Cape Breton Eagles’ Aiden McCullough staves off Saint John Sea Dogs’ Olivier Groulx during QMJHL action Saturday night at TD Station in Saint John, N.B. The Eagles won, 6-3. Photo by CONTRIBUTEDArticle contentThe Cape Breton Eagles kicked off the opening weekend of their 2025-26 Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League regular season splitting a pair of road games in Saint John, N.B.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 contentOn Saturday night at TD Station, the Eagles doubled the host Sea Dogs 6-3 for their first win of the 2025-26 season.Article contentArticle contentElliot Litalien and Samuel Boyer scored twice for Cape Breton (1-1-0-0), while Xavier Daigle and Romain Litalien each added single markers.Article contentArticle contentMaking his QMJHL debut between the pipes, Eagles’ Connor Towle made 33 saves. For the Sea Dogs (1-1-0-0), starting goalie Justin Robinson stopped 16 of 20 shots in the first 25 minutes 53 seconds of play, before being replaced by Rafaël Courchesne, also making his Q debut, who fended off 16 of 17 shots in relief.Article contentCheticamp’s Jake Poirier, now playing with the Maritime Junior Hockey League’s Pictou County Crushers, was recalled by the Eagles to serve as their backup goalie. The Eagles scratched Félix Hamel, which allowed 20-year-olds Daigle, Lewis Gendron and Lucas Romeo to all see action.Article contentOn Friday night, the Eagles fell 3-2 to the Sea Dogs.Article contentZachary Morin, Olivier Duhamel and William Yared netted goals for the Sea Dogs. Jacob Hartlin and Hugo Charron replied for the Eagles.Article contentSaint John’s Justin Robinson made 29 saves. Cape Breton’s Hamel stopped 31 of 34 shots in his 58:58 of action.Article contentArticle contentThe Eagles’ home opener this Friday and Saturday welcomes the Moncton Wildcats to Centre 200. Puck drop times for both games are slated for 7 p.m. starts.Article contentMeanwhile, a former Eagles draft pick is returning to the team. Eighteen-year-old Will Murphy, who was selected 172nd overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the late June NHL Entry Draft, has been assigned to the Eagles.Article contentThe six-foot-four, 212-pound native of Miscouche, P.E.I. was selected 41st overall in the 2023 QMJHL Draft by the Eagles. In two seasons, Murphy played 56 games with the Eagles, scoring a total of four points, though he also missed 10 of the club’s regular season contests due to an injury.Article contentMurphy has been selected as an alternate captain for every home game this year.Article content
QMJHL: Cape Breton Eagles split regular-season starts against Saint John Sea Dogs
