Whitehorse's own Ted Stephens is in the middle of the QMJHL championship series with his team, the Moncton Wildcats, poised to win the President Cup.

The Wildcats currently lead the series 2-1 over the Saint John Sea Dogs, after a 6-4 loss on Tuesday night.

The Wildcats are set to hit the ice again tonight at home to continue the series.

Stephens has been a Wildcat since 2007, when he was drafted. He says it has always been his dream to be in a league as high as the QMJHL.

"It's definitely an honour, it was always my dream to play hockey and to be able to play in a league like the ‘Q' is awesome,” Stephens said via email earlier this week.

Stephens started skating at age five, began playing organized hockey at seven, and has been climbing the ladder ever since.

The 19-year-old centre was invited to the Montreal Canadiens training camp this year – who are also locked in a playoff series of their own against the Pittsburgh Penguins – but due to a paper work error, he was unable to attend.

Despite the disappointment, Stephens is just happy to be playing hockey.

"I may get another chance to go but I am not certain,” he said. "I just want to keep working hard and if it happens, it will be a huge honour.”

The Moncton Wildcats boast 44 players who have moved on from their team into the NHL. Stephens is in good company, it seems.

But the Wildcats weren't always destined for the playoffs this year, after a frustrating start to the season saw injury trouble keeping them behind, they finally got their season underway around Christmas after their goalie returned from a stint in the AHL.

"The first half of the year we had some injury problems but still managed to stay in the hunt,” Stephens said.

With the return of their goalie and a few trades that Stephens said brought in some key players, the Wildcats

were ready to challenge for the 2010 President Cup – and that's just what they did.

"The second half of the season we had the best record in the league and finished the season third overall,” Stephens said.

This is Stephens' first time playing for an Outside team, and he says playing at the 2007 Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse helped him on his way.

"Canada Games definitely gave me exposure,” he said.

Stephens tied the Canada Winter Games in team scoring.

He also is the proud owner of a gold ulu from the 2006 Arctic Winter Games.

Along with that honour, he was named 2007's National Male Athlete of the Year by Sport Yukon. Also in 2007, Stephens helped lead his team to a silver medal at the B.C. Provincial Hockey Championships.

But not only is this Stephens' first time playing Outside, it is the first time a Yukoner has made it into the QMJHL.

He was chosen as a Wildcat due to his coach, Danny Flynn, who hosts a hockey school in Whitehorse in the summers.

Stephens has some great advice for any Yukon hockey players aspiring to break out of the North.

"Have fun,” he said. "It's the most important thing. If you're not enjoying yourself, nothing else matters.”

With the Canadiens glitch behind him, Stephens said his plan is to just keep on doing what he loves, and hope for another opportunity to break into the NHL – although he won't be disappointed if it doesn't come up.

"I just want to keep having fun with it,” he said. "I want to keep playing as long as I can and who knows what will happen.”