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The Cape Breton High School Hockey League will kick off its 2025-26 regular season this week with four games on the schedule with team home openers.
League News
Cape Breton High School Hockey League kicks off regular season with four games to begin opening week
Jackson Gerrow of the Memorial Marauders, right, prepares to make a move on the Sydney Academy Wildcats goaltender during Cape Breton High School Hockey League action last season at Emera Centre Northside in North Sydney. Gerrow will be among the returning players to the Marauders lineup this season. JEREMY FRASER/CAPE BRETON POST JEREMY FRASER
The new campaign will begin on Tuesday night with the Sydney Academy Wildcats hosting the Memorial Marauders at 7 p.m., at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre.
Meanwhile, Memorial will host the Glace Bay Panthers in their home opener on Thursday night at 7:40 p.m., at Emera Centre Northside in North Sydney.
The defending league champion Riverview Ravens will open their season against Sydney Academy on Friday at 8 p.m.
As for the Panthers, they will be on home ice at the Miners Forum on Sunday at 7 p.m., when they battle Riverview.
On the ice for the Panthers, the team will see the return of Cohen McNeil, who finished third in team scoring last season with 14 goals and 20 points in eight games. Goalie Brandon MacNeil will also be among the returning players.
As for the Ravens, the team lost a lot of goal scoring from last season with graduations. Returning defenceman Nick Lawrence was fourth in team scoring with four goals and 17 points. The club will also welcome back starting goaltending Kayden Mollons.
The Marauders, like the Ravens, will be without several key offensive players from last year. However, Jackson Gerrow, who finished fourth in team scoring with seven goals and 16 points in 15 games, will be returning. Goaltender Levi Hull will also be back for the club after a strong 2024-25 campaign.
Sydney Academy will see the return of forward Anthony Melski, who was third in team scoring last season with two goals and six points in 14 games. Mikeda MacEwan will be the only returning goaltender from last year.
NEW COACHES
Off the ice, the league will see two new head coaches behind the bench.
Well-known local coach Ken Tracey will return to the bench as the head coach of the Panthers this season, replacing Dwayne Doucette. Meanwhile, Jacob Jessome will be the new bench boss for Memorial, taking over the duties from Marc Lyle.
The first local tournament will take place from Nov. 6-9 with the annual Mae Kibyuk Memorial Green and Gold Tournament, hosted by Memorial, at Emera Centre Northside.
Following the Memorial event, Sydney Academy will host its Blue and White Challenge from Nov. 20-23 at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre. The tournament normally takes place in January.
The Panther Classic, hosted by Glace Bay, is scheduled for Dec. 4-7 at Miners Forum in Glace Bay, before the local tournament scene wraps up with the Red Cup Showcase from Feb. 5-8 at the Cape Breton County Recreation Centre in Coxheath.
The Highland regional championship must be completed by Feb. 28. The provincial championship, hosted by Capital Region this year, is scheduled for March 27-29.
HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
– Nov. 6-9 – Mae Kibyuk Memorial Green and Gold – Emera Centre Northside, North Sydney
– Nov. 20-23 – Blue and White Challenge – Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre, Membertou
– Dec. 4-7 – Panther Classic – Miners Forum, Glace Bay
– Feb. 5-8 – Red Cup Showcase – Cape Breton County Recreation Centre, Coxheath
Note: The tournament schedules will be announced in the coming weeks.