Achi news desk-
Thursday night was the first time since May 1, 2007 that the Cape Breton Eagles played in the third round of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League playoffs.
The Eagles were set to face league-leading Baie-Comeau Drakkar in a league semifinal series, with the first two games in Quebec.
In Cape Breton, at least five restaurants and bars organized watch parties, including the Steel City Sports Bar & Steakhouse just down the road from Center 200 in Sydney – the team’s home arena.
“Well, we’ve got two 10-foot screens and a bunch of TVs and we’re going to put them all on,” said Steel City owner Barkley Haddad, who added that the team’s playoff run has be good for business. regarding demand to keep the tables. He walks in. On game nights, we won’t even take reservations because it’s sold out. It’s crazy how busy it’s been.”
In the Telus Cup which was held on Membertou First Nation, there was plenty of buzz about the Eagles as well.
“Tonight, we’re going to watch it at Boston Pizza,” said Wes Stanford, one of four Eagles fans who have spent the postseason dressing up as umpires during home games and pumping up the crowd. . “I don’t think I’ve been that nervous or anxious about a game since I was a little kid, when I was a Leafs fan – I still am.”
“We’re definitely the underdog in the Quebec media, but I think the 20 players – they love this underdog role,” added another Eagles fan, Brent Desveaux, inside the rink in Membertou. “I have no doubt that this team will be very competitive against Baie-Comeau, and I don’t think we should be surprised if we go on and beat them.”
Longtime Eagle fans may still be in awe of the last time the team made it this far.
In 2007, the team’s championship hopes were dashed by the Val d’or Foreurs in the league semifinals – a team that included future NHL stars Brad Marchand of Hammonds Plains, NS, and Kris Letang.
In Baie-Comeau, the team appear to be aware of the excitement at home and know that sell-out crowds await them when the series moves to Sydney for Games Three and Four on April 29 and 30.
“When we were coming back from Chicoutimi (after winning round two), everyone was talking about how fast the tickets were selling,” said Eagles play-by-play announcer Pat McNeil. game, and the players I think feel that support.”
If the team pulls off the upset and wins the series against the Drakkar, this would be the first time they reach the final in its 27-year history.
“It would be ticker-tape time then, to get the fire trucks out,” said Haddad. “They perform like a well-oiled machine.”
