'It means a lot': Cape Breton Eagles receive warm welcome after season-ending semi-final loss
The Cape Breton Eagles received a warm welcome when the team landed at the JA Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport Friday after losing their Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League semi-final series against the Baie-Comeau Drakkar.
"This playoff run was special,” said Cam Squires, who led the Eagles in playoff scoring.
The Cape Breton Eagles shake hands with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. (Source: Drakkar de Baie-Comeau/X)
With a 2-1 overtime loss in Baie-Comeau, Que. Thursday night, a post-season that captivated the Island came to an end with a 4-1 series loss to the top-ranked Drakkar.
"Obviously, just a lot of emotions. It's been a pretty long run here,” said team captain Zach Biggar, one of three overage players who will now graduate from major junior hockey.
The Eagles playoff-run included four consecutive sellout crowds at Sydney's Centre 200, which marked a complete turnaround for a team that started the year playing in a half-empty rink.
"It means a lot,” Squires said of the fan support.
“Everybody's right behind us, they've been here with us the whole way. It's been a very special last month here in Cape Breton."
While Baie-Comeau proved too strong in the semi-final, this year’s Eagles team captivated fans with their grit and team play.
"It's awesome. We have a bunch of brothers here,” said Biggar.
“We're all close in the room, we all love each other, so it makes it a lot more special."
Looking ahead to the future, the team now has the first-overall pick in the Q-League draft next month.
As well, most of the players who were part of this playoff run are eligible to return next season.
"As sad as yesterday was, it's a bright future here on the Island,” said Eagles fan Wes Stubbert, one of four super fans, known as “The Unofficials,” who dressed as referees and rallied the home crowd throughout the postseason.
The team says season ticket sales for next year are already looking to outperform this year's numbers.
"Seeing that rink filled, seeing the excitement in the crowd, the excitement in the kids, I mean, that's why we do this,” said fellow “Unofficial” Brad Fraser.
While this season has come to an end for the Eagles, the hope is that the spark of excitement ignited by the team’s playoff run can be built upon next season.
"They can expect big things, and we're going to deliver a championship here to Cape Breton,” said Squires.
"It's sad to see it end, but I'm happy it happened,” Biggar added.
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Guilty: Trump becomes first former U.S. president convicted of felony crimes
Donald Trump became the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes Thursday as a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex.
Montreal tech billionaire charged with several sex offences
Robert Miller was charged Thursday with several sexual assault charges after Montreal police reopened an investigation into the tech billionaire.
A pair enjoyed pricey meals and bolted when it was time to pay. Their dine and dash ended in jail
A Welsh couple who dined out on pricey meals and bolted when the bill came is now paying the price, behind bars.
NDP wants Liberals to scrap proposed election date change that could secure pensions for many MPs
The federal New Democrats want to amend the Liberal government's electoral reform legislation to scrap the proposal to push back the vote by a week and consequently secure pensions for dozens of MPs, CTV News has learned.
'I didn't think it was real': Oilers fans score free Game 4 tickets from stranger
There's always something to be happy about when the Edmonton Oilers are making good strides in the playoffs, but this is especially true for two lucky fans who were able to enjoy the sights and sounds of Game 4 — for free.
Aurora borealis returning to night skies across Canada this Friday: NOAA
If you missed the brilliant displays of the aurora borealis over North America on May 10, you may have another chance to see them on Friday night.
Doug Ford suggests immigrants behind Jewish school shooting
Ontario Premier Doug Ford suggested immigrants are to blame for the shooting of an empty Jewish school in Toronto over the weekend, despite police saying they have little information on the suspects.
Man stabbed in both legs with a machete in Times Square
A man was stabbed in both legs with a machete at New York's Times Square on Thursday afternoon, police said.
Drive one of these vehicles? You may pay 37 per cent more than average insurance costs due to thefts
As the number of auto theft incidents rises in Canada, so have insurance premiums for drivers, even the ones whose vehicles aren't stolen.