Landon Clark of the Glace Bay Panthers, right, fires a backhand on goal during action at the Panther Classic high school hockey tournament at the Miners Forum in Glace Bay in December. Clark was named the Cape Breton High School Hockey League’s regular season and playoff most valuable player. JEREMY FRASER/CAPE BRETON POST. - Jeremy Fraser
SYDNEY, N.S. — The Cape Breton High School Hockey League honoured its top players for the 2021-22 season recently by announcing the major award winners and all-star teams.
Landon Clark of the Glace Bay Panthers was given both the league and playoff most valuable player award, helping lead the school to the Highland Region championship over the Riverview Ravens.
Clark finished fourth in league scoring with 12 goals and 20 points in 15 regular season games. He led the playoffs with eight goals and 12 points in five games.
Meanwhile, Glace Bay teammate Adam Hicks was the league’s scoring champion in the regular season, notching 13 goals and 25 points in 16 games, helping the Panthers to an undefeated 16-0-0-0 season.
Panther player Mitchell MacDonald was named the top defenceman for the season. He finished fifth in team scoring with three goals and 13 points in 16 games and was stellar on the blueline for the club. MacDonald was also presented with the Edison Boutilier Memorial Award for his efforts during the season.
Glace Bay’s Darian MacInnis took home the top goaltender award for the second consecutive season. He posted a perfect 8-0-0-0 record with a 1.56 goals-against-average and a .921 save percentage.
As for the rookie of the year award, Royce Balcom of the Riverview Ravens was given the honour. The forward finished second in league scoring with 10 goals and 24 points and led the Coxheath-based school offensively.
The Derrick Lewis Memorial Award was presented to Memorial Marauders captain Mason Chapman. The defenceman was third in team scoring with five goals and nine points in 16 games.
Goaltender Liam Collings of the Sydney Academy Wildcats was given the J.K. MacNeil Memorial Award. He had a 3-6-0-0 record with a 3.71 goals-against-average and a .888 save percentage in his final year with the club.
The Johnny Carabin Memorial Award went to Liam Robertson of the Riverview Ravens. He was tied for third in team scoring with nine goals and 16 points in 13 games.
The league also announced its annual all-star teams.
The first all-star team features forwards Hicks (Glace Bay), Balcom (Riverview), and Clark (Glace Bay) as well as defencemen MacDonald (Glace Bay), Tyler Cormier (Glace Bay), and Arlen Denny (Riverview), and goaltender MacInnis (Glace Bay).
As for the second all-star team, it includes forwards Gahan Rector (Riverview), Alex Chenhall (Sydney Academy), and Noah MacKinnon (Riverview) along with defnecemen Chapman (Memorial), Rylan Perry (Sydney Academy), and Jackson Ford (Memorial), and goaltender Owen Coombes (Glace Bay).
The Cape Breton High School Hockey League is expected to begin its 2022-23 season in October. A schedule was not released at publication time.
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.”
Glace Bay Panthers captain Adam Hicks takes the puck out of the corner during action at the Panther Classic hockey tournament at Miners Forum in Glace Bay in December. Hicks led the Cape Breton High School Hockey League in points (25) in the regular season with 13 goals and 12 assists. He’ll be a key part to any success the Panthers have this weekend in the School Sport Nova Scotia provincial championship in Windsor. JEREMY FRASER/CAPE BRETON POST. - Jeremy Fraser
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.”
Hicks, Clark and Doucette are not the only veteran players on the Panthers roster. In fact, the team has 12 players in their graduating year.
“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.”
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 Fras
Between the pipes, the Panthers have arguably one of the top goaltending tandems in the province with Darian MacInnis and Owen Coombes.
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.
The Panthers will now play in the SSNS provincial championship later this week in Windsor
The Glace Bay Panthers captured their second consecutive School Sport Nova Scotia Highland Region Division 1 championship on Sunday, beating the Riverview Ravens 4-2 in Game 3 at the Miners Forum in Glace Bay. Members of the team, not in order, are shown with the league championship banner. Anthony Peach, Coady Grace, Tyler Cormier, Brandon Royal, Adam Hicks, Khonor White, Lochlan Pilling, Darian MacInnis, Owen Coombes, Mitchell MacDonald, Dylin White, Tyson Boland, Mason Fraser, Parker Hutchings, Brady Doucette, Jonathan Gallant, Landon Clark, Joshua Gottwald, and Kale McNeil. Missing from the photo were members of the coaching staff, Dwayne Doucette (head coach), Drew Baxter (assistant coach), Michael Doucette (assistant coach), Michael Higgins (assistant coach), Derrick Kennedy (assistant coach) and Tyler Baxter (manager). PHOTO CONTRIBUTED.
GLACE BAY, N.S. - For the second straight year, the Glace Bay Panthers are the School Sport Nova Scotia Highland Region Division 1 hockey champions.
The Panthers captured the Cape Breton High School Hockey League title with a 4-2 win over the Riverview Ravens in front of a jam-packed crowd at the Miners Forum in Glace Bay on Sunday.
Glace Bay wins the best-of-three series 2-1.
Landon Clark scored twice and added an assist, while Brady Doucette and Tyler Cormier also netted goals for the Panthers.
Noah MacKinnon and Grant Cameron responded with goals for the Ravens.
Glace Bay's Darian MacInnis made 18 saves. Riverview's Patrick Hinchey stopped 23 of 26 shots.
Riverview opened the scoring with Cameron finding the back of the net at 7:31 of the first period, but Glace Bay responded shortly after with Doucette tying the game at 3:13 of the period.
The Ravens took an early lead in the second period with a MacKinnon goal, sending the visitors into the dressing room with the one-goal lead.
In the third period, Cormier's point shot beat a screened Hinchey to tie the game 2-2, before Clark netted the eventual game-winner on a breakaway at the 5:34 mark of the final stanza. He added an empty net goal late the in the frame.
Panthers head coach Dwayne Doucette said he thought the series could have gone either way, noting both teams in his opinion should be going to the provincial championship.
"We just played with a little more urgency in the third period and most likely just because we were losing for most of the game," said Doucette. "The guys wanted it bad enough in the end and they found another gear to get the win."
Glace Bay had the opportunity to sweep Riverview in Game 2 Saturday afternoon, but the Ravens forced a third-and-deciding game with a 4-1 win at the Cape Breton County Recreation Centre in Coxheath.
The Panthers took Game 1 of the series 5-4 in overtime on March 20.
Glace Bay will now play in the SSNS provincial championship next weekend in Windsor. A schedule for the tournament was not confirmed at publication time.
COXHEATH, N.S. - The Cape Breton High School Hockey League championship series is heading to a third-and-deciding game.
The Riverview Ravens downed the Glace Bay Panthers 4-1 at the Cape Breton County Recreation Centre on Saturday, tying their best-of-three School Sport Nova Scotia Highland Region Division 1 series 1-1.
Noah MacKinnon had a goal and two assists, while Arlen Denny buried a pair of goals. Gahan Rector chipped in with a single marker for the Ravens.
Landon Clark had the lone goal for the Panthers.
Riverview's Patrick Hinchey made 28 saves. Glace Bay's Darian MacInnis stopped 28 of 32 shots.
Game 3 of the series will be played on Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Miners Forum in Glace Bay.
Landon Clark of the Glace Bay Panthers, right, fires a backhand on goal during action at the Panther Classic high school hockey tournament at the Miners Forum in Glace Bay in December. Clark was named the Cape Breton High School Hockey League’s regular season and playoff most valuable player. JEREMY FRASER/CAPE BRETON POST. - Jeremy Fraser
SYDNEY, N.S. — The Cape Breton High School Hockey League honoured its top players for the 2021-22 season recently by announcing the major award winners and all-star teams.
Landon Clark of the Glace Bay Panthers was given both the league and playoff most valuable player award, helping lead the school to the Highland Region championship over the Riverview Ravens.
Clark finished fourth in league scoring with 12 goals and 20 points in 15 regular season games. He led the playoffs with eight goals and 12 points in five games.
Meanwhile, Glace Bay teammate Adam Hicks was the league’s scoring champion in the regular season, notching 13 goals and 25 points in 16 games, helping the Panthers to an undefeated 16-0-0-0 season.
Panther player Mitchell MacDonald was named the top defenceman for the season. He finished fifth in team scoring with three goals and 13 points in 16 games and was stellar on the blueline for the club. MacDonald was also presented with the Edison Boutilier Memorial Award for his efforts during the season.
Glace Bay’s Darian MacInnis took home the top goaltender award for the second consecutive season. He posted a perfect 8-0-0-0 record with a 1.56 goals-against-average and a .921 save percentage.
As for the rookie of the year award, Royce Balcom of the Riverview Ravens was given the honour. The forward finished second in league scoring with 10 goals and 24 points and led the Coxheath-based school offensively.
The Derrick Lewis Memorial Award was presented to Memorial Marauders captain Mason Chapman. The defenceman was third in team scoring with five goals and nine points in 16 games.
Goaltender Liam Collings of the Sydney Academy Wildcats was given the J.K. MacNeil Memorial Award. He had a 3-6-0-0 record with a 3.71 goals-against-average and a .888 save percentage in his final year with the club.
The Johnny Carabin Memorial Award went to Liam Robertson of the Riverview Ravens. He was tied for third in team scoring with nine goals and 16 points in 13 games.
The league also announced its annual all-star teams.
The first all-star team features forwards Hicks (Glace Bay), Balcom (Riverview), and Clark (Glace Bay) as well as defencemen MacDonald (Glace Bay), Tyler Cormier (Glace Bay), and Arlen Denny (Riverview), and goaltender MacInnis (Glace Bay).
As for the second all-star team, it includes forwards Gahan Rector (Riverview), Alex Chenhall (Sydney Academy), and Noah MacKinnon (Riverview) along with defnecemen Chapman (Memorial), Rylan Perry (Sydney Academy), and Jackson Ford (Memorial), and goaltender Owen Coombes (Glace Bay).
The Cape Breton High School Hockey League is expected to begin its 2022-23 season in October. A schedule was not released at publication time.
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.”
Glace Bay Panthers captain Adam Hicks takes the puck out of the corner during action at the Panther Classic hockey tournament at Miners Forum in Glace Bay in December. Hicks led the Cape Breton High School Hockey League in points (25) in the regular season with 13 goals and 12 assists. He’ll be a key part to any success the Panthers have this weekend in the School Sport Nova Scotia provincial championship in Windsor. JEREMY FRASER/CAPE BRETON POST. - Jeremy Fraser
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.”
Hicks, Clark and Doucette are not the only veteran players on the Panthers roster. In fact, the team has 12 players in their graduating year.
“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.”
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 Fras
Between the pipes, the Panthers have arguably one of the top goaltending tandems in the province with Darian MacInnis and Owen Coombes.
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.
The Panthers will now play in the SSNS provincial championship later this week in Windsor
The Glace Bay Panthers captured their second consecutive School Sport Nova Scotia Highland Region Division 1 championship on Sunday, beating the Riverview Ravens 4-2 in Game 3 at the Miners Forum in Glace Bay. Members of the team, not in order, are shown with the league championship banner. Anthony Peach, Coady Grace, Tyler Cormier, Brandon Royal, Adam Hicks, Khonor White, Lochlan Pilling, Darian MacInnis, Owen Coombes, Mitchell MacDonald, Dylin White, Tyson Boland, Mason Fraser, Parker Hutchings, Brady Doucette, Jonathan Gallant, Landon Clark, Joshua Gottwald, and Kale McNeil. Missing from the photo were members of the coaching staff, Dwayne Doucette (head coach), Drew Baxter (assistant coach), Michael Doucette (assistant coach), Michael Higgins (assistant coach), Derrick Kennedy (assistant coach) and Tyler Baxter (manager). PHOTO CONTRIBUTED.
GLACE BAY, N.S. - For the second straight year, the Glace Bay Panthers are the School Sport Nova Scotia Highland Region Division 1 hockey champions.
The Panthers captured the Cape Breton High School Hockey League title with a 4-2 win over the Riverview Ravens in front of a jam-packed crowd at the Miners Forum in Glace Bay on Sunday.
Glace Bay wins the best-of-three series 2-1.
Landon Clark scored twice and added an assist, while Brady Doucette and Tyler Cormier also netted goals for the Panthers.
Noah MacKinnon and Grant Cameron responded with goals for the Ravens.
Glace Bay's Darian MacInnis made 18 saves. Riverview's Patrick Hinchey stopped 23 of 26 shots.
Riverview opened the scoring with Cameron finding the back of the net at 7:31 of the first period, but Glace Bay responded shortly after with Doucette tying the game at 3:13 of the period.
The Ravens took an early lead in the second period with a MacKinnon goal, sending the visitors into the dressing room with the one-goal lead.
In the third period, Cormier's point shot beat a screened Hinchey to tie the game 2-2, before Clark netted the eventual game-winner on a breakaway at the 5:34 mark of the final stanza. He added an empty net goal late the in the frame.
Panthers head coach Dwayne Doucette said he thought the series could have gone either way, noting both teams in his opinion should be going to the provincial championship.
"We just played with a little more urgency in the third period and most likely just because we were losing for most of the game," said Doucette. "The guys wanted it bad enough in the end and they found another gear to get the win."
Glace Bay had the opportunity to sweep Riverview in Game 2 Saturday afternoon, but the Ravens forced a third-and-deciding game with a 4-1 win at the Cape Breton County Recreation Centre in Coxheath.
The Panthers took Game 1 of the series 5-4 in overtime on March 20.
Glace Bay will now play in the SSNS provincial championship next weekend in Windsor. A schedule for the tournament was not confirmed at publication time.
COXHEATH, N.S. - The Cape Breton High School Hockey League championship series is heading to a third-and-deciding game.
The Riverview Ravens downed the Glace Bay Panthers 4-1 at the Cape Breton County Recreation Centre on Saturday, tying their best-of-three School Sport Nova Scotia Highland Region Division 1 series 1-1.
Noah MacKinnon had a goal and two assists, while Arlen Denny buried a pair of goals. Gahan Rector chipped in with a single marker for the Ravens.
Landon Clark had the lone goal for the Panthers.
Riverview's Patrick Hinchey made 28 saves. Glace Bay's Darian MacInnis stopped 28 of 32 shots.
Game 3 of the series will be played on Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Miners Forum in Glace Bay.
GrayJay Sports
