NORTH SYDNEY – There was no shortage of drama as the Glace Bay Panthers claimed the 2019 Mae Kibyuk Green and Gold hockey tournament with a 4-3 overtime victory over the two-time defending champion Riverview Redmen.

The longtime rivals and recent powerhouses of Cape Breton high school hockey resumed acquaintances in Sunday’s championship game at the Emera Centre Northside after each team won their semifinal matches on Saturday evening.

Riverview opened the scoring in the first period on a by Nathaniel Fuller, but the Panthers clawed back with a second period equalizer off the stick of Jarrett Hicks and a go-ahead goal later in the frame by Xavier Johnson. However, the lead would be short-lived as the Redmen’s Curtis Novak knotted the affair just a minute later.

The game remained tied until late in the third period when Johnson scored his second goal of the game to give Glace Bay the lead. But the drama was far from over. With just 10 seconds remaining in regulation time Fuller notched his second of the game to tie it up.

The matter was then decided when Liam Burke scored the tournament-winning goal in overtime with the assist credited to Johnson.

Glace Bay earned their ticket in the final after trouncing the host Memorial Marauders 7-1 with goals going to Xavier Johnson, David Beaton, Adam Hicks, Matthew Crane, Mitchell Hiscock, Alec Campbell and Connor MacIntyre. Jacob Jessome responded for Memorial.

Riverview defeated Sydney Academy 5-1 in the other semifinal. Fuller had two goals for the Redmen, while single tallies were recorded by AJ Ley, Liam Robertson and Sam MacKinnon. Dante Basque scored for Sydney.

The Prince Andrew Panthers, Dalbrae Dragons, SAERC Saints and the JL Ilsely Judges also took part in the four-day annual competition.

sports@cbpost.com