Glace Bay Panthers captain Dylin White carries the puck into the offensive zone during Cape Breton High School Hockey League action at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre earlier this year. White will participate in his final Panther Classic tournament this week in Glace Bay. JEREMY FRASER/CAPE BRETON POST

GLACE BAY, N.S. — Dylin White would like nothing more than to finish the calendar year with a Panther Classic high school hockey tournament championship victory. 

The Glace Bay Panthers captain has been part of the hockey program for the last three years, but unfortunately hasn’t been able to get past the tournament's semifinal game.  

In 2021, Glace Bay was knocked out of the tournament by the Riverview Ravens. Last year, the team was defeated in the semifinal by the Cobequid Educational Centre Cougars (CEC) of Truro. 

However, the Panthers have put their semifinal struggles behind them and with several key additions to the team this year. Now, White believes the club has what it takes to win its first Panther Classic title since 2017. 

“It’s one of the biggest tournaments of the year for us besides the provincial championship,” said White. “We need to make sure that we’re going to be ready. I think we have a pretty strong team and a really good team that can win it.” 

The 25th annual Panther Classic will take place this week, beginning on Thursday at Miners Forum in Glace Bay.  

Along with the host Panthers, the event will feature the Sydney Academy Wildcats, Riverview Ravens, Memorial Marauders and Dalbrae Dragons of Mabou. Off-island teams will include the Auburn Drive Eagles of Cole Harbour, Halifax West Warriors and the defending 2022 champion Cobequid Education Centre.  

Opening day will see Riverview and Memorial at 6 p.m. followed by Sydney Academy and Glace Bay at 8 p.m. on Thursday.  

Panthers Classic High School Hockey Tournament

•  Host: Glace Bay Panthers
•  Location: Miners Forum, Glace Bay
•  Teams: Glace Bay Panthers, Sydney Academy Wildcats, Riverview Ravens, Memorial Marauders, Dalbrae Dragons, Auburn Drive Eagles, Cobequid Educational Centre Cougars and Halifax West Warriors

Thursday

•  6 p.m. – Memorial vs. Riverview
•  8 p.m. – Sydney Academy vs. Glace Bay

Friday

•  12 p.m. – Riverview vs. CEC
•  2 p.m. – Memorial vs. Halifax West
•  4 p.m. – Sydney Academy vs. Auburn Drive
•  6 p.m. – Glace Bay vs. Dalbrae
•  8 p.m. – CEC vs. Halifax West

Saturday

•  10 a.m. – Dalbrae vs. Auburn Drive
•  12 p.m. – Memorial vs. CEC
•  2 p.m. – Riverview vs. Halifax West
•  4 p.m. – Sydney Academy vs. Dalbrae
•  6 p.m. – Glace Bay vs. Auburn Drive

Sunday

•  9 a.m. – Semifinal No. 1
•  11 a.m. – Semifinal No. 2
•  2:30 p.m. – Championship Game

The Panthers know what it takes to win games. The team sits in first place in the four-team Cape Breton High School Hockey League with a 9-1-1-0 record. 

Meanwhile, last month, Glace Bay was successful in winning the Mae Kibyuk Memorial Green and Gold Hockey Tournament, hosted by the Memorial Marauders in North Sydney. 

“For us to get the tournament win at the start of the year, it was a huge confidence boost for us and has helped us this year, for sure,” said White, a graduating player, who has four goals and eight points in 11 regular season games to date. 

“I think we have to keep our cool, stay composed and just really work as a team. If we can do that, like we have all year, I think we’ll have no problem winning.”  

Glace Bay has eight returning players from last year’s team but received a major boost to their lineup with the addition of Hudson Clarke, a former draft pick of the Halifax Mooseheads, as well as Ty Oliver and Garrett MacIntosh. 

Oliver, MacIntosh and Clarke joined the Panthers program after spending last year with the Sydney Mitsubishi Rush of the Nova Scotia Under-18 Major Hockey League. 

Oliver leads the Cape Breton league with 12 goals and 28 points in 11 games, while MacIntosh has 14 goals and 26 points in 11 games. Clarke has six goals and 15 points in 11 games.  

The team has scored a league-leading 69 goals in 11 games.  

On the blueline, veterans Joshua Gottwald and Jesse Cathcart lead the way with seven and six points respectively – Gottwald with three goals on the campaign. 

Panthers head coach Dwayne Doucet said the club has high expectations for the tournament, especially given the fact it’s an anniversary year for the event.  

“Defensively, we have to play well,” he said. “Our offence should happen, we’re a very high offensive team, so as long as we buy into our defensive game, I think we’ll have success.”  

Kristian MacKenzie and Brandon Cole have shared the goaltending duties for the team this season. Doucet confirmed Cole, a Grade 12 player, will get the start in goal on Thursday against Sydney Academy.  

Last five Panther Classic champs

•  2022 - Cobequid Educational Centre Cougars
•  2021 - Halifax West Warriors
•  2019 - Auburn Drive Eagles
•  2018 - Riverview Ravens
•  2017 - Glace Bay Panthers

While a large portion of the team has never played in the Panther Classic before, White said his message to the group is to have fun. 

“The new players just need to stay calm and not be nervous,” he said. “It’s an exciting time for the students at the school and the community, there will be large crowds, but we just have to stay calm and focus on our game.” 

Looking at the teams coming from off-island, Halifax West (9-4-0-1) and Auburn Drive (3-8-0-2) sit fourth and seventh respectively in the seven-team Metro High School Hockey League. As for CEC, the club is in first place in the five-team Northern Nova Scotia High School Hockey League with a 7-0-0-0 record. 

Following their game with Sydney Academy, Glace Bay will play Dalbrae at 6 p.m. on Friday and Auburn Drive at 6 p.m. on Saturday. 

The semifinal games are slated for Sunday at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. while the championship will be played later in the day at 2:30 p.m. 

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