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 QMJHL Draft, and the 6-foot-2 centre came back after taking time to decide where he wanted to play this season. Moncton named him captain after the return, a role he said was part of the appeal.
“You know, [taking the captaincy] was one of the reasons I wanted to come back and get that experience with Moncton,” Desnoyers said after returning to Moncton. He added that “the staff has helped me a lot” and that “everyone has good values and great leaders so it’s really easy to be the captain and embrace it this year.”
His family connection runs through the club. Simon Laliberté played four seasons in Moncton from 1996 to 2000 and was captain in his final season, while Elliot Desnoyers was drafted 18th overall in the 2018 Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Draft and played two seasons with Moncton.
Moncton’s playoff run
Moncton went through the postseason with the league’s best record in the regular season for the second straight year. The Wildcats swept the Saint John Sea Dogs in the first round and swept the Val-d’Or Foreurs in the second before the semifinal turned into a long grind against Blainville-Boisbriand.
The Armada won Game 1, 3-2, in quadruple overtime. Moncton then carried a 3-2 series lead into Game 6, but Xavier Villeneuve tied that game with 48 seconds remaining in the third period and Justin Carbonneau scored with less than a second left to keep the Armada alive.
That made Game 7 the final answer, and Moncton delivered it with a 6-2 victory. Desnoyers said high-leverage playoff work helps, saying, “I think it’s a big advantage, you know,” about that experience.
Utah Mammoth draft pick
The captaincy also came after a busy year for Desnoyers. He recorded 35 goals and 84 points during the 2024-25 campaign, won the Mike Bossy Trophy as the QMJHL’s top professional prospect, then posted nine goals and 30 points in 19 playoff games as Moncton won the Gilles-Courteau Trophy.
He was later drafted fourth overall by the Utah Mammoth in the 2025 NHL Draft. This season started on the injured list, but he still finished second in team scoring with 22 goals and 78 points in 45 games.
Before the QMJHL final, Desnoyers said, “The whole organization has some great family values,” and added, “To be able to [have this journey] with my real family back home and follow in the footsteps of all the great names, including my uncle and brother, it’s great.” Moncton is trying to become the first back-to-back QMJHL champion since the Saint John Sea Dogs won in 2011 and 2012, and Desnoyers is in the middle of that push.
