SYDNEY, N.S. — Kaitlynn Hayes and Victoria MacIntyre found their passion for hockey while watching members of their family play the sport.
After finishing their respective minor hockey careers, the Glace Bay natives thought their playing days were over and both turned to the coaching side of the game.
Although they will continue to coach their respective teams, the two will lace up their skates for more than just practice this season, but for their university.
Hayes and MacIntyre will be part of the Cape Breton Capers hockey team, a university club team that will play in the East Coast Women’s Hockey League (ECWHL) this season.
Cape Breton University officially announced the team’s return to the ice for the first time in over three years during the annual President’s Leadership Dinner last week at the Canada Games Complex.
“It’s exciting to know the university will have a team this year,” said MacIntyre, who played her final three years of midget hockey with the MacIntyre Chevy Panthers.
“I’m a little bit out of shape, but that’s fine, I know my game will come back and I’m looking forward to the opportunity of playing.”
Cape Breton University last participated in the ECWHL during the 2015-16 season. The team finished the year with a 1-10-1 record while scoring 11 goals and allowing 42 goals against.
“I think there’s a great group of girls and we all want to have fun,” said Hayes, who began her playing career when she was seven-years-old.
“We just want to go out and have fun, winning would be great as well, but at the end of the day we’re just happy to be able to play again.”
The ECWHL will feature three teams during the regular season including the Capers, Acadia Axewomen and Holland College Hurricanes of Charlottetown, P.E.I.
The University of New Brunswick, Saint John, won’t play in the regular season, but hopes to have a team in place for the championship tournament, scheduled for early March in P.E.I.
Each team will play eight games during the regular season: four games at home and four games on the road. The Capers will have three road trips during the year.
“We wanted to form the team to give the girls a platform to play hockey and showcase their talent,” said Capers head coach Derrick Hayes. “Within the league, I think we’ll be competitive and I think they will do very well.”
The Capers haven’t officially announced their roster for the season. The team currently has 26 players trying out for the club.
“When we start seeing the university kids coming out and saying they want to play and want to be part of the program, it will certainly be a recruiting tool in the future for the university,” said Hayes.
Dr. Carl (Bucky) Buchanan, the head coach of the College of Cape Breton Capers men’s hockey team, who won the national championship in 1977-78, believes having a female team at the university is a step in the right direction.
“It’s great to have a local presence for hockey and I think it’s the right start,” said Buchanan.
“The schools involved in the league are roughly in the same stage that we are in terms of women’s hockey and I think it will be a great experience for the young women.”
Although the non-varsity team is only getting started, Buchanan thinks the club could one day join the Atlantic University Sport women’s conference.
“I think in the future the AUS would be a consideration,” said Buchanan.
Laura Clancey played with the Capers women’s team during the 2015-16 season. She was pleased to hear the university would once again have a team.
“It’s an amazing program and provides the players with a sense of community while giving them something to focus on other than school all the time,” said the former defenceman.
“The transition to life after hockey is never an easy one, that’s for sure, especially when you’re trying to adjust to university life, but it’s always nice to have something to keep your mind clear.”
Cape Breton will open the regular season on Oct. 26 when they travel to Wolfville to play Acadia. The team will play its first home game in late November against Holland College at the Canada Games Complex on the CBU campus.
Buchanan hopes to one day see the university have a men’s hockey team in the Atlantic University Sport as well as the women's team.
“I don’t think there’s any question, I think it’s a question of when,” said Buchanan.
“There’s no question that the financial consideration to offer a program at the men's AUS level is expensive... you have to have a competitive budget, but I think some nights AUS hockey can be compared to the American Hockey League with the level of play the players perform at.”
As for Kaitlynn Hayes and MacIntyre, they’re looking forward to getting the season started next month.
“There’s been a lot of support already and we haven’t even played a game yet,” said Hayes. “People have been asking us about the program and I think the school has already shown they support us.”
CAPE BRETON CAPERS RECORDS:
East Coast Women’s Hockey League
- 2015-16 – Record: 1-10-1 – GF: 11 – GA: 42
- 2014-15 – Record: 5-5-2 – GF: 41 – GA: 50
- 2013-14 – Record 3-7-2 – GF: 29 – GA: 31
*Records only available for three years via league website
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