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QMJHL Cape Breton Eagles

Two Big Wins, Two Big Crowds, Two New Faces - Eagles Recap

January 2, 2024 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Cape Breton Eagles News Release


Inner Division Wins

To close out the 2023 calendar year, the Cape Breton Eagles were faced off with two Maritime foes in the Saint John Sea Dogs and the Halifax Mooseheads in the final days leading up to the new year. The Sea Dogs weren't greeted with any kind of warm welcoming in their first trip to Centre 200 in Sydney, as an Olivier Houde hat trick lead the Eagles to a decisive 10-3 victory on Thursday night. Houde completed his first career hat trick with just seven seconds remaining in the final frame. The 20-year-old was the first Eagle to complete a "perfect hat trick" since Joey Haddad in 2009. A perfect hat trick occurs when a player scores a goal during 5v5 play, on the power play and while shorthanded.

Just two days later, the first half of the 2023 Battle of Nova Scotia kicked off at the Nest when the Halifax Mooseheads came to town. Despite a back and fourth game filled with close calls and scoring opportunities, the Eagles fell to a defiant Moosehead's squad 3-1.

Less than 24 hours later, the two teams met yet again on New Year's Eve in front of a jam packed Halifax crowd. A late offensive surge from a relentless Eagles forecheck resulted in three straight Eagle goals in the third period to erase the Moosehead's 2-1 lead. Cole Burbidge spoiled the Moosehead's new year with the game winner with less than a minute remaining in regulation.

The Eagles return to the ice on Thursday when they battle the Shawinigan Cataractes in the first of a three game Quebec road trip.

Record Crowds

Eagles history was made on Dec. 28 when more than 4400 fans entered the Nest to see their hometown Eagles battle the Saint John Sea Dogs. An official attendance of 4401 was the largest Eagles crowd since Dec. 29, 2019 when 4586 fans flocked to Centre 200 for a Battle of Nova Scotia matchup. Just two days later, the Nest was filled up yet again when 3983 fans watched the Eagles fall to the Mooseheads in the first half of the annual Battle of Nova Scotia. By exceeding the 3000 fans benchmark, both games were Ticket To Win It games where one lucky ticket holder in attendance had the chance to win $3000 by simply purchasing a ticket and being in the building.

Congratulations to Cailex Tournidis and Tom McDonald on taking home the latest winning cash prizes!

Eagles GM makes first two deals

After a quiet start to the 2023-2024 winter trade period, Cape Breton Eagles' general manager Sylvain Couturier has made his first moves before the Jan. 6 deadline. On Dec. 30, the Eagles acquired 17-year-old forward Noah Larochelle from the Victoriaville Tigres in exchange for a fourth round draft pick in 2024. Larochelle is a 17-year-old right winger who has scored four points in 23 games with the Tigres over two seasons. He is set to make his Eagles debut on Thursday in Shawinigan before facing off with the Tigres on Saturday in Victoriaville.

Then on Jan. 2, the Eagles acquired forward Lucas Romeo and a third round draft pick in 2026 for forward Will Shields. Romeo is an 18-year-old right winger who has scored 41 points in 91 career games with the Islanders. Standing at 6'3, 205lbs, Romeo attended the Chicago Blackhawks rookie development camp this past year. He will travel with the Eagles on their Quebec road trip this week and will make his Eagles debut Thursday against Shawinigan alongside newly acquired forward Noah Larochelle.

Alongside the two new acquisitions, the Eagles have also signed forward Charles-Antoine Lavallée to a major junior contract. Lavallée has been with the team since Dec. 7 and will remain in the lineup for the remainder of the season.

As of Jan. 2, the Cape Breton Eagles sit tied with the Rimouski Oceanic for fourth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 19-17-1.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from January 2, 2024


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