SYDNEY, N.S. — The 2017 Panther Classic gets underway at the Canada Games Complex on Thursday.

The tournament was cancelled last year due to the teachers’ union job action, but this year’s 20th installment of the tournament will feature the three teams in the Cape Breton High School Hockey league as well as four other teams from mainland Nova Scotia.

The host Glace Bay Panthers, the Memorial Mauraders of Sydney Mines and the Riverview Redman from Coxheath are the cape Breton teams. The four mainland teams coming to Cape Breton for the tournament arethe Auburn Drive Eagles, Hants East Tigers, the Sackville Kingfishers and the Cobequid Education Centre Cougars.

Cameron Yates, 18, a Grade 12 Panthers player, said it means a lot to be involved with the tournament this year.

“It’s a huge honour, especially since we haven’t won it in a while and we have a team that can definitely win it. I know everyone around the school is really excited for it,” said Yates, who added that it’s also refreshing for Cape Breton teams to test their skills against teams they wouldn’t face in their own league.

“This is definitely going to be different because we’ve only been playing against two teams around here, but we’re pretty confident in our own abilities so we’re not too worried about anyone coming down in our tournament.”

Dwayne Doucet, who’s in his first year as the Panthers’ head coach, echoed Yates’ sentiments and said it will be good for everyone involved to play new teams.

“We’re pretty excited to face some new blood. A three-team league can a little stale after a while; I think so it’ll be nice to get some new challenges.

The tournament opens on Thursday at 6 p.m. when Riverview faces off against Hants East, followed by the host Glace Bay Panthers playing Memorial.

The action will continue on Saturday at 10 a.m. with the semifinals starting at 6 p.m. with the 1st-place team playing the 4th-place team. The second semifinal will, be at 8 p.m.

Sunday, the top two teams will compete for the championship at 1 p.m.

Christian.roach@cbpost.com

IF YOU GO

Tournament pass: $15 dollars for adults, $10 for students & seniors

Daily Pass: $5 for adults, 4$ for students & seniors.

SYDNEY, N.S. — The youthful Memorial Marauders learned the hard way that hockey is a three-period game in a 7-1 loss to the Glace Bay Panthers, Sunday.

The Marauders were nine seconds away from taking a 1-0 lead into the third period against the more experienced Panthers in a Cape Breton High School Hockey League match at the Canada Games Complex.

But when Drew Baxter put the Panthers on the scoreboard just before the end of the second period, it was a foreboding of what was to come in the final stanza.

Up to that point, Memorial goalie Gavin Rudderham had made 26 stops to keep the Marauders in the lead following a Dovi Walker goal.

However, Glace Bay’s depth proved too much for the visitors in the third period. Trenton Gove scored both the game-tying and game-winning goals, while Christian Jackson, Brandon Boutilier, Colin Rosta and Baxter, with his second of the game, rounded out the scoring for the Panthers. Cameron Yates contributed four assists, while Brett Strong chipped in with three helpers.

Cody Smith stopped 19 of the 20 shots he faced to record the win, while Rudderham, who was replaced late in the game by Spencer Shebib, was tagged with the loss. Glace Bay fired 41 shots on the Memorial net.

The win gives the Panthers a 7-1-2-0-1 record for 24 points, three more than the Riverview Redmen (6-1-2-0-1). Memorial is last in the three-team loop with one win in 11 games.

The league takes a break as the players prepare for the upcoming Glace Bay-hosted Panther Classic tournament that begins Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Canada Games Complex when Hants East takes on Riverview. The host Panthers will once again play the rival Marauders at 8 p.m.

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NORTH SYDNEY, N.S. — Christian Jackson scored the winner short-handed midway through the third period as the Glace Bay Panthers posted a 3-2 win over the Memorial Marauders in Cape Breton High School Hockey League play, Thursday.

Cameron Yates and Trenton Gove also struck for the Panthers, who improved to 7-2-0-1 with the victory to move into first place.

Memorial replied with third-period goals from Tyler Johnson and Evan Hiscock. The Marauders record fell to 1-8-0-0 with the setback in front of about 200 fans at the Emera Centre Northside.

In goal, Colton Boutilier made 26 stops for the win. Spencer Shebib deflected 35 pucks in the loss.

Tonight, the Riverview Redmen host the Marauders at the County Recreation Centre in Coxheath, a 7:15 p.m. start. The Redmen will be taking donations of non-perishable food items at the game for Loaves and Fishes. Admission for students is $1 with a food donation.

Sunday, Glace Bay and Memorial lock horns at the Canada Games Complex starting at 7 p.m.

COXHEATH, N.S. — After suffering a 6-1 loss to the Memorial Marauders in North Sydney on Thursday, the Riverview Redmen responded with a home ice win of their own.

The Redmen defeated the Marauders 3-1 in Cape Breton High School Hockey League action at the Cape Breton County Recreation Centre, Friday.

With the win, Riverview (6-1-0-1) moves into sole possession of first place in the three-team league, two points ahead of the Glace Bay Panthers.

Meanwhile, Memorial’s record falls to 1-7-0-0.

Josh MacKay opened the scoring for the Redmen at 9:44 of the first period.

The contest would remain 1-0 through the end of the second period, before Logan Targett tied the game for the Marauders at the 15-minute mark of the third period.

Riverview regained the lead shortly after that goal, with Logan Beaton finding the twine. Dustin Sudds sealed the deal with an empty net goal late in the final stanza.

Michael MacMullin made 14 saves for the Redmen. Spencer Shebib, coming off a 54-save winning performance on Thursday night, turned aside 33 of 36 shots for the Marauders.

Riverview returns to the ice on Sunday when they play the Glace Bay Panthers at 7 p.m. at the Canada Games Complex.

In Cape Breton West High School Hockey League action on Friday, the Dalbrae Dragons hosted the Inverness/Baddeck Rebels in Port Hood. Results from that game were not available at press time.

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NORTH SYDNEY, N.S. — Eldon Snow fired a hat trick to lead the Memorial Marauders to a 6-1 win over the Riverview Redmen and their first victory of the Cape Breton High School Hockey League regular season on Thursday.

Snow scored a natural hat trick in the first period, as the Marauders pulled out to a 5-0 lead in front of their home fans at the Emera Center Northside. Evan Hiscock also had a big game for Memorial, scoring twice and adding three assists.

Matthew Williams opened the scoring in the first period and chipped in two helpers as well for Memorial (1-6-0-0). Snow, Williams and Hiscock combined for 11 points on the scoresheet.

Spencer Shebib was solid on a busy night in the Memorial net. He kicked aside 54 shots, and stopped all 23 he faced in the third period.

Jacob Denny was the lone goal scorer for Riverview (5-1-0-1). Redmen starter Owen MacPhee took the loss in goal, and was replaced in the first period by Michael MacMullen. MacMullen stopped 21 of 23 shots in relief.

The two teams meet again tonight at the County Recreation Centre in Coxheath. Puck drop is at 7:15 p.m.

In Cape Breton West High School Hockey League play at the Richmond Arena in Louisdale, the CBHA/NDA Huskies bested the Richmond Academy Hurricanes, 3-1.

Will Fraser, Brady AuCoin and Jakob Deveau scored for the Huskies, while Adam Sampson replied for the Hurricanes.

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NORTH SYDNEY, N.S. — Dustin Sudds scored a hat trick and chipped in two assists as the Riverview Redmen blanked the Memorial Marauders 7-0 in Cape Breton High School Hockey League play Thursday at the Emera Centre Northside.

The Redmen held a 1-0 lead heading into the third period before exploding for six goals in the final frame. Andrew McCarron scored and added three assists, while Brad Price scored and assisted. Jake MacDonald and Bryden Johnston rounded out the scoring with singles.

Between the pipes, Michael MacMullen stopped 16 shots for the shutout. Spencer Shebib was busy in the Memorial cage, making 41 saves in the setback.

The next league game will be played Sunday, when the Marauders face the Glace Bay Panthers at the Canada Games Complex at 7 p.m. The game originally scheduled for tonight between Glace Bay and Riverview will be played at a later date.

Also Thursday, the SAERC Saints edged the Richmond Academy Hurricanes 3-2 in Cape Breton West High School Hockey League play at the Richmond Arena in Louisdale.

Blake Hadley led the way with a pair of goals for the Saints, while Brady White chipped in a single. Danny McNamara and Bryson Wyre replied for the Hurricanes.

Wednesday in Eskasoni, Omar Gould scored four goals for the Eskasoni Coyotes in a 5-2 win over the Cape Breton Highlands Academy/NDA Huskies.

Antle Denny scored and added an assist for the victors. Mitchell Dilosa and Will Fraser replied for the Huskies.

Clifford Cremo posted the win in goal, while Noah Larade took the loss.

There’s a pair of games scheduled tonight in the west league. The Inverness/Baddeck Academy Rebels will host Cape Breton Highlands Academy/NDA at 7 p.m., while Dalbrae hosts Eskasoni at 7:30 p.m.

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