Pierce Hutchings of the Glace Bay Panthers, left, dekes goaltender Brody Campbell of the Sydney Academy Wildcats during action at the Panther Classic high school hockey tournament at Miners Forum in Glace Bay on Thursday. Hutchings wouldn’t score on the play. Glace Bay won the game 5-1. JEREMY FRASER/CAPE BRETON POST

LACE BAY, N.S. – The Glace Bay Panthers scored early and never looked back to take their opening game of the 25th annual Panther Classic high school hockey tournament at Miners Forum in Glace Bay 5-1 over the Sydney Academy Wildcats on Thursday.

Glace Bay took a 2-0 lead less than two minutes into the game with goals by Garrett MacIntosh and Ty Oliver, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Sydney Academy’s Nolan Neville cut the lead to one late in the first period, but the Panthers responded shortly after with Morgan Neville making the score 3-1 for the Panthers at 1:01 of the frame.

Pierce Hutchings and Cohen McNeil would score in the second and third periods respectively.

Glace Bay’s Brandon Cole, a graduating goaltender, made 13 saves. Sydney Academy’s Brody Campbell stopped 33 of 38 shots.

The Panthers will return to the ice on Friday at 6 p.m. when they play the Dalbrae Dragons of Mabou at Miners Forum. The Wildcats will play Friday at 4 p.m. against the Auburn Drive Eagles of Cole Harbour.

Kyle Nearing of the Glace Bay Panthers, left, attempts to get a stick on a loose puck at the side of Brody Campbell and the Sydney Academy net during the opening game of the Panther Classic high school hockey tournament at Miners Forum in Glace Bay on Thursday. JEREMY FRASER/CAPE BRETON POST. - Jeremy Fraser

In other action on Thursday, the Memorial Marauders edged the Riverview Ravens 3-2 in overtime at Miners Forum.

Sam Gracie scored the overtime winner at 4:38 of the extra frame. Jesse Ross and Daniel Young also found the back of the net for the Marauders in regulation time.

Gahan Rector and Owen Buckley had the goals for the Ravens.

Memorial’s Jack MacPhee made 27 saves. Riverview’s Kayden Mollons stopped 28 of 30 shots.

The Marauders continue the Panther Classic on Friday at 2 p.m. against the Halifax West Warriors. The Ravens will play the Cobequid Educational Centre Cougars of Truro at 12 p.m.

The final game of the day on Friday will see Cobequid Educational Centre and Halifax West at 8 p.m.

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