LOUISDALE: It was a great night at Richmond Arena for a great guy.

“It was overwhelming for me as a coach, and I can only imagine how overwhelming it was for the family,” said Robert MacDonald, coach of the Richmond Hurricane hockey team.
 

MacDonald’s high school hockey squad was hosting the Sydney Academy Wildcats for a special exhibition game serving as a fundraiser for Spencer McNamara, a young man currently recovering from a single vehicle automotive collision. McNamara, the son of Troy and Shannon McNamara, is a student-athlete from Richmond Academy, well-known for his efforts with on the ice but also with the hardball and softball teams.

On September 25, McNamara was involved in single vehicle collision and was transported to Strait-Richmond Hospital. From there, he was airlifted to the QEII in Halifax with life threatening injuries.

The game drew an awfully impressive crowd, especially for a rainy night in early November. A collection took place for McNamara at the door, and funds were also gathered through a bake sale and silent auction.

All told, over $12,000 was raised for the family.

“When tragedy strikes, the community really comes together,” MacDonald said. “We’ve seen it before – more times than we’d like to see tragedy around here – but it’s amazing how everyone pulls together to help each other out.”

MacDonald said a great deal of work and volunteerism went into making the game a reality. Officials volunteered their time, locals prepared baked goods for sale, businesses offered items for auction, and the Richmond Academy hockey committee did a great deal of work. Not only did the Sydney Academy team and parents give for the event, Riverview High School donated money as well, and the same can be said of the Glace Bay Midget As.

Lee Anne Marchand of St. Joseph’s Credit Union and Ronalda Boudreau of the Municipality of the County of Richmond played key roles behind the scenes.

MacDonald coached McNamara for many years, and when asked to describe what sort of guy the student-athlete is, the coach said McNamara is a great kid.

“He’s a real character kid who can really make you laugh,” MacDonald said. “He always has something to say, and he’s a great all around athlete. The guys all respect him.”

MacDonald said he was up to visit his player in Halifax and, though McNamara is in hospital, he’s still showing what he’s made of.

“He’s giving the same effort now that we expected of him on the ice,” MacDonald said, and he urged people to keep Spencer and his family in their prayers. “Keep hoping on him. I know I am.”

With that, MacDonald noted that there’s a GoFundMe page set up to help the McNamara family. It can be found on the GoFundMe site under the name “Support Spencer’s Road to Recovery.”All donations are welcome.

Sydney Academy ended up winning the game 7-5, but MacDonald said the Hurricane hung in tough against a team from a much larger school.
 

NORTH SYDNEY – Jacob Jessome scored two goals, including the game-winner, as the Memorial Marauders downed the Sydney Academy Wildcats 4-2 in Cape Breton High School Hockey League action at the Emera Centre Northside on Thursday.
Dovi Walker and Brad MacLean also netted goals for the Marauders. 
Ethan MacInnis and Ashten Dawson replied with goals for the Wildcats.
Spencer Shebib picked up the win in goal for Memorial. Hunter Chenhall was tagged with the loss for Sydney Academy 

On Friday, the Riverview Redmen will host the Sydney Academy Wildcats.
The Redmen, who are tied for first place in the four-team league standings, have faced the Wildcats twice – once in the regular season and once in tournament play. 
Riverview has won both meetings to date with scores of 13-0 and 11-1. 
Game time is 7:30 p.m. at the Cape Breton County Recreation Centre in Coxheath. 

NORTH SYDNEY, N.S. — The Riverview Redmen clipped the Glace Bay Panthers 2-1 in the championship game of the Mae Kibyuk Memorial Green and Gold hockey tournament Sunday at the Emera Centre Northside.

Jared Hunt scored what proved to be the winner for the Redmen in the second period. Bryden Johnston also found the back of the net for Riverview, who repeated as tournament champions.

Mathew MacIntosh replied for the Panthers in the loss.

In goal, Michael MacMullin made 21 saves for the win, while Coleton Boutilier deflected 20 shots in the loss.

NORTH SYDNEY – Alex Chenhall scored the overtime-winner at 2:53 of the extra frame as the Sydney Academy Wildcats edged the host Memorial Marauders 3-2 at the Mae Kibyuk Memorial Green and Gold Hockey Tournament at the Emera Centre Northside on Thursday.
Dylan Williams also chipped in with two goals for the Wildcats. 
Jacob Jessome and Kent Keagan answered with goals for the host Marauders. 
Sydney Academy opened the scoring with Williams’ first of the tournament with just over two minutes left in the first period. 
The contest remained 1-0 until midway through the third period when Jessome found the back of the net. 
Seconds later, the Marauders took its first lead of the contest with Keagan’s marker, before Williams tied the game with 2:49 to play in regulation time, leading to Chenhall’s overtime heroics. 
Hunter Chenhall posted the win in goal for Sydney Academy. Grade 12 Spencer Shebib was tagged with the loss for Memorial. 
Earlier in the day, Riverview edged Glace Bay 4-3. 
Kinnon Williams, who was an invite to Cape Breton Screaming Eagles training camp in August, had a goal and two assists for the Redmen. 
Andrew McCarron, Ethan Stanwick and Chase Sampson also scored goals for Riverview. 
David Beaton, Tyler Mortimer and Tye Clarke replied with goals for the Panthers, who will host the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation provincial championships in March. 
Michael MacMullin picked up the win for Riverview. Colton Boutilier shouldered the loss for Glace Bay.
Mae Kibyuk Memorial Green and Gold Hockey Tournament continues on Friday with six games on the schedule. 
The day will begin with Riverview playing Sydney Academy at 10:45 a.m., followed by Glace Bay and Prince Andrew at 12:30 p.m., and J.L. IIsley and Riverview at 2:15 p.m. 
Memorial will hit the ice at 4 p.m. against Glace Bay, while Sydney Academy faces Prince Andrew at 5:45 p.m., a game which will be followed by Memorial and J.L. IIsley at 7:30 p.m. to finish day two of the four-day event. 
The championship game is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Emera Centre Northside in North Sydney.
Note: The start of the Memorial and Sydney Academy game was delayed for about five minutes after the Zamboni ran out of propane with only two laps to go following the warm up. 

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NORTH SYDNEY, N.S. — Spencer Shebib would like nothing more than to win the annual Mae Kibyuk Memorial Green and Gold Hockey Tournament in his final year of high school.

The 17-year-old netminder is one of five Grade 12 players on this year’s Memorial High School Marauders hockey team, who will play in their final home tournament this weekend.

“The whole team is pretty excited about it, especially the guys in their final year,” said Shebib with a smile. “We had a good tournament last year, but we didn’t make the semifinals, but I’m really looking forward to this weekend —I think we’ll do better.”

The 2018 edition of the Mae Kibyuk Memorial Green and Gold Hockey Tournament will begin on Thursday at the Emera Centre Northside in North Sydney.

The event will feature six teams including the host Marauders as well as local representatives, the Riverview Redmen, Sydney Academy Wildcats and Glace Bay Panthers. Mainland teams including the Prince Andrew Panthers of Dartmouth and the J.L. IIsley Judges of Halifax.

Marauders head coach Terry Duff expects the tournament will provide local fans with a jam-packed weekend of hockey action.

“We have some good teams coming to the tournament and we’re looking forward to see how we stack up against them,” said the veteran bench boss. “We’re a young team with only five Grade 12s, so we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
 

Shebib joined the Marauders last season after spending his Grade 10 year playing midget ‘AA’ hockey with the New Waterford Sharks.

The Millville resident decided to play for the Marauders because he considered high school hockey as the “better path” for his career.

“I had a lot of friends on the team and I think it’s a pretty competitive league and one that’s great for local hockey players,” said Shebib.

“It means a lot to me to be able to represent my high school — it’s quite an honour.”

The Marauders last won the tournament in 2016 when they edged the Glace Bay Panthers 2-1 in the championship game.

“It would mean the world to me if we could win this tournament in my final year of high school,” said Shebib. “It would definitely be one of my best hockey memories.”

Memorial enters the tournament with an 0-2 record after losing its first two games of the Cape Breton High School Hockey League season last week.

The Marauders hosted the Panthers last Thursday at the Emera Centre Northside, a game which drew an estimated crowd of 700 people to the North Sydney venue.

“The tournament is all the boys have been talking about and I know there is some excitement among the students as well,” said Duff. “The students decorate the arena and they come dressed up with their face painted, so I expect the crowd will only be bigger this weekend.”

The Mae Kibyuk Memorial Green and Gold Hockey Tournament will open with the Redmen and Panthers squaring off at 6 p.m. on Thursday, followed by the Marauders and Wildcats at 7:45 p.m.

jeremy.fraser@cbpost.com

Twitter: @CBPost_Jeremy

Mae Kibyuk Memorial Green and Gold Hockey Tournament

Gold Division: Memorial Marauders (host), Prince Andrew Panthers and Riverview Redmen

Green Division: Sydney Academy Wildcats, Glace Bay Panthers and J.L. IIsley Judges
Thursday

6 p.m. – Riverview Vs. Glace Bay

7:45 p.m. – Memorial Vs. Sydney Academy

Friday

10:45 a.m. – Sydney Academy Vs. Riverview

12:30 p.m. – Glace Bay Vs. Prince Andrew

2:15 p.m. – J.L. IIsley Vs. Riverview

4 p.m. – Memorial Vs. Glace Bay

5:45 p.m. – Sydney Academy Vs. Prince Andrew

7:30 p.m. – Memorial Vs. J.L. IIsley

Saturday

9:30 a.m. – Prince Andrew Vs. J.L. IIsley

1 p.m. – Third place Vs. Sixth place (quarter-finals)

2:45 p.m. – Fourth place Vs. Fifth place (quarter-finals)

6:15 p.m. – Second Place Vs. Highest ranked quarter-final winner

8 p.m. – First Place Vs. Lowest ranked quarter-final winner

Sunday

1 p.m. – Championship Game

*All games at Emera Centre Northside in North Sydney

SYDNEY – The Glace Bay Panthers will host the Sydney Academy Wildcats on Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Canada Games Complex in Sydney.

The Panthers are coming off a 2-1 win over the Memorial Marauders on Thursday. As for the Wildcats, they enter the game after losing 13-0 to the Riverview Redmen on Wednesday.

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Twitter: @CBPost_Sports