GrayJay Tournaments
Four years ago, Anthony Melski stepped on the ice for his first Blue and White Challenge tournament game, and it’s something he still looks back on.
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Young Sydney Academy Wildcats hope to put on a show in Blue and White Challenge tournament
Anthony Melski of the Sydney Academy Wildcats watches the play during Cape Breton High School Hockey League action at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre earlier this month. Melski and the Wildcats will host the Blue and White Challenge this week at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre. JEREMY FRASER/CAPE BRETON POST Jeremy Fraser
“I was in Grade 9 at the time and there were a lot of nerves,” said Melski. “It’s a big thing when you play high school hockey to host your own tournament and seeing the crowd and getting that experience is something I’ll always remember.”
Since then, Melski has played in three Blue and White tournaments, but none will be as big as the event this week in Membertou.
The Sydney Academy Wildcats captain will play in his fourth and final Blue and White Challenge when the club hits the ice on tonight against the Riverview Ravens. Game time is set for 8 p.m., at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre.
“It’s been one of the best experiences of high school hockey for me,” said Melski, a Grade 12 player. “I feel like that’s what it’s all about, being there and playing in front of the school, fans, family and friends, it’s the best part of the whole experience of the tournament.”
The four-day, eight-team tournament, which typically takes place in January, will feature two divisions, each with four teams.
Sydney Academy will be joined in the Blue Division by Riverview, Eastern Shore Coyotes of Musquodoboit Harbour and the Richmond Hurricanes of Louisdale. Meanwhile, the White Division will include the Glace Bay Panthers, Memorial Marauders, Millwood Knights, and Dartmouth Spartans.
TOUGH START
It’s been a tough start to the season for Sydney Academy in the Cape Breton High School Hockey League. The club sits in last place in the four-team standings with a 0-8-0-0 record in six regular-season games.
Earlier this month, the Wildcats participated in the annual Mae Kibyuk Memorial Green and Gold Hockey Tournament, hosted by Memorial High School, in North Sydney.
Despite not winning a game at the event, head coach Matt MacLeod said there were positives to take away from the tournament that the club hopes to build on moving forward.
“I think we played a steady tournament,” he said. “I think we did pretty well and the scores kind of reflected it. I think we’re coming around and the whole group as a whole is sticking to the game plan and they’re putting in the work and they’re starting to see the results now.”
MacLeod acknowledged some of the things the team has been working on lately to prepare, not only for the tournament, but the reminder of the season as well.
“We’re working on our work ethic and we’re making sure that everybody is working and everyone is going at all times,” said MacLeod. “We’re really working on our systems, making sure that we have everything in place in the defensive zone and offensive zone.”
Goals have been hard to come by early in the season for the Wildcats, with the club only scoring six goals in the first six games of the regular season.
One of the bright spots offensive for Sydney Academy has been the play of Melski, who leads the club with four goals and seven points in seven regular season games.
“I think personally I’ve been playing good, but I don’t think I should be worried about myself as much being the captain of the team,” said Melski. “I should be worried more about the team and how we should play and I think so far we’ve been playing good – the team matters the most.”
CAPTAIN’S ROLE
With a young team, which only has five senior players and the majority in Grade 10, Melski said he understands the role he plays as captain for the Wildcats.
“I definitely learned a lot from previous captains, so that’s helped me out with this role this year,” said Melski. “Kent Wolodka was my captain in Grade 9, and he was one of my big role models and I always looked up to him and still do look up to him.”
Overall, Melski said there’s plenty of excitement around the team and the community about the Blue and White tournament.
“There’s tons of excitement around the tournament and that’s every year,” he said. “Everyone looks forward to it, especially that opening night game with the big crowd. The team is excited, and we can’t wait to get on the ice for it.”
While the team is focused on one game at a time, MacLeod said the club still has overall goals for the tournament.
“Every game is one game at a time, but we do have it in the back of our minds that it’s our home tournament,” he said. “We do want to make a push to win the championship, but it’s one game at a time for now.”
After Thursday’s game, Sydney Academy will continue the round robin on Friday at 11 a.m., against Richmond. The club will conclude the round robin on Saturday at 12 p.m., against Eastern Shore.
The semifinal games are slated for Sunday at 9 a.m. The championship game will be played later in the day at 1 p.m.
Blue and White Challenge schedule:
– Host: Sydney Academy
– Location: Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre, Membertou
– Blue Division: Sydney Academy Wildcats, Riverview Ravens, Richmond Hurricanes and Eastern Shore Coyotes
– White Division: Glace Bay Panthers, Memorial Marauders, Dartmouth Spartans and Millwood Knights
Today:
– 6 p.m. – Memorial vs. Glace Bay
– 8 p.m. – Sydney Academy vs. Riverview
Friday:
– 9 a.m. – Dartmouth vs. Millwood
– 11 a.m. – Richmond vs. Sydney Academy
– 1 p.m. – Riverview vs. Eastern Shore
– 3 p.m. – Glace Bay vs. Millwood
– 5 p.m. – Memorial vs. Dartmouth
– 7 p.m. – Richmond vs. Eastern Shore
Saturday:
– 10 a.m. – Riverview vs. Richmond
– 12 p.m. – Sydney Academy vs. Eastern Shore
– 2 p.m. – Glace Bay vs. Dartmouth
– 4 p.m. – Memorial vs. Millwood
Sunday:
– 9 a.m. – Semifinal Game
– 9 a.m. – Semifinal Game
– 1 p.m. – Championship Game
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