Starting on the road
Jets, Cabot Highlanders set to open under-16 ‘AAA’ season this weekend
SYDNEY — It's been more than seven months since the Cape Breton Jets and the Cabot Highlanders have played a meaningful game of hockey.
The Nova Scotia Under-16 ‘AAA' Hockey League teams, like all clubs, were forced to suspend operations in midMarch because of the COVID19 pandemic, two days before the start of the league playoffs.
Despite uncertainty around the league, which consists of 15-to-16-year-old players, the Jets and Highlanders will once again return to the ice this weekend when they begin their respective seasons on the road.
Cape Breton will open the season with games against the Basin Armada of Bedford on Saturday at 5:30 p.m., following by a meeting with the Admirals of Upper Tantallon on Sunday at 11:15 a.m.
Meanwhile, the Port Hawkesbury-based Highlanders will face the Voyageurs HC of Dartmouth in a two-game between series. The teams will meet Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at the Bowles Arena, and Sunday at 1 p.m. at the RBC Centre, both venues in Dartmouth.
The Jets enter the season coming off a year in which the team struggled to find the win column. The team finished last in the eight-team league with a 3-21-2-0 record.
Despite the growing pains, head coach Jim (Fred) Head believes this year's squad will be more competitive.
“I think we're going to be solid,” said Head. “It's going to take a bit of time. The majority of the team is coming from the Bantam ‘AA' league this year because the under-18 major club (Sydney Mitsubishi Rush) have chosen to ice a young team this season.”
The Membertou-based team will have four returning players this year including brothers Zackary and Dawson Cecchetto as well as defenceman Matthew Carroll and Nick Johnson.
The club was also fortunate to add veteran netminder Lucas Fraser, who earlier this month was released by the Rush after playing last season with the team.
“We're happy that he chose to come with us,” said Head of Fraser's decision. “He will play in this program to better his game and he will continue to develop as a strong netminder.”
During the 2019-20 season, the Jets scored the fewest goals (50) in the league, while allowing the most goals against (129). Head doesn't see scoring to be an issue this season.
“We have lots of scoring power,” said Head. “We have four of the top five scorers from the Bantam ‘AA' league last season and they're going to help us win games this season.”
Meanwhile, the Highlanders are poised to be one of the top teams in the league with seven returning players on this year's club including No. 1 netminder Cole Goss.
“We have a good mix,” said Highlanders head coach Jesse MacLean. “We're feeling good about our defence core… we have a good mix up front with a couple of returnees and a couple of players from The Novas (under-15 major) so we're looking good so far.”
Cabot finished sixth in the league last season with a 7-10-2-6 record, while scoring the second-fewest goals (69) in the league.
MacLean has higher expectations this season, especially with the addition of rookie forward Colin Van Zutphen of Port Hood, who finished atop the Cape Breton Bantam ‘AA' Hockey League with 23 goals and 48 points in 30 games.
“You don't want to blow the kids out of proportion right off the bat, but I'd be looking at a top three or four finish, that's where I see us,” said MacLean, noting the team had a 5-0-1-0 record in the preseason.
“You don't really know until you get into the games and start playing all the teams, but we're going to take it one day at a time, but we have set goals for ourselves.”
Following the weekend, the Jets will host the Fundy Thunder of Truro in the club's home opener on Oct. 31 at 3 p.m. at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre.
As for the Highlanders, the club's home opener will be on Oct. 31 when they host the Armada at 6 p.m. at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre.