Nova Scotia’s male hockey team ready to make waves
Local players, coach open play on Sunday in Prince George, B.C.
Editor’s note: This story concludes a series highlighting Cape Breton athletes competing at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George, B.C., Feb. 13-March 1. SYDNEY — Local players will step in the footsteps left by the likes of Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon as Nova Scotia’s male hockey team competes for a spot at the podium at the 2015 Canada Winter Games.
In fact, forwards Logan O’Neil of Albert Bridge, Derek Gentile of Sydney, Avery Warner of Mulgrave and the rest of the team’s roster received a personal message from MacKinnon, a Team Nova Scotia alumnus, when they made the team.
“I was more shocked than anything, because of the threeyear process you didn’t know what to expect whether you’d make it or not,” said the 15-yearold O’Neil, who plays for the Cape Breton Tradesmen. “But seeing the video and being told you made the team was definitely a great feeling.”
O’Neil finished among the top rookie scorers in the Nova Scotia EastLink Major Midget Hockey League this season with 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists) in 34 games.
Although he knows the Nova Scotia squad will face some stiff competition from bigger provinces like Ontario and Quebec, O’Neil said his team is determined to bring home a medal.
“We’re just going to go up there and play our game,” he said. “We’re not too worried about them. We’re going to do our own thing and hopefully, we’ll come out on top.”
Sydney’s Gentile has spent this season cultivating his game in New Brunswick. The 15-yearold is a member of the Rothesay Riverhawks, the varsity hockey team at Rothesay Netherwood School. They play exhibition and tournaments, and have crossed paths with Nova Scotia-based midget teams at times this season.
“It’s a good fit for me not only athletically for hockey, but a big part of my family is education,” he said of the university prep institution. “They thought the school was a good fit and the teachers were willing to help me through, just so I’d be better prepared if I’m here at the school next year or whatever I’m doing.
“We feel we have a special group of individuals who can compete with anyone,” Gentile added about competing for Nova Scotia. “You know you face Ontario or Quebec, but we think as a group if we stick together and play the way we can play, we can compete with anyone.”
Another top rookie scorer in the Nova Scotia major midget loop, Warner fired 13 goals and picked up 18 assists for 31 points in 30 games this season with the Cape Breton West Islanders.
The 15-year-old says he’s excited to play against the best players in Canada for his age group.
“We have a lot of skill, we’re a fast team,” said Warner. “All the players accept their roles and they know what they need to do. I know everybody will give 100 percent doing it, so I think we have a good chance.”
Joining the local players at the event is Aaron Rice of Coxheath. The Cape Breton Tradesmen head coach will serve as an assistant with Team Nova Scotia. Rice also served as an assistant coach for Team Nova Scotia at the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax and worked as an assistant for Team Atlantic at the 2014 World Under-17 Challenge that was held in Cape Breton.
Nova Scotia will compete in Pool ‘B’ along with Alberta, Quebec and Saskatchewan. They open round-robin play on Sunday against Quebec.
The quarter-finals are set for Thursday and semifinals go Friday. The medal games will be contested on Saturday and Sunday.