SYDNEY, N.S. — The Glace Bay Panthers got off to a roaring start as they opened play in their annual Panther Classic high school hockey tournament Thursday.

Dylan McDonald potted the hat trick in a lopsided 5-1 win over the Memorial Marauders at the Canada Games Complex. The home team had the Marauders back on their heels from the opening faceoff, forcing multiple turnovers in the visiting team’s end. Despite being badly outshot, Marauders goalie Spencer Shebib kept his team in it early until McDonald opened scoring with 3:13 left in the opening frame. Defenceman Brandon Boutilier scored what ended up being the game-winner 20 seconds later and then assisted on Cameron Yates’ powerplay marker to close out the period. McDonald tickled the twine twice in the second, including a short-handed goal with less than two minutes left.

Matthew Williams scored the lone Marauders goal, beating goalie Nick Bigley midway through the final period.

The Panthers outshot the Marauders 32-9, with Bigley picking up the win and Shebib shouldering the loss.

Earlier in the evening, the Riverview Redmen beat the Hants East Tigers 3-0 to open tournament play. Jacob Denny paced the Redmen with a pair of goals, while Dustin Sudds also found the back of the net. Goalie Owen McPhee turned aside all 15 shots he faced to pick up the shutout while Austin Shields stopped 32 of 35 pucks sent his way in the loss.

The Panther Classic continues Friday with six games at the Canada Games Complex. The Auburn Drive Eagles face the Cobequid Education Centre Cougars at 10 a.m., followed by the Sackville Kingfishers and Memorial at noon, Hants East and Glace Bay at 2 p.m., Riverview and the Auburn Drive Eagles at 4 p.m., Memorial and Cobequid Education Centre at 6 p.m., and Glace Bay and Sackville at 8 p.m.

Saturday, Auburn Drive takes on Hants East at 10 a.m., Cobequid Education Centre plays Glace Bay at noon, and Sackville and Riverview hit the ice at 2 p.m. The semifinals start at 6 p.m. with the No. 1 team taking on No. 4, followed by No. 2 vs. No. 3 at 8 p.m.

The championship game is set for Sunday at 1 p.m.

sports@cbpost.com