COXHEATH, N.S. — A long-standing high school hockey tournament with a rich tradition will mark its 40th edition this weekend.

The Red Cup Showcase is back on the ice after the tournament was cancelled in 2017 during the teachers’ work to rule job action. The importance of the event’s return wasn’t lost on Riverview Redmen team captain Josh MacKay, a Grade 12 student playing in his final Red Cup tournament.

“It’s really exciting. The guys are really pumped up,” said the 17-year-old from Sydney River. “Especially with a lot of rookies on the team who didn’t get to play yet with it being postponed last year, it’s going to be really exciting.

“The fans will be pumped up. There’s a lot of hype around the school about it.”

The inaugural Red Cup was played in 1978 and was won by Sydney Academy, the first of seven straight tournament victories for the blue and white. The host Redmen have won their event eight times, and are looking to win their first title since winning three straight from 2011 to 2013. The Glace Bay Panthers enter as the defending champions, winning back-to-back Red Cups in 2015 and 2016.

“The fans are just insane. There are so many people around, it’s unreal,” said MacKay. “I think there’s going to be a lot more people here this year with it being cancelled last year. Around the community, it’s going to be bigger and people are more excited to come and watch.”

The Redmen will be joined in the Red Division by the Mathieu-Martin Matadors of Dieppe, N.B., L’Odyssee Olympiens of Moncton and the Millwood Knights of Middle Sackville. The White Division includes Glace Bay, Memorial, Harrison Trimble Trojans of Moncton and the Halifax West Warriors.

The host Redmen finished atop the Cape Breton High School Hockey League standings with a 12-2-1-1 record and have earned a first-round bye in the upcoming league playoffs. Riverview captured the Mae Kibyuk Memorial Green and Gold tournament back in November and reached the final in two others: the Panther Classic in December and the Moncton Classic in early January.

“We have a good group. We have a realistic shot at it,” said Redmen head coach Jimmy Smits, in his first season behind the bench. “When we went to Moncton, we played seven games in three or four days and got the final with the best teams the Maritimes had to offer. We played some really good hockey up there.

“The format here, we have no room for error. If you have a bad game, you’re not winning it.”

The tournament was set to openThursday night but due to school cancellations and exams, Thursday’s games will now be played on Saturday.

The Red Cup opens on Friday afternoon at the County Recreation Centre in Coxheath. The host Redmen open play against Mathieu-Martin at 7:30 p.m. Round-robin play runs all day Saturday.

The teams with the best record in each division advance to the final on Sunday at 3 p.m., which will follow the consolation at 1 p.m.

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Red Cup Past Champions

2016 – Glace Bay Panthers

2015 – Glace Bay Panthers

2014 – King’s Edgehill

2013 – Riverview Redmen

2012 – Riverview Redmen

2011 – Riverview Redmen

2010 – King’s Edgehill

2009 – Glace Bay Panthers

2008 – Riverview Redmen

2007 – Dr. J.H. Gillis Royals

2006 – Memorial Marauders

2005 – King’s Edgehill

2004 – Riverview Redmen

2003 – Glace Bay Panthers

2002 – Millwood Knights

2001 – King’s Edgehill

2000 – Riverview Redmen

1999 – Glace Bay Panthers

1998 – King’s Edgehill

1997 – King’s Edgehill

1996 – King’s Edgehill

1995 – Auburn Eagles

1994 – King’s Edgehill

1993 – C.P. Allen Cheetahs

1992 – Riverview Redmen

1991 – Moncton High

1990 – C.P. Allen Cheetahs

1989 – St. Jeromes

1988 – Riverview, N.B.

1987 – Mathieu Martin

1986 – Mathieu Martin

1985 – Riverview Redmen

1984 – Sydney Academy

1983 – Sydney Academy

1982 – Sydney Academy

1981 – Sydney Academy

1980 – Sydney Academy

1979 – Sydney Academy

1978 – Sydney Academy

40th Red Cup Showcase

Red Division – Riverview Redmen, Mathieu-Martin Matadors, L’Odyssee Olympiens, Millwood Knights

White Division – Glace Bay Panthers, Memorial Marauders, Harrison Trimble Trojans, Halifax West Warriors