For the first time in more than a century, there will be no boy's hockey at Sydney Academy this year.
The school says lack of interest resulted in the decision. They needed at least 20 players, but only 15 showed up to tryouts.
“Crushed, you know? Crushed. All summer I trained hard for it," says hockey player Peter Googoo.
"This is my last chance to play high school. To not get to play in front of the school and the great fans we have, it's heartbreaking," says hockey player Nathan Matinello.
This would have been unthinkable back in the Academy's hockey heyday. The team won eight provincial championships between 1973 and 1987.
Numerous Sydney Academy players from that time went on to play junior or pro, like former NHLer Kevin Morrison. He thinks the problem is that many of today's youth have traded hockey sticks in for a joystick.
"I just think the kids have so much more to do now,” says Morrison. “If they're at a hockey game, they're not paying attention to the game. They're paying attention to who's texting them or who's tweeting them."
Sydney Academy principal says Kevin Seveaux says there is next to no chance this year's team can be salvaged. He says they looked everywhere for players, and would bring hockey back next year in a heartbeat if they could.
"It's just a sad day," says Kevin Deveaux. "I would love to have the team back. But unless there's a change in the number of student-athletes available to play hockey, we wouldn't be able to ice a team."
Without Sydney Academy, the Cape Breton Division 1 Boys High School Hockey League is now reduced from four teams to just three.
"It's been a tradition so long. I’d hate to see it not come back next year," says Morrison.
But for some players, there won’t be a next year.
"This was my last hope of playing hockey.,” Peter Googoo says, “because I'm too old for midget.”
It’s a tradition that, for now, will have to live on through an annual alumni game.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Ryan MacDonald.
