The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
Leon Denny settling in with the Bearcats
In a year of adjustments, Truro Bearcats’ captain Leon Denny is still in the midst of his latest — in hockey, that is.
After three seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, with the Shawinigan Cataractes, Denny is transitioning back to Nova Scotia and junior A hockey.
He started a fourth year in Shawinigan as an over-ager this season, before coming back to the team with which he won a league title in 201617 as a 16-year-old.
Returning to the Bearcats, under the guidance of coach Shawn Evans, was “an easy decision,” Denny said.
“They treated me so well when I was 16. We won the league and we have the team to win again.”
Asked about wearing the ‘C’, Denny paused as he searched for the right words.
“You wear it with pride and respect. Especially with this organization, there is a lot of tradition,” he said, noting, at the same time, you can’t let the honour and responsibility change your game.
Denny epitomizes one of the latest terms for a hockey style, as in he plays a ‘ heavy’ game.
“I have good weight and size, so I can throw my body around,” he said. “I feel like when I’m throwing my body around, I’m slowing down the other team which makes it easier for us to play. And I like to shoot the puck, so any chance I get I’ll put the puck on net, or just make that first good pass to help our forwards break out.”
Evans said while Denny has played “fine,” but knows he is still building his game while making the transition.
“We haven’t seen close to Leon’s best yet. That is OK, I think you’re going to see him build his game,” Evans said. “The biggest compliment to Leon, besides being a really good kid, is the respect and presence he provides. As we get to the new year and the games become more important, I think Leon will keep building on that respect and presence in the way he can play.”
PROUD OF ESKASONI EAGLES
Denny is a proud Mi’kmaw man from Eskasoni Mi’kmaw Nation, located on the eastern part of Cape Breton.
The community holds a hockey distinction these days as home to a junior B franchise - the Eagles. Denny’s family has been involved with the club, which started in the 2018-19 season.
“It brings a lot of pride; having that junior B team gives our youth someone to look up to,” he said. “A possible role model for them and the kids love it. They’re at the games cheering them on.
“And the community loves it. Even the boys who come from off-reserve, they are involved. Everyone knows them, they know everyone, they’re trying to learn the language … it’s amazing.”
In light of many pro and university teams changing their nicknames and logos, which are viewed as degrading First Nation images and symbols, Denny was asked about the Cataractes’ logo: a First Nation man in full headdress.
“I liked it,” he said, noting the word Cataractes relates to power as seen in the city’s waterfall, a natural landmark for the community. “I never really had a problem with it, my family never had a problem with it and everyone who had seen the logo on the reserve loved it.”
CHALLENGING SEASON
Denny talked about a season being carried out with COVID-19 concerns and challenges still very much in the picture.
“It’s definitely different,” he said. “It puts a lot of stuff on your mind, especially not knowing what is going to happen next. You have to be ready to adapt to whatever comes to you … be ready for change.”
And, if the season can continue towards the championship, Denny doesn’t see any reason the Bearcats can’t be right in the mix for the title.
“We proved it the other night against Amherst,” he said, referring to a recent Truro victory. “If we play our full 60, we can beat anyone in this league.
“This is my last season in junior, I want to win, and I believe we have a team with the ability to win it all. It brings that extra juice, that will to win, you’ll do anything pretty much.”