When Andrew McCarron steps on the ice at the County rink, he can’t help but notice the absence of a special person in the stands.

McCarron is the grandson of the late Terry McCarron, who won many provincial hockey championships and had the opportunity to play in the New York Rangers junior farm system with the Guelph Biltmores of the Ontario Hockey Association in 1953.

Unfortunately, Terry McCarron died on Aug. 25, 2018, after a battle with cancer. He was 80.

“Every game he’s been in the back of my mind,” said Andrew McCarron of his grandfather. “He’s been my best hockey role model since I was a kid, so I’m playing every game for him.”

McCarron always finds himself looking to the stands at the Coxheath venue, to the spot where his grandfather used to sit to watch him play his minor hockey.

“You remember little things like that and it’s definitely a boost on the ice because you know he’s watching somewhere, and I want to make him proud.”

Bio

Andrew McCarron

• Hometown: Coxheath, N.S.
• Age: 17
• Position: Forward
• Education: Grade 12
• Experience: He’s played with the Riverview Redmen for the past two seasons

The 17-year-old McCarron will suit up for the Riverview Redmen this weekend when the team hosts the 41st annual Red Cup Showcase at the Cape Breton County Recreation Centre.

McCarron appeared in his first Red Cup Showcase last February. Unfortunately, the Redmen were unable to win the event, losing 5-0 to the Halifax West Warriors in the high school hockey tournament’s championship game.

“It would be amazing to win the tournament this year in my graduating year,” said McCarron. “You feel for the Grade 12s last year because we weren’t able to get the job done for them — winning this tournament would be a lifelong memory.”

Riverview has had plenty of success this season, finishing in first place in the Cape Breton High School Hockey League standings with a 17-1-0-0 record and winning both the Mae Kibyuk Memorial Green and Gold and Panther Classic tournament titles.

McCarron, who didn’t make the Redmen in his Grade 10 year, has been a huge part of the club’s success, finishing the regular season with a league-leading 27 goals and 47 points.

“I just want to do what I can to help my team win,” said McCarron. “I want to be able to help Riverview win and at the end of the tournament, if we’re champions, that’s all that matters.”

The Redmen have 10 returning players from last year’s Red Cup team, which McCarron believes will be beneficial for the club at this year’s event.

“We can’t take teams lightly,” said McCarron. “We’re going to come out and play every game like we really want to win.”

Riverview opened the tournament Thursday night against the Memorial Marauders. The score result was not available at press time.

The Redmen will play Friday at 7:30 p.m. against the Avon View Avalanche of Windsor, N.S. The Coxheath-based team will also play the Lockview Dragons of Fall River, N.S., at 8 p.m. on Saturday.

The consolation and championship games are slated for Sunday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.

Although his late grandfather never had the opportunity to watch him play live in the Red Cup Showcase, McCarron believes he’ll be watching every minute of the tournament this year.

“He was sick and couldn’t make the Red Cup last year,” said McCarron. “I know he’ll have a front row seat this year.”

Dylan MacDonald has no regrets playing his final season of high school hockey with the Riverview Redmen, but admits the time went by quickly.

The Grade 12 team captain says he doesn’t know what emotions this weekend will bring when he steps on the ice for his final Red Cup Showcase at the Cape Breton County Recreation Centre.

“Red Cup is the biggest thing of the whole school year, so knowing this is the last time I will play in the tournament feels weird,” said MacDonald, a Sydney resident.

“The whole school comes out to support us and it really brings everyone together and really shows the community our school spirit.”

The 41st annual Red Cup Showcase will officially kick off Thursday, running until Sunday at the Coxheath venue.

The Redmen will be joined in the Red Division by the Memorial Marauders of Sydney Mines, Lockview Dragons of Fall River, N.S., and the Avon View Avalanche of Windsor, N.S.

In the White Division, Cape Breton representatives the Glace Bay Panthers and Sydney Academy Wildcats will be joined by the Auburn Drive Eagles of Cole Harbour, N.S., and the Horton Griffins of Wolfville, N.S.

Red Cup Showcase Schedule:

Cape Breton County Recreation Centre, Coxheath

Red Division: Riverview Redmen, Memorial Marauders, Lockview Dragons and Avon View Avalanche

White Division: Glace Bay Panthers, Sydney Academy Wildcats, Auburn Drive Eagles and Horton Griffins

Thursday

• 6 p.m. – Sydney Academy vs. Glace Bay
• 8 p.m. – Riverview vs. Memorial

Friday

• 1:30 p.m. – Lockview vs. Memorial
• 3:30 p.m. – Auburn Drive vs. Sydney Academy
• 5:30 p.m. – Glace Bay vs. Horton
• 7:30 p.m. – Riverview vs. Avon View

Saturday

• 10 a.m. – Horton vs. Auburn Drive
• 12 p.m. – Lockview vs. Avon View
• 2 p.m. – Horton vs. Sydney Academy
• 4 p.m. – Memorial vs. Avon View
• 6 p.m. – Glace Bay vs. Auburn Drive
• 8 p.m. – Riverview vs. Lockview

Sunday

• 1 p.m. – Consolation Game
• 3 p.m. – Championship Game

Redmen head coach Jimmy Smith believes it’s important for his team to get off to good start in the tournament by winning the opening game against the Memorial Marauders on Thursday.

“There’s no room in the format for errors,” said the veteran bench boss. “If you lose in the round robin you could be out of the final, so basically my only concern is that we’re focused and that we play our game.

“Memorial’s team record is misleading, they have a good team and they have some really good veteran players and two good goaltenders — and goaltending can do some strange things, especially in an important game.”

Riverview has had a successful season to date.

The club sits first overall in the four-team Cape Breton High School Hockey League standings with an 17-1-0-0 record and has captured both the Mae Kibyuk Memorial Green and Gold and Panther Classic tournament titles.

“In these tournaments, league standings don’t really mean a lot because you’re playing teams from the mainland and it determines how good the competition is going to be,” said Smith.

“We haven’t seen Auburn Drive and Lockview — two of the bigger schools — so we’ll have to see what they bring and see how we match up.”

The Redmen have 10 returning players from last year’s team, which suffered a 5-0 loss to the Halifax West Warriors in the Red Cup Showcase final last February, something MacDonald hasn’t forgotten.

“It was embarrassing losing to those guys in front of our fans and everyone,” said MacDonald, noting it’s a dream come true for him to be the club’s captain in his graduating year.

“I don’t think losing is an option this year — we want to take it all.”

The tournament will begin Thursday with Glace Bay playing Sydney Academy at 6 p.m., followed by the Redmen and Marauders at 8 p.m.

Riverview will continue the tournament on Friday when they take on Avon View at 7:30 p.m., before wrapping up the round robin on Saturday at 8 p.m. against Lockview.

“You can expect to win, but to a certain extent,” said MacDonald. “You can’t go into a game and think it’s going to be easy. We may have the crowd behind us, but the other team has the same crowd watching, so they want to play their best to beat us in front of them.”

The consolation game is slated for Sunday at 1 p.m., followed by the championship game at 3 p.m.

The Cape Breton High School Hockey League officially confirmed its first-round playoff series.

The No. 1 seed Riverview Redmen will face the No. 4 seed Sydney Academy Wildcats in the opening round, while the No. 2 seed Glace Bay Panthers will play the No. 3 seed Memorial Marauders.

Both series' will be the best-of-five.

Glace Bay and Memorial will begin play on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Canada Games Complex. The start date for the Riverview and Sydney Academy series was not announced at press time.

Blake Cox scored twice to lead the Riverview Redmen to a 4-1 win over the Glace Bay Panthers in Cape Breton High School Hockey League action at the Canada Games Complex on Sunday.

Andrew McCarron and Bryden Johnston also scored goals for the Redmen, who will begin the Red Cup Showcase on Thursday against the Memorial Marauders at 8 p.m. at the Cape Breton County Recreation Centre.

Michael MacMullen made 19 saves in the win. Nick Bigley turned aside 14 of 18 shots in the loss.

Kinnon Williams had a two goals and an assist to lead the Riverview Redmen to a 6-2 win over the Memorial Marauders in Cape Breton High School Hockey League action at the Cape Breton County Recreation Centre on Friday.

Blake Cox, Brady MacLean, Carter Harnish and Andrew McCarron also scored goals for the Redmen (15-1-0-0).

Jacob Fraser netted both goals for the Marauders (6-10-2-0).

More than five years ago a community rallied behind a little boy's courageous battle with cancer.

Sadly seven year-old Kellen Surette lost that battle in 2013.

Wednesday night, the high school team his father coaches and their opponents took a stand against cancer in Kellen’s memory.

PHOTOS

 

Surette was seven years old when he was diagnosed with leukemia. After a short fight, he tragically died in September of 2013.

 

I don't know what it's like to lose a child, but even to lose a grandchild was a heart-wrenching thing," said Kellen Surette's grandfather Barry Martin.

The Sydney Academy Wildcats stepped onto the ice wearing special orange and black jerseys in honour of Surette.

Their opponents were the Glace Bay Panthers, but Wednesday night’s game was more than just a game as both teams were playing for Team Kellen. 

“My daughter and Sheldon are very strong people,” said Barry Martin, Kellen’s grandfather. “They went through this. I don't know what it's like to lose a child, but even to lose a grandchild was a heart-wrenching thing.”

Surette was seven years old when he was diagnosed with leukemia. After a short fight, he tragically died in September of 2013.

During that time the support grew beyond anyone's expectations. 

“It really was a lift. You couldn't believe what was happening. The community rallied together, money coming from everywhere. It was just amazing,” said Martin.

Across the ice, Michael Doucet remembers Kellen's courageous battle fondly; that's because he was in Grade 12 at time and was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma himself.

The two young boys shared a benefit dance together and Michael is now cancer-free and was happy to be part of the special night.

“It was hard,” Doucet said. “There was a lot tired and weak nights that everything felt horrible, but at the same time it brought a lot of people together. It was a memorable time, I'll say.”

The game of hockey has a way of bringing people together. Wednesday night, the stands here were filled with emotion, as family, friends, and fans held signs in memory of loved ones, taking a stand together against cancer.

But the most touching moment of all might have been when Kellen's younger brother, Jonah stepped on to the ice for the pre-game skate wearing Kellen's number 8.

“Little heart wrenching, I think, but it's good, it's good,” said Martin.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kyle Moore.