Article content“We’re a well-balanced mean hockey team,” said Walker. “We’ve got some high-end, skilled forwards and lots of depth after those guys. We’ve got a fairly young and mobile defence group who’s going to battle every night and we’re pretty solid in the net with two former junior A starting goalies.”Article content Former Cape Breton Screaming Eagles forward Ashton Bernard, left, is part of the Cape Breton West Blackstone Knights roster for the 2025-26 Nova Scotia Senior Hockey League. CAPE BRETON POST FILE PHOTO Cape Breton Post FileArticle contentWalker said senior hockey has been a “huge topic of discussion” for the last four months in the Inverness County area.Article content“I think it’s awesome to have a league back,” said Walker. “Our players are so happy to be playing competitive hockey again – for some guys, it’s been 10 years since they played a serious hockey game. It’s a fast-paced game with a little more grit and toughness that’s faded away in minor hockey.”Article contentCOUNTY ISLANDERSArticle contentThe Islanders finished their preseason schedule with a win and a loss, both games being played against Glace Bay on Oct. 11 and Oct. 25.Article contentArticle content“The Islanders team this year is made up of some very good players and great people in general,” said Islanders general manager and assistant coach Chris MacDonald.Article content“We have players from all over the various communities of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and the guys are really looking forward to getting things going.”Article content Nathaniel Fuller, left, fires a shot on goal during his time in the Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League. Fuller will play this season with the County Islanders in the new Nova Scotia Senior Hockey League. JEREMY FRASER/CAPE BRETON POST Photo by Jeremy Fraser /Jeremy FraserArticle contentLike the Knights, the Islanders’ roster is stacked with former junior A and junior B players from the region.Article contentAmong the notable players are forwards Daniel Reid, Jordan Moss, Logan O’Neil, Mark Gouthro, Nathaniel Fuller, Reese Allen and Sam Gillis, as well as defencemen Van Sawlor, Leon Denny, Dylan MacDonald, Chris Osmond and Bailey MacDonald. Between the pipes, the club has goaltenders Cody Smith, Colin Hooper and Conor McCollum on its roster.Article content“This year’s team, I would say, is well-balanced,” said MacDonald. “We have solid goaltending throughout, a great defence core as well as some highly skilled offensive players. We have a good skating team with great size and physicality as well.”Article contentArticle contentThe Islanders, coached by Scott Sampson, didn’t have many issues when it came to recruiting for the team.Article content“There was a lot of excitement in the hockey community for these guys to get a chance to play some competitive hockey again,” said MacDonald. “I have either watched, coached or followed most, if not all these players, in their hockey journey. This, combined with trusting the opinions of some solid people, enabled me to select a squad that has become pretty close as a group.”Article contentMacDonald believes the senior league offers exactly the competitiveness needed at the local level.Article content“It’s important to the players to get this opportunity, and that has been my focus since I came on board,” said MacDonald. “I want to do as much as I can to give these guys a place to keep getting out there.”Article contentArticle contentGLACE BAY MINERSArticle contentThe Miners concluded their preseason schedule with a 1-3 record with losses to both Cape Breton West and County. The team’s lone win of the exhibition season was 2-1 over the Islanders on Oct. 11.
Cape Breton teams to ice balanced lineups as inaugural Nova Scotia Senior Hockey League season begins
