This week’s sports roundup.
Sydney offered to host Scotties, Cormier had connections to Cape Breton, Baxendale scores first AUS goal and more
The Cape Breton Capers added one of the top local high school basketball players to their roster for the 202122 Atlantic University Sport season.
The men’s basketball program recently announced the commitment of Riverview Ravens guard Coby Tunnicliff, who returned to Cape Breton in December after starting the basketball season with Rothesay Netherwood School in New Brunswick.
The Sydney River product joined the Rothesay program in September. The team attends tournaments across Canada and the United States in an attempt to showcase its players to university coaches and scouts.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team wasn’t able to travel to tournaments and the season was later cancelled, which led to Tunnicliff’s return to the Ravens.
The six-foot-one, 170pound Tunnicliff is a special talent who brings excitement to the court. There’s no doubt he will fit in well with the Matt Skinn-coached Capers for the years to come.
Tunnicliff joins fellow Cape Bretoners Jason Callaghan of Sydney, Noah Dunn of Port Hood and former Riverview teammate Mitchell Mersereau on the Capers roster.
It’s always nice to see Cape Breton University recruiting local players to represent the island.
CURLING BUBBLE
Although the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and Tim Hortons Brier national curling championships are finished for another year, fans may be interested to know Sydney tried to get one of those events this year.
With low COVID-19 numbers in Nova Scotia, Paul Macdonald, manager of Centre 200, told the Cape Breton Post on Thursday the venue approached Curling Canada and offered to host the Scotties Tournament of Hearts bubble.
At the same time, Scotiabank Centre in Halifax attempted to attract the Tim Hortons Brier bubble, according to Macdonald.
Ultimately, Curling Canada chose Calgary for the two national events.
It’s not overly surprising Curling Canada didn’t take the Nova Scotia venues up on their offer — considering Nova Scotia has 14-day selfisolation requirement.
An isolation period wasn’t required in Alberta.
Sydney last hosted the Scotties at Centre 200 in February 2019, an event organizers considered a success.
This isn’t the end of national curling championships in Cape Breton. Don’t be surprised if the island bids to host the Scotties or Brier in the near future.
C.B. CONNECTIONS
Turning our attention to the baseball world, those who follow the sport closely may know pitcher Rhéal Cormier of Moncton died earlier this month after a battle with cancer.
What you may not know is the left-handed pitcher took to the mound in Cape Breton as a member of the Moncton Mets senior baseball team when he was 16 years old, prior to turning to the professional ranks.
Cormier, who was 53 when he died on March 8, pitched against the Sydney Sooners in inter-provincial league play in the mid-1980s.
At the time, Sydney manager Jim (Rico) Mceachern was a player/coach for the Sooners. In speaking with the Post, Mceachern recalls Cormier striking him out swinging on at least two occasions.
Impressed with his talents, Mceachern said he followed Cormier’s 16-year MLB career, which saw the starting pitcher, later turned relief pitcher, play for the St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Montreal Expos, Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds.
RIP, Rhéal. Your career inspired many New Brunswick kids to play the sport. Your legacy won’t be forgotten in Atlantic Canada.
FIRST AUS GOAL
In women’s university hockey, Cape Breton’s Molly Baxendale scored her first career Atlantic University Sport goal.
Baxendale, who hails from Dalem Lake, scored her first goal as a member of Mount Allison Mounties against the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus last Saturday.
Baxendale and the Mounties kicked off their exhibition schedule last week following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in New Brunswick, which has allowed sports teams to resume play.
We know there’s plenty more goals to come for Molly. If they don’t come this year, you can count on them coming in 2021-22.
OTTAWA EAGLES
We can’t make this up.
As you may know, the Ottawa Senators seem to really like former Cape Breton Eagles players. Because of this, nobody should be surprised to learn another Eagle has been given an opportunity by the Sens franchise.
On Monday, the Belleville Senators, Ottawa’s American Hockey League affiliate, signed former Eagles captain Olivier Leblanc to an amateur tryout contract.
Leblanc joins fellow Eagles alumni Logan Shaw, Egor Sokolov, Clark Bishop, Kevin Mandolese and Drake Batherson as members of the Senators organization.
Enough is enough. All in favour of changing the Senators team name to the Ottawa Eagles say AYE ... AYE!
GOOD DEEDS CUP
The wait is nearly over for the Cape Breton County Islanders under-13 ‘A’ hockey team.
Last month, the Coxheathbased Islanders asked for your help in supporting them by voting for the club in their quest to win the annual Chevrolet Good Deeps Cup.
The three finalists for the Good Deeds Cup, an initiative for minor hockey teams across the country to find good ideas that would have a significant impact on their communities, will be announced during tonight’s Hockey Night in Canada broadcast.
Cape Breton County is one of 11 regional finalists vying for one of the three spots. The winner of the Good Deeds Cup will take home $100,000 for the registered charity of their choice.
The Islanders have selected the Cape Breton Down Syndrome Society as its charity and pitched the idea of inclusion, known as the Joey Moss Project.
On behalf of everyone in Cape Breton and Nova Scotia, we wish the Islanders the best of luck today.
DISIPIO TURNS TO COACHING
Former Cape Breton Capers women’s soccer star Ciera Disipio was one of 18 former student-athletes selected for the 2021-22 U Sports female apprentice coach program earlier this month.
Disipio, a three-time Atlantic University Sport most valuable player and a twotime U Sports Top 8 Academic All-canadian, will join the Capers soccer coaching staff next season.
Veteran head coach Stephen (Ness) Timmons will serve as Disipio’s mentor on the women’s coaching staff, which also includes assistant coach Robert White, goalkeeper coach Chad Power, and Mitchell Hanna, who is a performance analyst and academic adviser.
Disipio, an Ottawa native, is currently finishing her master’s of business administration at Cape Breton University. Away from school, Disipio also worked with the Capers In The Community program last summer and fall.
Congratulations, Ciera, for the well-deserved honour.
MILESTONES
Two current Cape Breton Eagles and one former player recently hit game milestones in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Eagles defenceman Nathan Larose played his 200th career game on March 11 against the Halifax Mooseheads, while defenceman Jarrett Barker of Black Rock, Victoria County, played his 275th game in the league on Wednesday against the Charlottetown Islanders.
Meanwhile, former Eagle Ryan Francis, now of the Saint John Sea Dogs, played his 200th career game in the league last Saturday in the Sea Dogs’ 5-4 overtime win against the Moncton Wildcats.
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
With the 2021 baseball season fast approaching, the Cape Breton Expos are seeking interest from players wanting to play under-18 or under-22 baseball this season.
The Expos organization is hopeful to be able to run a team in both the under-18 and under-22 divisions this summer. Both clubs would play in Baseball Nova Scotia’s Bluenose League on alternating weekends.
Those interested in playing are asked to contact Paul Macdonald by email at paul macdonald1970@gmail.com.