The Leafs, who were crowned the Don Johnson Memorial Cup champions last season, have started 2016-17 off strong, defeating the Cumberland County Blues (4-2), the Antigonish Farmers' Mutual Jr. Bulldogs (4-3), and the East Hants Penguins (8-4).
They lost their most recent game 6-3 to the Cole Harbour Colts.
The boys in blue will hold their season opener Oct. 21 at the Hants Exhibition Arena at 7:30 p.m.
Assistant coach Rob Lindsay is back behind the bench, as is head coach Josh Dill and assistant coach Brett Fletcher.
“From the back end all the way to the front end, we have a really good, solid group,” said Lindsay. “There's lots of returning defencemen, lots of returning forwards.”
Among the returning players are the likes of top scorers Tyler Young, Wesley Demone, Jonah Allen, Nathan Jardine and Shayne Gillis.
Connor O'Brien, Graeme MacKinley (who Lindsay calls “a silent anchor” that “leads by example”), and Patrick Duggan are returning players that will give opposing players a hard time.
The Leafs also have a strong presence guarding the net this year, with Chris Clokie returning as the starting goaltender, Connor Morrison, as second, and rookie William Earley, an Avon View graduate rounding out the roster.
There are a number of local players on the roster, which is something the Leafs' coaching staff strongly support. Among them are Isaac Bridge, Colin MacQuarrie, Mitchell Singer, Joe Beaton and Seth Brison.
“We lost a few key overagers but the people that are remaining can hold their weight so we have a really good core group of guys that are donning our jersey this year,” said Lindsay.
Their goal is to repeat last year's success.
“Most times after you win a championship, you have a lot of players that are lost and people don't expect you to do so well. I would say that we're probably the underdogs but so far we've been holding our own,” he said.
Upcoming games
The home opener is one game Lindsay said fans won't want to miss. They will be taking on the Glace Bay Junior Miners.
“We beat them in the final for the provincial title so I'm sure it should be a nice game,” said Lindsay.
“There should be a good rivalry, definitely, that's been started there. They beat us two years ago four straight and then of course last year, we beat them out four straight and went on to win the Atlantic championship,” said Lindsay. “There is no love lost between the groups.”
Following the Oct. 21 game, the Leafs will visit the Trenton Arena to take on the Pictou County Scotians at 7 p.m. On Oct. 28, the Scotians visit Windsor for a 7:30 p.m. game time.
To start off November, the Leafs host the next three games: Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. against the Antigonish Bulldogs, and 1 p.m. bouts against the Cole Harbour Colts on Nov. 6 and Liverpool Privateers on Nov. 11.
“We always try to put on an entertaining event, that's for sure.”
