NORTH SYDNEY - This year’s Green and Gold tournament didn’t exactly go as planned for the host Memorial Marauders.

After losing 15 players from last year’s tournament winning squad, the Marauders were not expected to repeat as Mae Kibyuk Memorial champions.

And they didn’t.

But the title did remain in Cape Breton as the Riverview Redmen skated to a 3-0 win over the Glace Bay Panthers in the Sunday afternoon final at the Emera Centre Northside.

With the host Marauders watching from the stands, the arena was only about half full for the final between the other two local teams. Still, the rink was buzzing right from the start as the two sides engaged in a physical battle that sent players from both teams crashing to the ice after big hits.

Following a scoreless first period in which Glace Bay outshot Riverview 13-3, the second stanza was more even. And, it was the Redmen that got on the board first when Jacob Denny scored with less than four minutes remaining in the period.

Riverview captain Josh MacKay added an insurance marker in the third period and Duston Sudds topped off the affair with an empty net goal in the final minute of play.

Redmen goalie Owen MacPhee picked up the win, while Nick Bigley was tagged with the loss.

Glace Bay outshot Riverview 40-20.

Riverview reached the final game by virtue of a 4-0 win over the Garden City Fighting Gophers, of Winnipeg, while Glace Bay defeated Dartmouth’s Prince Andrew 7-4 in a battle of the Panthers.

The other teams that participated in the four-day tournament were Halifax’s Citadel Phoenix and J.L. Ilsley Judges along with Mabou’s Dalbrae Dragons.

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NORTH SYDNEY, N.S. — The host team Memorial High School Marauders got back on track at the Mae Kibyuk Memorial Green and Gold Hockey Tournament at the Emera Centre Northside, Friday night, posting a lopsided 9-4 victory over the Dalbrae Dragons of Mabou.

Scoring for Memorial in the win were Dovi Walker with a hat-trick, Hiscock and Logan Targett with a pair of goals each, and Williams and John Capstick with singles.

Replying for Dalbrae were Cullen MacEachern, Colby MacLean, Griffen Spears and Alexander Hawley.

Gavin Rudderham was in nets for the Marauders while Cameron MacMillan tended goal for the Dragons.

In other Friday action at the Green and Gold, it was Riverview 6, Citadel 1; Prince Andrew 3, Garden City 2; Citadel 3, J.K. Ilsley 2; Prince Andrew 7, Dalbrae 1; and Glace Bay 6, J.L. Ilsley 0.

NORTH SYDNEY, N.S. — The defending champions of the Mae Kibyuk Memorial Green and Gold Hockey Tournament suffered a disappointing 6 –1 loss in their opening game of the tournament on Thursday.

In the tournament’s second game, which followed the opening ceremonies, the host Memorial High Marauders lost 6-1 to the Garden City Fighting Gophers of Winnipeg, with the charge for the winning side being led by by Kaitlyn Nault with the first goal, followed by, Jack Burton, Mason Schooley, Nolan Weihs, Caeilin Chimerny and Tyler Smith. The name of Memorial scorer was unavailable.

The first game of the evening, at 6 p.m. had an old rivalry renewed when the Glace Bay High School Panthers faced off against the Riverview Redmen. The Panthers captured a 3 – 2 victory. Scoring for Glace Bay were Colin Rosta, Robbie Harroun and Trenton Gove. Scoring for Riverview were Brad Price and Jacob Denny.

The tournament, taking place at the Emera Centre Northside in North Sydney, features eight teams, four from Cape Breton, three from mainland Nova Scotia and one from Winnipeg.

The tournament features teams in two divisions in a round-robin format. The top two teams in the two divisions meet in Saturday evening’s semifinals.

The Gold division features Memorial, Dalbrae Dragons of Mabou, Dartmouth’s Prince Andrew Panthers and J.L. Ilsley Judges of Halifax.

The Green division features Riverview High School Redmen, Glace Bay Panthers, Halifax’s Citadel Phoenix and Winnipeg’s Garden City Fighting Gophers.

Christian.roach@cbpost.com

SYDNEY MINES, N.S. — The defending champion Marauders hit the ice Thursday night when the Mae Kibyuk Memorial Green and Gold Hockey Tournament kicks off at the Emera Centre Northside.

But it could be difficult to repeat as the host Memorial High School squad has an almost completely different look from a year ago, when the Marauders defeated the rival Glace Bay Panthers 2-1 in the championship game.

“We lost 15 players from last season, — it’s a whole new lineup,” said Memorial head coach Terry Duff.

“The kids are still getting used to the pace of the league — they’re nervous, but they’re excited and I don’t expect any lack of effort.”

The tournament features eight teams, four from Cape Breton, three from mainland Nova Scotia and one from Winnipeg, Man.

The competing squads have been placed in two divisions that feature a round-robin schedule. The top two teams in the two divisions meet in Saturday evening’s semifinals.

The Gold division is comprised of Memorial, Dalbrae Dragons of Mabou, Dartmouth’s Prince Andrew Panthers and J.L. Ilsley Judges of Halifax, while the Green division features Riverview Redmen, Glace Bay Panthers, Halifax’s Citadel Phoenix and Winnipeg’s Garden City Fighting Gophers.

Sydney Academy will be a noticeable absence as the school failed to ice a team this season due to a lack of players.

The tournament starts Thursday at 6 p.m. when local rivals Riverview and Glace Bay take to the ice. The opening ceremonies will follow before the host Marauders begin defense of their title against the Fighting Gophers.

Round robin play continues through Saturday afternoon, with the two semifinal matches being contested that evening. The championship game is set for Sunday.

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2017 Mae Kibyuk Memorial Green and Gold high school hockey tournament:

Gold Division: Memorial Marauders, Dalbrae Dragons, Prince Andrew Panthers, J.L. Ilsley Judges

Green Division: Riverview Redmen, Glace Bay Panthers, Garden City Fighting Gophers, Citadel Phoenix

Thursday's games:

6 p.m. - Glace Bay vs. Riverview

7:45 p.m. – Garden City vs. Memorial

tj colello

SYDNEY, N.S. — The Cape Breton High School Hockey League is set to start this weekend with a league that’s quite different than years past.

The 2017-18 season will feature only three teams: the Memorial Marauders, Riverview Redman and Glace Bay Panthers. Sydney Academy was unable to ice a team due to a lack of players.

Although there are only three teams competing this season, Terry Duff, Memorial’s coach for the last three years, said his team is excited to play high school hockey. Most of the players skated in a local midget ‘X’ league for a portion of last season because the work-to-rule job action cut the high school hockey season short.

“The midget ‘X’ helped provide some hockey for the kids but it wasn’t the same atmosphere as playing for your school. The kids are excited to get back at it, they like representing their school and the atmosphere surrounding the team,” said Duff, who will be coaching a very different team this year, after losing 15 players from last season.

Along with new players, the league will also be getting new coaches. This will be the first year of coaching high school hockey for both Riverview’s head coach, Jimmy Smith, and Glace Bay’s head coach, Dwayne Doucette.

Smith, who’s from New Waterford, has been coaching minor hockey for 12 years. He said he’s been following the league for several years and believes he has a talented team that can compete with the other clubs in the league.

“It’s a great team. There’s amazing leadership in our team and good Grade 12s with great attitudes who really want to have a bounce back year,” he said. Smith added that his entire team is itching to start the new season.

“They’re as excited as anything. They’re all ready to get going.”

Doucette has been coaching minor hockey for 13 years. He said that although the league is different than previous years, his players are ready as every other team in the league to start their season.

“The league is going through some changes from what I can see, but the kids are thrilled to be back. It’s all they’ve been talking about, especially in Glace Bay. High school hockey is big in Glace Bay and they’re pretty excited that the season is starting again,” said Doucette, who will be coaching his first year with the Panthers with eight returning players.

The first game of the Cape Breton High School Hockey League is set for Sunday at 7 p.m., when Memorial will take on Glace Bay at Canada Games Complex at Cape Breton University.

Christian.roach@cbpost.com