When the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League first discussed the possibility of having each team play within their own division for the 2020-21 regular season, some weren’t as open-minded as others.
For example, in the Maritimes Division, the thought of the Cape Breton Eagles only playing the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Charlottetown Islanders, Moncton Wildcats, Halifax Mooseheads and Saint John Sea Dogs may seem a little boring to the average person.
It’s understandable why some would consider that to be boring. Some look forward to seeing Quebec teams and players, who they don’t normally get an opportunity to watch in-person – it brings excitement and hype.
However, the average fan may not realize that the Quebec teams only come to Cape Breton once a year – not including if they eventually meet the Eagles in the playoffs. In better terms, 22 of the normal 34 home games each year are opponents within the Maritimes Division.
As expected, the QMJHL released its regular-season schedule last week and because of the COVID-19 pandemic, teams will be restricted to playing within their divisions.
The season, which will be reduced from 68 games to 60 games this year, will see three groups with six teams per division. Each team will play their divisional foes 12 times – six games at home and six games on the road.
Yes, it’s unfortunate it had to come down to divisional games only, but with the current Atlantic bubble and provincial health guidelines to limit the spread of COVID-19, the QMJHL had no choice but to adapt to this format for the season.
Although it may be disappointing for some, the format will be beneficial for fans across the Maritimes.
Rivalries are a big part of sports. Whether it’s the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs in hockey or the New York Yankess and Boston Red Sox in baseball, rivalries are good for fan bases and good for sports leagues in general.
Cape Breton and Halifax have been rivals on the ice since the Eagles came into the QMJHL in 1997.
As the years went on, the rivalry grew, not only on the ice, but with fans beginning to circle the Battle of Nova Scotia games on their calendars.
Large crowds flocked to Centre 200 and the then Halifax Metro Centre – now known as the Scotiabank Centre – to support their respective teams each time the Eagles and Mooseheads took to the ice against one another.
Yes, it’s unfortunate it had to come down to divisional games only, but with the current Atlantic bubble and provincial health guidelines to limit the spread of COVID-19, the QMJHL had no choice but to adapt to this format for the season.
On Dec. 30, 2000, The rivalry would hit a boiling point when fisticuffs broke out following the warmup between Cape Breton’s Hunter Lahache and Halifax’s Nick Greenough, which eventually turned into a brawl.
Lahache was known for not leaving the ice surface at Centre 200 until all the other players went to the dressing room. However, Greenough also liked to be the last person off the ice.
Both players stood face-to-face at the centre redline near their respective benches and refused to be the first to leave the ice surface, telling each other to go to the dressing room in some choice words.
As the two players chatted, Lahache dropped his gloves and began fighting with Greenough.
With the two squaring off, Halifax’s Jules-Edy Laraque attempted to break it up, but it didn’t last long as Cape Breton’s Ryan Flinn made his way on the ice, landing punches to Laraque’s face.
As the four players duked it out on the ice, George Davis, a rookie enforcer at the time, came out of the Cape Breton dressing room to watch the fights and support his teammates.
Shortly after, Davis, a Florence product, would find himself throwing punches with Halifax’s Jonathan Boone who had joined the brawl on the ice.
While the Eagles and Mooseheads rivalry is considered to be one of the best in the QMJHL, over the years, Cape Breton has had other Maritime rivalries.
On Nov. 27, 2009, Cape Breton and Acadie-Bathurst had a night to remember at “The Nest” when the Eagles’ Ashton Bernard and Titans’ Marshall Worden fought during the warm-up.
Bernard and Worden would eventually fight two more times during the game and were later given 10-game suspensions by the QMJHL.
Meanwhile, in recent years, Cape Breton and Charlottetown have been rivals, which is now considered by many as the Battle of the Islands, making for a perfect marketing tool for both the Eagles and Islanders organizations (when things return to normal).
Teams can only play each other so many times before they become tired of seeing the same players over and over. By the time the season is complete, it’s fair to say every team within the division will be sick of each other.
Playing teams consistently will be more interesting than the average person may think. It’s an opportunity for teams to create new rivalries with one another for the future, while renewing old rivalries and giving them new life.
Don’t take my word for it. Watch it unfold this season and then tell me If I was right or wrong.
Jeremy Fraser covers sports for the Cape Breton Post. He welcomes column ideas, sports story suggestions or feedback about this week’s Sports Chat.
