NORTH SYDNEY - This year’s Green and Gold tournament didn’t exactly go as planned for the host Memorial Marauders.

After losing 15 players from last year’s tournament winning squad, the Marauders were not expected to repeat as Mae Kibyuk Memorial champions.

And they didn’t.

But the title did remain in Cape Breton as the Riverview Redmen skated to a 3-0 win over the Glace Bay Panthers in the Sunday afternoon final at the Emera Centre Northside.

With the host Marauders watching from the stands, the arena was only about half full for the final between the other two local teams. Still, the rink was buzzing right from the start as the two sides engaged in a physical battle that sent players from both teams crashing to the ice after big hits.

Following a scoreless first period in which Glace Bay outshot Riverview 13-3, the second stanza was more even. And, it was the Redmen that got on the board first when Jacob Denny scored with less than four minutes remaining in the period.

Riverview captain Josh MacKay added an insurance marker in the third period and Duston Sudds topped off the affair with an empty net goal in the final minute of play.

Redmen goalie Owen MacPhee picked up the win, while Nick Bigley was tagged with the loss.

Glace Bay outshot Riverview 40-20.

Riverview reached the final game by virtue of a 4-0 win over the Garden City Fighting Gophers, of Winnipeg, while Glace Bay defeated Dartmouth’s Prince Andrew 7-4 in a battle of the Panthers.

The other teams that participated in the four-day tournament were Halifax’s Citadel Phoenix and J.L. Ilsley Judges along with Mabou’s Dalbrae Dragons.

sports@cbpost.com

On Twitter: @cbpost_sports