Glace Bay Panthers goaltender Darian MacInnis focuses on the play during Cape Breton High School Hockey League action at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre earlier this season. MacInnis and the Panthers will compete for a championship this weekend when they participate in the School Sport Nova Scotia Division 1 Hockey Provincial Championship in Windsor. JEREMY FRASER/CAPE BRETON POST. - Jeremy Fraser

GLACE BAY, N.S. — The Glace Bay Panthers hope a lineup filled with veteran players can lead the school to its first boys high school hockey championship.

Glace Bay, who captured the Highland Region Division 1 championship last Sunday over Riverview, will participate in the School Sport Nova Scotia provincial championship at West Hants Sportsplex in Windsor this weekend.

The tournament, hosted by Avon View High School, will feature eight teams.

The Panthers will be in Pool ‘A’ with the Charles P. Allen Cheetahs of Bedford, Lockview Dragons of Fall River, and the Northumberland Nighthawks of Alma.

Meanwhile, Pool ‘B’ will include the Citadel Flames of Halifax, Dr. J.H. Gillis Royals of Antigonish, Avon View Avalanche of Windsor, and the Halifax West Warriors.

Provincials schedule
Friday

•  9 a.m. – Glace Bay vs Northumberland Regional
•  6 p.m. – Glace Bay vs Lockview

Saturday

•  9 a.m. – Glace Bay vs Charles P. Allen 
•  6 p.m. – Semifinal 
•  8 p.m. – Semifinal

Sunday

•  1 p.m. – Championship Game

Note: All games will be played at the West Hants Sportsplex in Windsor. 

Glace Bay had a successful season in the Cape Breton High School Hockey League. The team posted an undefeated 16-0-0-0 record, finishing in first place in the four-team league.

In the playoffs, the Panthers swept the Memorial Marauders in two games in the best-of-three series, before eliminating Riverview in three games in the league final.

Panthers head coach Dwayne Doucet believes this year’s edition of the Panthers features an exciting mix of players who could take over a game on one shift.

“We have a balanced team which is key for any team looking to have success in this league,” said Doucet. “When these guys believe in themselves and each other, great things have happened for them and hopefully that will continue this weekend.”

Offensively, the club was led during the regular season by captain Adam Hicks, who won the league scoring title with 13 goals and 25 points in 16 games. Landon Clark (12 goals, 20 points) and Brady Doucette (10 goals, 19 points) also finished in the top 10 in scoring.

“All three guys are in Grade 12 and have loads of hockey experience so the leadership they provided off the ice has been immeasurable,” said Doucet.

“Hicks is one of three third-year players and he brings to the team his work ethic and leadership every day. When any of those three guys speak up or just get on the ice and create something, the rest of the team feeds off them.”

“There’s a big turnaround coming next year,” said Doucet. “We have 10 players from last year’s squad that won the Cape Breton title and we hope that experience will help them at the provincial level as well.”

With the potential for a rebuilding season in 2022-23, Doucet said the expectations have never been higher for the team heading into the provincial tournament.

“When you go to these types of tournaments, you have your ultimate goal of winning the championship, but you can’t get too far ahead of yourself,” said Doucet.

“We just have to take this one game at a time and have our first goal set at making it to the semifinal. After that, your goal is to go get that one-game final.”

MacInnis and Coombes both had eight wins during the season with MacInnis leading the league with a 1.56 goals-against-average and a .921 save percentage, allowing only 13 goals against. Coombes had a 1.96 goals-against-average and a .910 save percentage, stopping 151 of 166 shots.

“MacInnis is a special goalie you only see every so often,” said Doucet. “When he’s dialed in, it’s extremely tough on teams to get anything by him. His play between the pipes fires up the guys to play with lots of confidence.

“Coombes has played incredibly well this season for us and he won some big games, as well.”

When asked who would get the start in goal for the opening game on Friday, Doucet said as of Wednesday the team had not decided on the starting goaltender.

“When these guys believe in themselves and each other, great things have happened for them and hopefully that will continue this weekend.” — Dwayne Doucet, Panthes head coach

Glace Bay High School has won a hockey provincial title in the past, however not in the boy’s division. The school captured the Division 2 girls’ championship in 2016, defeating Horton High of Wolfville in the final.

The provincial tournament will get underway on Thursday with Charles P. Allen playing Lockview at 6 p.m., and the host Avon View facing Citadel at 8 p.m.

Glace Bay will open the event at 9 a.m. on Friday when they face Northumberland. The team will also play later in the day at 6 p.m. against Lockview.

The Panthers will finish the round robin at 9 a.m. on Saturday when they challenge Charles P. Allen.

Semifinal games will be played Saturday at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively, while the championship game is slated for 1 p.m. on Sunday.

 - Jeremy Fraser is the sports reporter for the Cape Breton Post. Follow him on Twitter @CBPost_Jeremy.