Published Apr 11, 2025 • Last updated 6 hours ago • 3 minute readCape Breton Eagles assistant coach Nick MacNeil informed the team on Friday that he won’t be returning to the bench for the 2025-26 Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League season due to family reasons, general manager Sylvain Couturier confirmed. CONTRIBUTED/CAPE BRETON EAGLES Cape Breton EaglesCape Breton Eagles assistant coach Nick MacNeil will not be back on the team’s bench for the 2025-26 Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League season.Eagles general manager Sylvain Couturier told the Cape Breton Post on Friday that MacNeil informed the team earlier in the day that he wouldn’t be coming back for the new season due to family reasons.“He was the first guy I hired as a staff member, I hired Nick a little bit after coming in,” said Couturier. “He’s not just a good hockey guy, but a really good person and he really has the Eagles close to his heart.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle content“I’ll always have positive things to say about Nick, not just as a coach and a hockey guy, but as a person. He’s somebody who did everything we asked from him and more and I wish him nothing but the best.”The Creignish native was hired by the Eagles in July 2022 and served three seasons in the assistant coach position under head coaches Jon Goyens and Louis Robitaille.Prior to joining the Eagles, the 36-year-old MacNeil served as an assistant coach with the Moncton Wildcats before his departure following the 2021-22 campaign.Before making the move the junior hockey bench, MacNeil was the head coach of the Cape Breton West Islanders of the Nova Scotia Under-18 Major Hockey League from 2018 to 2020. He was an assistant coach with the Port Hood-based team in 2017-18. Cape Breton Eagles assistant coach Nick MacNeil, right, stands behind the team’s bench during the 2024-25 Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League season. MacNeil has informed the team he won’t be returning for the 2025-26 season. JEREMY FRASER/CAPE BRETON POST Jeremy FraserCouturier believes MacNeil is making the right decision by leaving.“He wants to be closer to family, he has two young children at home and being separated from his family was hard on him,” said Couturier.Article content“Anybody who decides to take family over hockey has made the right decision. I wish Nick would have stayed, but that being said, he’s made the right decision, so I wish nothing but the best to him and his wife and the family.”While the search will begin immediately to replace MacNeil, Couturier said he won’t rush a decision.“I’ll take my time,” he said.“There’s a lot of teams still playing, I think there’s going to be a lot of coaches available in a month that are not available today. I’m not in a hurry to find a replacement for Nick right now, so I don’t expect an announcement on a new coach in the next day. I’ll do my due diligence, and I’ll work to find the right fit for the team – it’s going to be a challenge.”During his playing career, MacNeil played four full seasons with the Eagles from 2006 to 2010, serving as the Sydney-based team’s captain during the 2009-10 campaign.In 254 career games in an Eagles uniform, MacNeil had 99 goals and 181 points along with 162 penalty minutes and a plus-35 rating. He added 11 goals and 18 points in 39 playoff games.Article contentCouturier said while things will be reevaluated during the offseason, he didn’t expect any further changes to the team’s coaching staff going into the 2025-26 season.“I don’t expect any change, obviously we have to find somebody to replace Nick, that being said, other than that, I don’t expect too much change.” Cape Breton Eagles assistant coach Nick MacNeil informed the team on Friday that he won’t be returning to the bench for the 2025-26 Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League season due to family reasons, general manager Sylvain Couturier confirmed. CONTRIBUTED/CAPE BRETON EAGLES Cape Breton EaglesThe Eagles, who were eliminated from the first round of the league playoffs by the Baie-Comeau Drakkar last month in six games, will hit the ice in mid-August for training camp. More information will be announced about the camp at a later date.The Cape Breton Post will have a full review of the 2024-25 season in an upcoming edition.Article content
Nick MacNeil wont return to Cape Breton Eagles bench for 2025-26 QMJHL season
