The Moncton Wildcats defeated Saint John Sea Dogs 5-1 in the first game of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League championship Friday.

The much anticipated battle between the New Brunswick rivals drew a sellout crowd to Saint John's Harbour Station.

At times it was hard to tell from the cheering who was the hometown team.

But any confusion about who would dominate on ice was cleared up within 15 seconds of the game's start when Wildcats' defenceman Brandon Gormley scored.

Moncton pounced on that energy and ran with it. By the time left-winger Gabriel Bourque scored his third goal in the dying minutes of the game to make the final score 5-1, many Sea Dogs fans had already left the arena.

Great rivals

Wildcats head coach Danny Flynn isn't discounting the competition just yet.

"They're the best team we've seen all year," he said. "People keep trying to poke holes in that team — that's a darn good team."

Sea Dogs captain Mike Thomas said they were outskated from the start, but the team must learn from its mistakes.

"I don't know if it was nervousness or the first time we've ever been there or what, but we kinda gotta put that aside.

"We've got the first game under our belts," he said.

Game 2 in the best-of-seven QMJHL championship will be Sunday in Moncton.

Tickets to the next three games in the series are all sold.