Brady Matheson of the Glace Bay Panthers, right, carries the puck into the offensive zone as he’s watched closely by Kieran MacPhee of the Sydney Academy Wildcats during Panther Classic high school hockey tournament action at the Miners Forum in Glace Bay, Thursday. Glace Bay won the game 8-2. JEREMY FRASER/CAPE BRETON POST

GLACE BAY, N.S. – The host Glace Bay Panthers kicked off the Panther Classic high school hockey tournament with a victory on Thursday night.

The Panthers defeated the Sydney Academy Wildcats 8-2 in front of an estimated 300 people at the Miners Forum in Glace Bay.

Kale McNeil scored twice, while Blake Snow, Pierce Hutchings, Ryland Hanrahan, Tyson Boland, Brady Matheson and Kale MacDonald netted goals for the Panthers (1-0-0-0).

Kenzie Carew scored both goals for the Wildcats (0-1-0-0).

Glace Bay’s Brandon Cole made 19 saves. Sydney Academy’s Brody Campbell stopped 40 of 48 shots.

The Panthers will return to the ice on Friday when they host the Auburn Drive Eagles at 6 p.m. at Miners Forum.

Pierce Hutchings of the Glace Bay Panthers, right, chips the puck past Sydney Academy Wildcats goaltender Brody Campbell during Day 1 of the Panther Classic high school hockey tournament at the Miners Forum in Glace Bay, Thursday. JEREMY FRASER/CAPE BRETON POST. - Jeremy Fraser 

Meanwhile, in the earlier game, the Riverview Ravens blanked the Memorial Marauders 8-0 at Miners Forum.

Luc Sampson, Royce Balcom, Dillon Arsenault each scored twice, while Curtis Fogarty and Gahan Rector also fired home goals for the Ravens (1-0-0-0).

The Marauders record in the tournament stands at 0-1-0-0.

Riverview’s Ryan MacDonald stopped all 15 shots he faced for the shutout. Memorial’s Jack MacPhee stopped 25 of 33 shots.

Friday schedule for the Panther Classic:
- 12 p.m. – Memorial Vs. J.H. Gillis
- 2 p.m. - Cobequid Educational Centre Vs. Riverview
- 4 p.m. – Sydney Academy Vs. River East
- 6 p.m. – Glace Bay Vs. Auburn Drive
- 8 p.m. - Cobequid Educational Centre Vs. J.H. Gillis

The semifinal and championship games will be played on Sunday at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. respectively.

- Jeremy Fraser is the sports reporter for the Cape Breton Post. Fol