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Moncton Wildcats to pay tribute to team founder

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It’ll be a very special 2026-27 home opener for the Moncton Wildcats.

The QMJHL hockey team will battle the Charlottetown Islanders on Saturday, September 26, at the Avenir Centre.

Before puck drop at centre ice at 7 pm, the team will pay tribute to the late Robert K. Irving.

His legacy extends far beyond the rink and has touched generations throughout New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada, on and off the ice. Irving passed away in May.

Fans, family, alumni, staff, and community members will come together for a special pre-game ceremony to recognize Irving, whose impact continues to be felt across the region.

Irving founded the Moncton Wildcats Hockey Club in 1996, bringing together his love for sport and competition with his commitment to youth development and community.

According to Irving’s obituary, he was often heard saying, “Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat!”

Mooseheads logo

Mooseheads start 2026 season with two overtime nail biters

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The Halifax Mooseheads have kicked off their 2026 season, but they did so without an important part of the family.

Long time anthem singer Peter Baylis passed away last year after a battle with brain cancer.

Team President Brian Urquhart said Baylis was a familiar face and close friend to staff, players and fans alike, and that his loss left a void in the team.

“We had a special guest. Saturday night Liz Rigney sang the anthem, and she did a tremendous job,” said Urquhart. “As a tribute to Peter, she encouraged the fans to sing along, which they did, and I think we’ll carry that forward.”

Urquhart said it was a great thing having 8,000 people singing the anthem.

“We’re all proud Canadians… it’s a powerful moment,” said Uquhart.

The Mooseheads opened their season this weekend with back to back overtime games. 

The first game was a 5 to 4 win over the Cape Breton Eagles that ended in a shootout. The second game was a 6 to 5 loss against Moncton during their home opener.

Urquhart said the support of the fans was tremendous.

“We’re spoiled in Halifax, we’ve had support from day one of this franchise,” said Urquhart. “Saturday night was just more evidence of the strong junior hockey fan base in Halifax.”

The Mooseheads will play their next games on Sept. 25 and 26, when they face the Newfoundland Regiment in back to back showdowns at the Mary Brown’s Centre.

ice dogs new logo

Dryden GM Ice Dogs win 2nd straight over Red Lake, 4-1

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Baden Padzierski record a hat trick as the Dryden GM Ice Dogs dumped the Red Lake Miners 4-1 Saturday night at the Dryden Arena.

The win gives Dryden the sweep the opening weekend series, having scored a 6-3 win over the Miners at the Cochenour Arena Friday night.

The Ice Dogs led 1-0 after the first period with Pazdzierski getting the marker.

They increased their lead to 2-0 in the second with Adam Zamecnik scoring his second of the season.

Red Lake got on the board early in the third on Manny Ross’s first of the season.

Dryden restored its two lead with Pazdzierski scoring a shorthanded marker just past the midway point of the period.

He notched his third goal three minutes later.

The Ice Dogs outshot Red Lake 53-29

Carsten Komorowski picked up the win in net for Dryden.

Red Lake Miners 1 at Dryden GM Ice Dogs 4 – Status: Final
Saturday, September 19, 2026 – Dryden Memorial Arena

Red Lake 0 0 1 – 1
Dryden 1 1 2 – 4

1st Period
1, Dryden, Pazdzierski 2 (Paquette), 11:50
Penalties-Nault Rlm (cross checking), 3:25; Bradley Rlm (roughing), 16:44; Anderson Did (roughing), 16:44.

2nd Period
3, Dryden, Zamecnik 2 (Hutchison), 1:55
Penalties-Diehl Did (cross checking), 12:26; Stevens Rlm (tripping), 17:56; Hutchison Did (too many men), 19:20.

3rd Period
3, Red Lake, Ross 1 (Blakeley), 4:03
4, Dryden, Pazdzierski 3 (Kerr), 11:45 (SH)
5, Dryden, Pazdzierski 4 (Bruckshaw, Wolfe), 14:33
Penalties-Laforges Rlm (holding), 5:03; Goreniuk Did (roughing after the whistle), 11:36; Nault Rlm (slashing), 15:12; Menger Did (roughing), 15:12.

Shots on Goal-Red Lake 12-10-7-29. Dryden 18-17-18-53.
Power Play Opportunities-Red Lake 0 / 3; Dryden 0 / 3.
Goalies-Red Lake, Donohue 0-1-0-0 (53 shots-49 saves). Dryden, Komorowski 2-0-0-0 (29 shots-28 saves).
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Thunder Bay North Stars logo adjusted

North Stars sweep weekend series over Lakers

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A five-point night from Mitch Vanderwey sparked the Thunder Bay North Stars to a 7-5 win over the Fort Frances Lakers Saturday Night at the Memorial Sports Centre in Fort Frances.

The win gave the Stars an opening weekend sweep of the Lakers after winning 5-1 on Friday night.

Vanderwey led the Stars with three goals, including the game winner later in the third.

He opened the scoring in the first on the power play, before the Lakers pulled ahead on goals from Tie Schumacher and Liam Starcevic.

The North Stars went back on top on goals from Quinn Schutte and Graeme Tenhunen.

The Lakers’ Carter Peterson evened the score with under 2 minutes left in the second period before Aiden Edward scored for the Stars, giving them a one-goal lead after 40 minutes.

Schumacher scored his second of the game early in the third period to bring the Lakers back even with the Stars.

Ben Exell gave the Stars the lead for good four minutes later before a wild final minute of play that led to three goals in 34 seconds.

Lakers pulled netminder Brady Shield, but gave up a goal to Vanderwey.

Dax Laplante narrowed the lead back to one 25 seconds later.

Nine seconds later, with the Lakers’ net still empty, Vanderwey recorded the hat trick and secured the win for the Stars.

Thunder Bay outshot the Lakers 44-38, with Fort Frances native Eleazar Andrusco credited with his second win of the season.

Thunder Bay North Stars 7 at Fort Frances Lakers 5 – Status: Final
Saturday, September 19, 2026 – Memorial Sports Centre

Thunder Bay 1 3 3 – 7
Fort Frances 2 1 2 – 5

1st Period
1, Thunder Bay, Vanderwey 2 7:33 (PP).
2, Fort Frances, Schumacher 1 (Simon), 16:44.
3, Fort Frances, Starcevic 1 16:58.
Penalties-Dowling Ffl (checking from behind – double minor), 3:36; Coffin Ffl (tripping), 13:32.

2nd Period
4, Thunder Bay, Schutte 1 (Vanderwey, Loke), 11:06 (PP).
5, Thunder Bay, Tenhunen 1 (Vanderwey), 12:07
6, Fort Frances, Peters 1 (Thiessen, McKay), 13:20
7, Thunder Bay, Edwards 2 (Allan)
18:35. Penalties-McLeod Tbn (slashing), 4:04; Yerxa Ffl (roughing), 4:04; Bragnalo Tbn (slashing), 5:06; Cameron Ffl (unsportsmanlike conduct), 9:53; Sheriff Tbn (roughing), 12:07; Gould Ffl (checking from behind – double minor), 12:07; Arsenault Ffl (slashing), 15:13.

3rd Period
8, Fort Frances, Schumacher 2 (Green), 3:10 (PP)
9, Thunder Bay, Exell 2 (Schutte, Edwards), 7:12 (PP)
10, Thunder Bay, Vanderwey 3 (Swanson, Loke), 19:15 (EN)
11, Fort Frances, Laplante 2 (McKay), 19:40
12, Thunder Bay, Vanderwey 4 (unassisted)
19:49 (EN). Penalties-Loke Tbn (cross checking), 0:00; George Tbn (roughing), 2:22; Laplante Ffl (high sticking), 3:39; Thiessen Ffl (roughing), 5:15; Tenhunen Tbn (holding), 16:40.

Shots on Goal-Thunder Bay 14-14-16-44. Fort Frances 13-13-12-38.
Power Play Opportunities-Thunder Bay 3 / 8; Fort Frances 1 / 6.
Goalies-Thunder Bay, Andrusco 2-0-0-0 (38 shots-33 saves). Fort Frances, Shields 0-1-0-0 (42 shots-37 saves).
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SIJHL new logo 2026

North Stars defeat Lakers in SIJHL season-opener

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Thunder Bay North Stars defeated the Fort Frances Lakers 5-1 Friday night at the Memorial Sports Centre.

The game was the season opener for both teams in the Superior International Junior Hockey League.

The two teams met in last year’s Bill Salonen Cup final, with the Stars winning the 7-game series.

After playing to a scoreless draw in the first period, the Lakers drew first blood seven minutes into the second with Dax Laplante finding the net.

The North Stars evened the score with Aiden Edwards scoring on the power play.

Keegan Bragnalo put the Stars up front, scoring with 34 seconds remaining in the period.

It remained a one-goal game through much of the third period before the Stars notched back-to-back power play goals from Chance Loke and Quinn Schutte to give the visitors a 4-1 lead.

Mitch Vanderwey rounded out the scoring with an empty-net marker with 90 seconds left in the game.

The North Stars outshot the Lakers 44-26.

Eleazar Andrusco, who hails from Fort Frances and suited up for the Lakers during the 2022-23 season for a brief back-up role, picked up the victory in net for the Stars.

The two teams will meet again at the Memorial Sports Centre on Saturday, beginning at 7:15 p.m. (CDT).

ice dogs new logo

Ice Dogs rally for opening night win Red Lake

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A four-goal second period sparked the Dryden GM Ice Dogs to a 6-3 win over the Red Lake Miners at the Cochenour Arena Friday night to open the 2025-26 Superior International Junior Hockey League season.

The Miners took the early lead in the first period on a goal from McCall Nault.

Nault scored his second of the game three minutes into the second before the Ice Dogs rallied for four straight markers.

Reidar Paquette and Baden Pazdzierski scored two minutes apart to tie the game before Adam Zamecnik gave the Dogs the lead at the 14-minute mark.

Jeremy Hutchison closed out the scoring in the period with a goal in the final minute of play.

Makhi Wandler narrowed Dryden’s lead with his first of the season midway through the third period.

Ryder Wolfe restored the two-goal lead two minutes later.

Ryder Marks added an empty-net goal to seal the win for Dryden.

Dryden outshot Red Lake 52-25, with Carsten Komorowski earning the win in net.

The same two teams meet again Saturday night at the Dryden Arena, with the puck dropping at 8 p.m.

Meantime, a game between the Sioux Lookout Bombers and the Kam River Fighting Walleye scheduled for the Sioux Lookout Arena Friday night was cancelled.

The Bombers posted on social media that the Walleye faced transportation issues that prevented them from traveling to Sioux Lookout.

The game will be scheduled to another date to be determined.

Fort Frances Lakers practice Sept 17 2026 (7)

Fort Frances Lakers kick off new SIJHL season this weekend

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Fort Frances Lakers open a 2-game homestand against the Thunder Bay North Stars this weekend to kick off a new SIJHL season.

The two teams met in last year’s seven-game Bill Salonen Cup final, with the Stars winning in overtime at the Ice for Kids Arena before a packed house.

Coach and General Manager Luke Judson has had plenty of time to regroup and build a squad ready to make the jump back to the top.

Judson says the success last season helped in the off-season recruiting.

“Definitely with the success last year when players are looking at our league, I felt in other years we maybe weren’t one of the first choices,” admits Judson.

I think with what we’ve done on the ice and what we’ve shown in treating players right off the ice, we’re kind of becoming the destination or at least one of the top destinations within our league.”

Head coach/General Manager Luke Judson during a Fort Frances Lakers practice, September 17, 2026. Image: Randy Thoms/Acadia News

This year, the team has been able to draw in players from Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Alberta and Minnesota.

Seventeen players listed on the roster for opening day hail from outside of Ontario.

A couple of new additions were made this week.

Judson feels pleased with his roster going into the season.

“We have a very strong forward group, lots of guys with some experience in junior, lots of guys that had a lot of success in U18 and then obviously the guys that are returning will have some higher expectations for them and what they bring and how they lead the way,” says Judson.

Game time at the Ice for Kids Arena for both games against the North Stars is 7:15 p.m.

Fort Frances Lakers in practice, September 17, 2026. Image: Randy Thoms/Acadia News
Fort Frances Lakers purple logo

Lakers sign 2 defencemen for upcoming SIJHL season

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The coaching staff with the Fort Frances Lakers continues to put their roster together for the upcoming SIJHL season.

The recent addition is Braydon Cameron, a defenceman who played for the Miles Macdonell Collegiate Buckeyes in the Winnipeg High School Hockey League for the past three seasons.

Cameron recorded three goals and eight points in 22 games last season, while serving just 8 penalty minutes.

“Braydon came to us this summer as a complete unknown from high school hockey in Manitoba,” states Lakers Head Coach and General Manager, Luke Judson, in a release.

“He travelled to Fort Frances to attend our summer ice, and immediately impressed the coaching staff with his confidence with the puck, skating ability, and hockey sense.”

Judson feels that Cameron has the ability to be a premier player in the league.

Last week, the Lakers signed Jace Griffin, another defenceman who hails from Minnesota.

Griffin played last season in the U.S.-based North American Tier 3 Hockey League for the Bozeman Ice Dogs, where he had 12 goals and 28 points in 45 games.

He previously played four seasons in high school hockey with the River Lake Stars, a team that represents several school districts in central Minnesota.

“Jace is a talented multi-sport athlete who had a successful rookie season in the NA3HL last year,” notes Judson.

“He is ready for a new challenge in Junior A hockey. Jace will bring a two-way, physical game to an already stingy defensive group.”

The Lakers will open their 2026-27 SIJHL season on September 18th at the Ice for Kids Arena against the Thunder Bay North Stars.

Hockey Canada shirt

Hockey Canada upholds four suspensions on 2018 World Junior team

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Hockey Canada says five players from the 2018 World Junior Hockey Team have been accused of breaching the Hockey Canada code of conduct.

The organization made the announcement Wednesday, saying they completed their appeal process into the case and have accepted the recommendations.

Alex Formenton, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, Dillon Dubé and Michael McLeod were charged with sexual assault during an alleged incident in June 2018 in London, Ontario.

The high-profile case ended with all five being acquitted of the charges in July 2025.

The appeal board has recommended one player be reinstated immediately, and that the other four have staggered suspensions and reinstatement dates.

  • Alex Formenton: reinstated immediately
  • Cal Foote: suspended until November 10, 2026
  • Carter Hart: suspended until November 10, 2027
  • Dillon Dubé: suspended until November 10, 2028
  • Michael McLeod: suspended until November 10, 2030

Any suspended player will be ineligible to represent Canada internationally or participate in any Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs.

Hockey Canada said that the independent process “did not conclude that any other player on the 2018 National Junior Team breached Hockey Canada’s code of conduct,” and that those players are eligible for consideration to participate in Hockey Canada-sanctioned events.

Despite that, any player who wishes to play on a national team will still be subject to Hockey Canada’s new, enhanced screening process. That process includes a third-party review of the 2018 findings regarding the World Junior team.

The National Hockey League (NHL) reinstated all five players as of Dec. 1, but currently, only Hart plays in the league.

Mariners Tardif

Mariners open 2026/27 season against rival Wildcats

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The Yarmouth Mariners will kick off their season against a familiar opponent, the Valley Wildcats.

The team will open their 25th season at home, hosting the rival Wildcats at the Mariners Centre on Friday, Sept. 11. The last time the two teams faced off at the Mariners Centre, the Valley Wildcats came away with a 5 – 2 win on the back of a hat trick from alternate captain Drew Lutz.

Game action between the Yarmouth Mariners and West Kent Steamers at Mariners Centre in Yarmouth on Friday, February 7, 2025 (Ken Chetwynd Photo)

A showdown on home ice against the West Kent Steamers on Sunday, Sept. 13 will wrap up the team’s opening weekend. 

These are the first of 26 home games at the Mariners Centre.

The team also named Head Scout Kegin Watt as the new Team Governor and Director of Hockey Operations. Watt will maintain his role as Head Scout for the team, and represent the Mariners on the Maritime Hockey League Board of Governors. 

Watt has been with the Mariners for four seasons, but brings years of experience scouting in the QMJHL and with Hockey Nova Scotia.

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