The Sydney Academy Wildcats and Glace Bay Panthers will be part of the 42nd annual Red Cup Showcase high school hockey tournament after all.

The Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centre for Education confirmed on Monday the two local teams will join the tournament after originally not being part of the Coxheath event.

The announcement comes as the fourth change to the Red Cup tournament since November.

According to the centre for education, all four local high school principals met on Jan. 13 and agreed with a proposed schedule change to the Red Cup tournament.

“The local schools support Riverview Rural High’s intent to ensure the safety of all participants and spectators who attend this event,” said centre for education spokesperson Michelle MacLeod in a press release on Monday.

The Cape Breton Post first reported in early December changes to the Red Cup Showcase format, which would see games played after school and during the weekday, instead of the traditional Thursday to Sunday event.

Sources told the Post the reason for the change was due to the possibility of underage drinking among students at Redmen evening games, which is still believed to be one of the reasons.

The tournament was first expected to feature only the four local teams — Riverview, Sydney Academy, Glace Bay and Memorial — but Sydney Academy and Glace Bay declined the format.

On Dec. 20, prior to the holiday break, the centre for education released further details about the Red Cup, confirming a six-team tournament featuring Riverview, Memorial, Dr. J.H. Gillis Regional High School of Antigonish, Northumberland Regional High School of Pictou County, Cole Harbour High School, and Strait Area Education Recreation Centre of Port Hawkesbury.

Following the break, Cole Harbour decided to drop out of the tournament and Dalbrae Academy of Mabou was then asked to join, with Glace Bay and Sydney Academy not participating unless both high schools were involved.

Since then, Strait Area Education Recreation Centre pulled its club from the tournament, which left only five teams, until Glace Bay and Sydney Academy agreed to join last week, making seven teams.

The centre for education also confirmed the schedule for the tournament, which includes the Redmen playing 5 p.m. games instead of the regular 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. start times at the Cape Breton County Recreation Centre.

The tournament will also run from Wednesday to Saturday and will not be played Thursday to Sunday as it has been in the past.

Because the tournament will have seven teams, Riverview will play an extra game at the event.

Prior to the semifinal game, all four of the Redmen games will be put into a hat and a game will be selected by the Red Cup committee. The selected game will not count towards Riverview’s record.

The Red Cup Showcase is scheduled for Feb. 5-8 in Coxheath. Riverview will open the tournament Feb. 5 against the Memorial at 5 p.m.

42nd annual Red Cup Showcase:

Teams:

• Riverview Redmen
• Sydney Academy Wildcats
• Glace Bay Panthers
• Memorial Marauders
• Northumberland NightHawks
• Dr. J.H. Gillis Regional Royals
• Dalbrae Academy

*Tournament is scheduled for Feb. 5-8 at the Cape Breton County Recreation Centre in Coxheath