Dans Locmelis
Latvia 1 – Austria 6
Latvia’s hopes of advancing to the 2025 IIHF World Championship quarterfinals came crashing down on Tuesday, as they suffered a 6-1 defeat against Austria in their final group-stage match in Stockholm. The loss not only ended Latvia’s tournament run but also marked Austria’s first playoff appearance since 1994.
Latvia entered the game knowing a win would secure their spot in the quarterfinals. They started aggressively, with Anrī Ravinskis testing Austrian goaltender David Kickert early on. Latvia even outshot Austria 11-7 in the first period, but their inability to capitalize on scoring chances proved costly.
Austria struck first in the 18th minute, just as Dominic Zwerger exited the penalty box. He picked up a loose puck, outmaneuvered Latvian goalie Kristers Gudļevskis, and slotted it into the net for a 1-0 lead. Despite Latvia’s strong offensive push, they couldn’t find an equalizer before the first intermission.
Latvia came out firing in the second period, but Austria quickly doubled their lead. Benjamin Baumgartner scored on the power play in the 24th minute, marking Austria’s first power-play goal of the tournament. Just two minutes later, Vinzenz Rohrer capitalized on a Latvian turnover, racing down the ice and beating Gudļevskis to make it 3-0.
Latvia finally responded in the 29th minute, when Eduards Tralmaks converted a pass from Dans Locmelis, cutting the deficit to 3-1. However, Austria continued to apply pressure, forcing Gudļevskis to make several key saves to keep Latvia within reach.
Latvia had a golden opportunity early in the third period when Lukas Haudum was penalized, but they failed to convert on the power play. Austria then put the game out of reach in the 45th minute, as Thomas Raffl tapped in a pass from Peter Schneider, extending the lead to 4-1.
Latvia’s struggles continued when Zwerger scored his second goal of the night in the 53rd minute, finishing off a 2-on-1 break. In a desperate attempt to salvage the game, Latvia pulled their goalie while on a power play, but Rohrer won a puck battle and scored shorthanded to seal Austria’s 6-1 victory.
With the loss, Latvia’s tournament run comes to an end, while Austria advances to the quarterfinals for the first time in 31 years. Latvia will need to regroup and address their weaknesses before their next international competition.
Locmelis finished the tournament with 4 goals and 2 assists in 7 games. He had 8 penalty minutes and an even plus/minus.
Loke Johansson
Moncton Wildcats Capture QMJHL Championship with 3-2 Victory Over Rimouski Océanic
The Moncton Wildcats are Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) champions once again! On Monday, the Wildcats secured a thrilling 3-2 win over the Rimouski Océanic in Game 6 of the Gilles-Courteau Trophy Final, clinching their first league title since 2010.
After a scoreless first period, Moncton took control in the second, firing 19 shots on goal and netting three crucial goals. Gabe Smith was the hero of the night, scoring twice to give the Wildcats a commanding lead. Loke Johansson added another tally, putting Moncton ahead 3-0 heading into the final frame.
Despite trailing by three, Rimouski refused to go down without a fight. Jonathan Fauchon and Jacob Mathieu found the back of the net in the third period, cutting Moncton’s lead to 3-2. However, Wildcats goaltender Mathis Rousseau stood tall, making 24 saves to preserve the victory. His clutch performance earned him Third Star honors.
This championship marks Moncton’s third QMJHL title, with previous wins in 2006 and 2010. The Wildcats dominated the 2024-25 season, finishing with a franchise-best 53 wins and 108 points under head coach Gardiner MacDougall. Their playoff run was equally impressive, sweeping Quebec Remparts and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, while dispatching Baie-Comeau Drakkar in five games before taking down Rimouski in the final.
Both Moncton and Rimouski will now shift their focus to the 2025 Memorial Cup, which begins Friday, May 23 in Rimouski. As the host team, Rimouski automatically qualified, while Moncton earned their spot by winning the QMJHL title. The Wildcats will face the London Knights (OHL champions) on Saturday, May 24, followed by a matchup against the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL champions) on Monday, May 26.
Moncton 2 – London 3 – OT – Memorial Cup
The Moncton Wildcats encountered a formidable opponent unlike any they had faced in the QMJHL playoffs, taking on the OHL Champion London Knights in their Memorial Cup opener. Despite falling behind twice, the Wildcats rallied each time to level the score and push the game into overtime. Highly touted 2025 NHL Entry Draft prospect Caleb Desnoyers shad two prime chances to seal the victory in the extra period, but was turned away both times.
Sam O’Reilly netted his second goal of the game 4:23 into overtime, securing the win for London. The Knights dominated the shot count, outshooting Moncton 48-29. The opening period was tightly contested, ending in a 1-1 tie, with Moncton holding a slight edge in shots at 15-14. However, after the intermission, London tightened its defensive grip, limiting Moncton to just eight shots in the second period and a mere three in the third.
Johansson for the most part was unnoticeable – a good thing for a shut down defenseman. He managed two shots on goal and was without a hit and 2 blocked shots in the loss.
Here’s what’s coming up on the blog! Over the next few weeks, I’ll be diving into a special series on Bruins prospects, reflecting on their season and culminating in my annual prospect rankings. I’ll also take a deep dive into the NHL Draft, analyzing potential players who could be on the Bruins’ radar come draft day. Stay tuned and make sure to follow the blog—you won’t want to miss it!
Dom - Hockey 