After 68 regular season games, 16 teams will battle to lift the President's Cup, and punch their ticket to Red Deer, Alb.

While some Quebec teams have proven themselves to be powerhouses built for deep playoff runs, buzz is building around clubs in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia – like the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, boasting home ice advantage for the first time in seven years.

“People see all the talent we have, the way we ended the season on a seven game winning streak, going 11-0-1 in our last 12 home games, it shows that our fans and support are really making a difference to this team,” said Cape Breton Screaming Eagles marketing manager Chris Tournidis.

It'll be a tough test for the Screaming Eagles, with top forward and projected first round NHL pick Pierre Luc Dubois suspended for game one versus the Chicoutemi Sagueneens.

Nearly 700 kilometres away from Charlottetown, Canadian World Junior goaltender Mason McDonald hopes to backstop the Islanders past the Rimouski Oceanic

In Saint John, the Maritime division winners will put their powerful blue line to the test against Bathurst

All eyes will be on Sea Dogs’ forward Joe Veleno, who was granted exceptional status by Hockey Canada to become the first player to enter the Quebec league as a 15-year-old.

At the Moncton coliseum, the Wildcats are faced with a team they haven't seen much of this season in the Victoriaville Tigres. The Wildcats split their regular season series with the Tigres one apiece, though a total of 20 goals were scored over the two games.

Powerhouse Conor Garland paved the way to a 7-4 victory in November, with a hat trick and two assists, though he was without a goal in a 5-4 February overtime loss.

“I think they know we were in a slump, and I think when we played them in Victoriaville we were playing some of our real good hockey,” said Garland. “They've seen both spectrums of us so I think they're expecting a good series, and so are we.”

Not to be outdone, the Tigres have plenty of firepower, courtesy of draft eligible Pascal Laberge and rookie Maxime Comtois.

Both teams have also landed near the bottom of the league in goaltending. Keven Bouchard getting the nod for Moncton, with the Wildcats will be up against Olivier Tremblay.

“We've got to get in his face,” said Moncton Wildcats head coach Darren Rumble. “He's not super small, but he's also not the biggest guy in the league, so we feel if we can get in there and make life hard on him as far as traffic goes that could be key, as well.” 

All 16 teams will begin their playoff push Saturday night.

WIth files from CTV Atlantic's Cami Kepke.