Red Wings’ Prospect Earns A Playing in the Q

Detroit Red Wings prospect Rudy Guimond played a significant role for the Moncton Wildcats team that claimed the Gilles-Courteau Trophy Monday with a 3-2 win in Game 6 against the Rimouski Oceanic.

But the young goalie, owning a 24-1 record for the Wildcats this season, was the backup in the deciding game. The Wildcats elected to go with veteran Mathis Rousseau who has logged 210 games in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. Guimond (drafted 169th in 2023) only joined the Moncton squad in November, jumping from the United States Hockey League.

The two goalies had been rotating in net, and it was Guimond’s turn to play. However, respected Moncton coach Gardiner MacDougall went with the experienced goalie to win Moncton’s first QMJHL title since 2010.

Both netminders were dialed in during the opening frame, but Mathis Rousseau had the sickest save! 🤯 @monctonwildcats | #QPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/t1j0hWJi3t

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) May 19, 2025

It is hard to argue with MacDougall’s choice because Rousseau came up strong with 24 saves. He was the game’s No. 3 star, but he could have easily been named the No. 1. The undrafted Rousseau kept his team in the game early.

Both Moncton and Rimouski are both headed to the Memorial Cup because Rimouski is the host team.

Detroit Goalie Stable

Regardless of how much playing time Guimond receives at the Memorial Cup, he has grabbed the Red Wings attention.  They will be watching him closely as he continues career as a college goaltender at Yale.  Guimond is joining Detroit’s stable of quality net prospects, led by Sebastian Cossa.

Cossa just completed his third professional season, giving him top billing among the young Detroit netminders. Michigan State goalie Trey Augustine is No. 2 on Detroit’s prospect list. He’s college hockey’s most heralded returning goalie.  Detroit’s No. 3 goalie prospect is probably Carter Gylander, coming off a good season with the Toledo Walleye. His team is in the ECHL Western Conference Final.

Jan Bednar is officially a Grand Rapids Griffins player, but that still puts him on Detroit’s radar. He could still be an X factor in this group. Bednar has better numbers than Gylander at Toledo.

The Red Wings also drafted Ontario Hockey League goalie Landon Miller in the fourth round in last summer’s draft. They don’t have to decide whether to sign him until next season.