Cape Breton Eagles

Junior ice hockey team in Nova Scotia, Canada

Cape Breton Eagles

City| Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
League| Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League
Division| Maritimes
Founded| 1969
Home arena| Centre 200
Colours| Black, white, gold and grey

General manager| Sylvain Couturier
Head coach| Jason Clarke
Website| chl.ca/lhjmq-eagles
Franchise history
1969–1977| Sorel Éperviers
1977–1979| Verdun Éperviers
1979–1980| Sorel/Verdun Éperviers
1980–1981| Sorel Éperviers
1981–1995| Granby Bisons
1995–1997| Granby Prédateurs
1997–2019| Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
2019–present| Cape Breton Eagles
Current uniform

The Cape Breton Eagles are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) based in Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. They are members of the Maritimes Division, and play their home games at Centre 200 in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

## History

[edit]

Centre 200 in Sydney, Nova Scotia

The franchise was originally granted to the Sorel Éperviers (Black Hawks) for the 1969–70 season. They then moved from Sorel to Verdun in 1977 to become the Verdun Éperviers. In 1979, they played in both Sorel and Verdun before moving back to Sorel for the next season. In 1981, they moved to Granby to become the Granby Bisons, and in 1995 changed their names to the Granby Prédateurs. In 1996, the Prédateurs won the Memorial Cup. In 1997, the franchise was relocated to Sydney to become the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Prior to the Eagles' arrival, Sydney played host to the American Hockey League (AHL)'s Cape Breton Oilers from 1988 to 1996.[citation needed]

### Early years in Cape Breton (1997–1999)

[edit]

The Screaming Eagles' first captain was Daniel Payette under coach Dany Dubé.[citation needed]

### The Vincent era (1999–2008)

[edit]

In 1999, Pascal Vincent was promoted as the new head coach following the dismissal of Bruce Campbell.[1] The Screaming Eagles attempted to strengthen the club by drafting future National Hockey League (NHL) star Ilya Kovalchuk tenth overall in the 2000 CHL Import Draft. However, Kovalchuk declined to report to the team. Along with star players Marc-André Fleury, Dominic Noel, Stuart MacRae and Stephen Dixon, the Screaming Eagles reached the QMJHL's conference final in 2002, only to lose in five games to Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Fleury's number 29 jersey went on to be retired by the Screaming Eagles in 2008. Kovalchuk's number 71 was retired in 2014, as an April Fools' Day prank.[2]

Vincent stacked the Screaming Eagles lineup with many NHL prospects for the 2003–04 season in hopes of bringing a league title to Cape Breton.[citation needed] After the Screaming Eagles won 49 games and captured a division title, with Fleury also returning from the Pittsburgh Penguins before the playoffs, but the Screaming Eagles lost in the second round to the Chicoutimi Saguenéens.[citation needed]

At the 2004 QMJHL Draft, the Screaming Eagles chose James Sheppard with the first overall pick. In 2006–07, along with star players Luc Bourdon, Ondrej Pavelec and Oskars Bartulis, Sheppard led the Screaming Eagles to the league semifinals, only to lose in seven games to the Val-d'Or Foreurs.[citation needed]

The 2007–08 season saw 16-year-old goaltender Olivier Roy rise to prominence. The Screaming Eagles finished fourth in their division and won their first round playoff series despite having a roster that normally dressed at least ten rookies. Vincent went on to be named the 2008 QMJHL Coach of the Year. Following the end of the season, Vincent became the head coach and general manager of the Montreal Junior Hockey Club.[citation needed]

### 2010s history (2008–2019)

[edit]

The team returned to the playoffs in 2014.

Following Vincent's departure, assistant coach Mario Durocher took over the role of head coach and general manager. In a bid to host the Memorial Cup in 2012, Durocher added former NHL players Mike McPhee and Guy Chouinard, former NHL coach Pierre Creamer and Michel Boucher to the hockey staff in consulting roles in 2010. Durocher was relieved of his duties on April 12, 2011, after a lackluster season in which the team finished 16th in the league and last in the Atlantic Division with just 41 points.[3][4]

The team's then-head coach Ron Choules replaced Durocher as general manager in April 2011, though the team failed to improve on the ice. After a poor start to the 2012–13 season, Choules himself was fired on December 3, 2012, with former Val-d'Or head coach Marc-André Dumont announced as his replacement.[5] The Screaming Eagles failed to reach the playoffs for the first time in franchise history in the 2012–13 season.[6] At season's end, assistant coach Jean-François David was fired.[7]

After being eliminated in the second round of the 2019 playoffs, the Screaming Eagles fired their coaching staff. Dumont was replaced with Nova Scotia native, Jake Grimes, along with former Eagles alumni Chris Culligan as assistant coach.[citation needed]

The team mascot is an eagle named Screech.[8]

### Cape Breton Eagles (2019–present)

[edit]

On August 14, 2019, the team rebranded itself as the Cape Breton Eagles.[9]

On November 30, 2021, head coach Jake Grimes resigned as head coach citing personal reasons. He finished with a winning record overall with the club, at 46–34–0–7 record over one-and-a-half seasons but had started the 2021–22 season with a 6–14–0–4 record.[10] The Eagles spent approximately two months with an interim head coach before hiring Chadd Cassidy on January 7, 2022.[11]

## Players

[edit]

### Retired numbers

[edit]

* 7 Chris Culligan (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, 2004–2009)[12]
* 29 Marc-André Fleury (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, 2000–2004)[13]

### NHL alumni

[edit]

The following players have played in at least one National Hockey League (NHL) game as of the 2023-24 season:[14]

* Luke Adam
* Mark Barberio
* Oskars Bartulis
* Drake Batherson
* Clark Bishop
* Luc Bourdon
* William Carrier
* Jean-Philippe Côté
* Pierre-Luc Dubois
* Giovanni Fiore
* Marc-André Fleury
* Ryan Flinn
* Martin Houle
* Raman Hrabarenka
* Ivan Ivan
* Tomas Kloucek
* Maxime Lagacé
* Guillaume Lefebvre
* Kevin Mandolese
* Adam Pardy
* Ondrej Pavelec
* Alexandre R. Picard
* Tim Ramholt
* Logan Shaw
* James Sheppard
* Egor Sokolov
* Evgeny Svechnikov

### NHL first round draft picks

[edit]

List of first round selections in the NHL Entry Draft:[15]

Year  | #  | Player  | Nationality  | NHL team

|
|
|
|

2003 | 1  | Marc-André Fleury (G)  |  Canada  | Pittsburgh Penguins
2006 | 9  | James Sheppard (C)  |  Canada  | Minnesota Wild
2015 | 19  | Evgeny Svechnikov (LW)  |  Russia  | Detroit Red Wings
2016 | 3  | Pierre-Luc Dubois (C)  |  Canada  | Columbus Blue Jackets

## Award winners

[edit]

List of award winners:[citation needed]

CHL Scholastic Player of the Year

* 2007–08: Robert Slaney

QMJHL Humanitarian of the Year

* 2009–10: Nick MacNeil
* 2022–23: Cam Squires

Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy

* 2003–04: Martin Houle (2.32)
* 2005–06: Ondrej Pavelec (2.51)
* 2006–07: Ondrej Pavelec (2.52)

Kevin Lowe Trophy

* 2019–20: Adam McCormick

Luc Robitaille Trophy

* 2006–07: Cape Breton (308)

Marcel Robert Trophy

* 2004–05: Guillaume Demers
* 2007–08: Robert Slaney

Maurice Filion Trophy

* 2006–07: Pascal Vincent

Mike Bossy Trophy

* 2002–03: Marc-André Fleury

Philips Plaque

* 2001–02: Pierre-Luc Emond

Raymond Lagacé Trophy

* 2005–06: Ondrej Pavelec
* 2007–08: Olivier Roy

RDS Cup

* 2005–06: Ondrej Pavelec
* 2007–08: Olivier Roy

Robert Lebel Trophy

* 2003–04: Cape Breton (2.33)

Ron Lapointe Trophy

* 2007–08: Pascal Vincent

Telus Cup – Defensive

* 2002–03: Marc-André Fleury
* 2004–05: Martin Houle

|

## Season-by-season results

[edit]

### Regular season

[edit]

QMJHL season standings.[16]
OTL = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss

Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | OL | SL | Points | Pct | Goals
for | Goals
against | Standing

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1997–98 | 70 | 19 | 46 | 5 | — | — | 43 | 0.307 | 211 | 295 | 6th, Dilio
1998–99 | 70 | 22 | 44 | 4 | — | — | 48 | 0.343 | 226 | 272 | 6th, Dilio
1999–00 | 72 | 24 | 39 | 3 | 6 | — | 57 | 0.396 | 230 | 302 | 3rd, Maritimes
2000–01 | 72 | 30 | 37 | 4 | 1 | — | 65 | 0.451 | 270 | 292 | 2nd, Maritimes
2001–02 | 72 | 38 | 20 | 10 | 4 | — | 90 | 0.625 | 286 | 224 | 3rd, Maritimes
2002–03 | 72 | 21 | 37 | 9 | 5 | — | 56 | 0.389 | 200 | 268 | 4th, Maritimes
2003–04 | 70 | 49 | 16 | 2 | 3 | — | 103 | 0.736 | 273 | 164 | 1st, Atlantic
2004–05 | 70 | 32 | 27 | 8 | 3 | — | 75 | 0.536 | 206 | 195 | 3rd, Atlantic
2005–06 | 70 | 40 | 23 | — | 3 | 4 | 87 | 0.621 | 236 | 206 | 3rd, Eastern
2006–07 | 70 | 46 | 22 | — | 2 | 0 | 94 | 0.671 | 308 | 200 | 2nd, Eastern
2007–08 | 70 | 40 | 24 | — | 3 | 3 | 86 | 0.614 | 242 | 230 | 4th, Eastern
2008–09 | 68 | 46 | 18 | — | 3 | 1 | 96 | 0.676 | 252 | 201 | 2nd, Atlantic
2009–10 | 68 | 41 | 22 | — | 2 | 3 | 87 | 0.603 | 238 | 185 | 3rd, Atlantic
2010–11 | 68 | 18 | 45 | — | 1 | 4 | 41 | 0.301 | 154 | 246 | 5th, Maritimes
2011–12 | 68 | 23 | 42 | — | 1 | 2 | 49 | 0.360 | 219 | 306 | 5th, Maritimes
2012–13 | 68 | 14 | 46 | — | 3 | 5 | 36 | 0.265 | 161 | 308 | 6th,
Telus Maritimes
2013–14 | 68 | 37 | 27 | — | 1 | 3 | 78 | 0.574 | 260 | 260 | 2nd,
Telus Maritimes
2014–15 | 68 | 31 | 31 | — | 3 | 3 | 68 | 0.500 | 258 | 246 | 5th, Maritimes
2015–16 | 68 | 38 | 24 | — | 5 | 1 | 82 | 0.603 | 286 | 237 | 3rd, Maritimes
2016–17 | 68 | 39 | 25 | — | 2 | 2 | 82 | 0.603 | 270 | 230 | 4th, Maritimes
2017–18 | 68 | 32 | 28 | — | 6 | 2 | 72 | 0.529 | 235 | 259 | 4th, Maritimes
2018–19 | 68 | 40 | 22 | — | 1 | 5 | 86 | 0.632 | 267 | 214 | 3rd, Maritimes
2019–20 | 63 | 40 | 20 | — | 2 | 1 | 83 | 0.659 | 269 | 194 | 2nd, Maritimes
2020–21 | 38 | 12 | 25 | — | 1 | 0 | 25 | 0.329 | 113 | 186 | 6th, Maritimes
2021–22 | 68 | 14 | 47 | — | 4 | 3 | 35 | 0.257 | 183 | 335 | 6th, Maritimes
2022–23 | 68 | 30 | 34 | — | 3 | 1 | 64 | 0.471 | 224 | 275 | 3rd, Maritimes
2023–24 | 68 | 39 | 26 | — | 1 | 2 | 81 | 0.596 | 216 | 194 | 3rd, Maritimes

### Playoffs

[edit]

Season | 1st round | 2nd round | 3rd round | Finals

|
|
|
|

1997–98 | L, 0–4, Quebec | – | – | –
1998–99 | L, 1–4, Acadie–Bathurst | – | – | –
1999–2000 | L, 0–4, Quebec | – | – | –
2000–01 | W, 4–3, Chicoutimi | L, 1–4, Acadie–Bathurst | – | –
2001–02 | W, 4–1, Baie-Comeau | W, 4–2, Halifax | L, 1–4, Acadie–Bathurst | –
2002–03 | L, 0–4, Halifax | – | – | –
2003–04 | Bye | L, 1–4, Chicoutimi | – | –
2004–05 | L, 1–4, Gatineau | – | – | –
2005–06 | W, 4–1, St. John's | L, 0–4, Acadie–Bathurst | – | –
2006–07 | W, 4–0, St. John's | W, 4–1, Acadie–Bathurst | L, 3–4, Val-d'Or | –
2007–08 | W, 4–2, Lewiston | L, 1–4, Halifax | – | –
2008–09 | W, 4–0, Saint John | L, 3–4, Quebec | – | –
2009–10 | L, 1–4, Moncton | – | – | –
2010–11 | L, 0–4, Saint John | – | – | –
2011–12 | L, 0–4, Saint John | – | – | –
2012–13 | Did not qualify
2013–14 | L, 0–4, Gatineau | – | – | –
2014–15 | L, 3–4, Quebec | – | – | –
2015–16 | W, 4–2, Chicoutimi | L, 3–4, Saint John | – | –
2016–17 | W, 4–3, Gatineau | L, 0–4, Charlottetown | – | –
2017–18 | L, 1–4, Drummondville | – | – | –
2018–19 | W, 4–2, Charlottetown | L, 1–4, Rimouski | – | –
2019–20 | QMJHL playoffs cancelled due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 | Did not qualify1
2021–22 | Did not qualify
2022–23 | L, 0–4, Halifax | – | – | –
2023–24 | W, 4–1, Rimouski | W, 4–0, Chicoutimi | L, 1–4, Baie-Comeau | –
2024–25 | L, 2–4, Baie-Comeau | – | – | –

1 Due to local travel restrictions, all Nova Scotia-based teams were deemed ineligible to compete in the playoffs. Three New Brunswick-based teams competed in a six-game round-robin tournament to determine who would face the Charlottetown Islanders in the Maritimes Division final.[17][18]

## See also

[edit]

* List of ice hockey teams in Nova Scotia

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Screaming Eagles coach let go". CBC News. October 12, 1999. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
2. ^ "Screaming Eagles Pull April Fool's Joke". Cape Breton Post. April 1, 2014. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014.
3. ^ "Screaming Eagles add hockey gurus - Sports - the Cape Breton Post". Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
4. ^ "Screaming Eagles fire Mario Durocher - Local - the Cape Breton Post". Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
5. ^ "Choules fired as Screaming Eagles head coach, general manager". Cape Breton Post. December 3, 2012. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014.
6. ^ Eagles will miss QMJHL playoff for first time in franchise history http://www.capebretonpost.com/Sports/Hockey/2013-03-03/article-3191562/Eagles-will-miss-QMJHL-playoff-for-first-time-in-franchise-history/1 Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine
7. ^ Screaming Eagles assistant coach David not returning http://www.capebretonpost.com/Sports/Hockey/2013-03-21/article-3205258/Screaming-Eagles-assistant-coach-David-not-returning/1 Archived 2013-04-10 at archive.today
8. ^ "Screaming Eagles on the lookout for missing mascot". CBC News. March 20, 2009.
9. ^ "New brand and name unveiled for former Cape Breton Screaming Eagles". QMJHL. August 14, 2019.
10. ^ "Jake Grimes steps down as Cape Breton Eagles head coach". saltwire.com. November 30, 2021.
11. ^ "Eagles Hire Chadd Cassidy as New Head Coach". Cape Breton Eagles. January 7, 2022.
12. ^ Tidcombe, Matt (November 5, 2022). "Culligan has number retired by Cape Breton". CHL.ca. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
13. ^ "A standout goalie with his feet on the ground". Cape Breton Post. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
14. ^ "Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL) Alumni". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
15. ^ "Cape Breton Eagles Drafted Player History". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
16. ^ Cape Breton Screaming Eagles season-by-season record on www.hockeydb.com
17. ^ MacNeil, John (April 16, 2021). "No QMJHL playoffs for Halifax Mooseheads and Cape Breton Eagles". Saltwire. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
18. ^ Webb, Steven (April 25, 2021). "QMJHL only junior hockey league still going ahead with playoffs". CBC News. Archived from the original on April 25, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official Site

* v
* t
* e

Cape Breton Eagles

* Based in Sydney
* Nova Scotia
* Founded in 1969
* Member of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

The Franchise|

* History
* Records
* Players
* Staff

Arenas|

* Centre 200

Division Championships|

* 2003–04

Retired numbers|

* 29

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* e

Cape Breton Regional Municipality

Government|

* Regional Council
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Transportation|

* Transit Cape Breton
* Maritime Bus
* JA Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport
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Major neighbourhoods
& communities|

| Unincorporated
cities and towns|

* Sydney
* Dominion
* Glace Bay
* Louisbourg
* New Waterford
* North Sydney
* Sydney Mines

|

Other communities|

* Albert Bridge
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* Beaver Cove
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Education|

| Primary/secondary|

* Cape Breton – Victoria Regional Centre for Education
* Conseil scolaire acadien provincial

|

Post-secondary|

* Canadian Coast Guard College
* Cape Breton University
* McKenzie College (Nova Scotia)
* Nova Scotia Community College (Marconi campus)

Culture, sport,
and recreation|

| Museums, venues|

* Centre 200
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* Emera Centre Northside
* Fortress of Louisbourg
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* Highland Arts Theatre
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|

Sports teams, events|

* Cape Breton Eagles
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Parks & trails|

* Devils Hill Falls
* Greenlink Rotary Park Trail System
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* Renwick Brook Park
* Wentworth Park

Buildings and structures|

* Barra Strait Bridge
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* Grand Narrows Bridge
* Lingan Generating Station
* Louisbourg Lighthouse
* Low Point Lighthouse
* Mayflower Mall
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* CFS Sydney

* Category
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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League

Maritimes Division|

* Cape Breton Eagles
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* Moncton Wildcats
* Newfoundland Regiment
* Saint John Sea Dogs

East Division|

* Baie-Comeau Drakkar
* Chicoutimi Saguenéens
* Quebec Remparts
* Rimouski Océanic

Central Division|

* Drummondville Voltigeurs
* Shawinigan Cataractes
* Sherbrooke Phoenix
* Victoriaville Tigres

West Division|

* Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
* Gatineau Olympiques
* Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
* Val-d'Or Foreurs

Trophies|

* Gilles-Courteau Trophy
* Jean Rougeau Trophy
* Luc Robitaille Trophy
* Robert Lebel Trophy
* Michel Brière Memorial Trophy
* Jean Béliveau Trophy
* Mario Lemieux Trophy
* Guy Lafleur Trophy
* Telus Cup – Offensive
* Telus Cup – Defensive
* Patrick Roy Trophy
* Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy
* Guy Carbonneau Trophy
* Emile Bouchard Trophy
* Kevin Lowe Trophy
* Michael Bossy Trophy
* Sidney Crosby Trophy
* Michel Bergeron Trophy
* Raymond Lagacé Trophy
* David Desharnais Trophy
* Humanitarian of the Year
* Marcel Robert Trophy
* Paul Dumont Trophy
* Ron Lapointe Trophy
* Maurice Filion Trophy
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(5 teams)

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Halifax Hoopers

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Hockey|

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U Sports|

Acadia University Axemen and Axewomen
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