Junior hockey fans are passionate about the team, and passionate about the product. For as much as going to the rink is about cheering your team the same way the fan would in an NHL city, the lifeblood of junior is seeing the stars of tomorrow in your small city, in the heart of the sport in different arenas around the country.

Every team and every fan wants to say they had the star player, they knew that player when… before the world knew. But every year dozens of talented players, some even superstars at the junior level, have careers come and go without a sniff of the top professional ranks. To have a player actually drafted in the NHL? It happens, and it’s always exciting. To have a player picked into the first round. Those prospects are entering more rarified air.

What are the odds of seeing a player your team go NUMBER ONE in the NHL draft?

Through 20 years of Cape Breton being in the QMJHL, thirteen of twenty first overall NHL selections were drafted from the Canadian Hockey League- 65%. But the CHL is a rather large entity, holding three leagues of its own and 60 member clubs. If you accept a 65% chance of a top pick coming from the CHL, and given each 60 member teams an equal chance of having a player chosen at #1 into the NHL… the odds of the top pick coming from your CHL team in a given year are just barely over 1%.

For the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, it only took six seasons. Thanks to a place two provinces away and a drive over 1400 kilometres away. Hockey fans in Sydney and surrounding areas could never have guessed that the city of Sorel, Québec would be the city of destiny- all beginning in 1969, of 1984, depending on how you want to look at it.

The Sorel Éperviers were one of the eleven founding members of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 1969, having captured the Quebec Junior Hockey League championship the prior spring. Despite seeing stars like Raymond Bourque, Serge Bernier, Steve Kasper, Pierre Larouche, and Pierre Mondou the Éperviers could not capture a title and the club would leave Sorel after twelve seasons (some of which was also spent in Verdun).

By 1997, this franchise had landed in Cape Breton, renamed the Screaming Eagles. The Eagles, who had previously been Granby Prédateurs, inherited a team that had made significant moves in a failed attempt to repeat as Memorial Cup champions. (The Prédateurs broke a 25 year drought for the Québec junior clubs when they won the national crown in 1996.)

As a result of back to back attempted runs, there wasn’t much left in the cupboard. A few key players would excite the fans at Centre 200, though. But while the Eagles inherited offensive threats like Daniel Payette, Ryan Walsh and Randy Copley, the franchise would become known for its goaltending.

While Cape Breton underwent heavy rebuilding in its infancy, there was always a chance that a stud goaltender could steal them a game. First it was Dany Lavoie- in 1997-98 fans would often hear the strains of Salt N Pepa’s “What A Man” when their 19 year old keeper would make a stellar save. He was certainly tested- facing 40 or more shots sixteen times just three months into that inaugural QMJHL campaign in Sydney.

Lavoie was moved out in his second season to accelerate the reconstruction. His replacement was an 18 year old by the name of David St-Germain. There must have been something special in the blue paint of the crease at Centre 200 because St-Germain’s save percentage jumped from 858 with Val-d’Or to 903 in 1998-99. On February 7th, 1999, he would turn in perhaps the most sensational goaltending performance at any level in the building’s history when he stopped 51 shots as the Eagles shut out the eventual President’s Cup winners, Bathurst.

Like Lavoie before him, St-Germain was moved the next year to build for the future. An 18 year old Dany Dallaire would come in his place. Just like St-Germain, his numbers went up when coming to the Eagles. His save percentage went from 870 in Drummondville to 905 in Cape Breton, and he was in goal for all six games when his club went on a then team record winning streak.

Well after Dallaire was gone, after just a half season in Cape Breton, there would be other great netminders in Centre 200 creases. Martin Houle was spectacular, emerging from a backup goaltender to a netminder that would be named to the second CHL all-star team in the 2003-04, and the QMJHL’s top defensive player in 2004-05.

After Houle, the Eagles went to the Czech Republic to find Ondřej Pavelec. New country to recruit from, but same great results. Pavelec was awarded as the top rookie goaltender in the CHL, and was a back to back first team all-star in the QMJHL.

And then the torch was handed to Olivier Roy. It wasn’t expected to be his at just 16, but it was then he was yet another Eagle named to the CHL’s all rookie team. And through three seasons in Cape Breton, he would collect more wins than anyone in team history, dating back to the Sorel days.

Houle, Pavelec, and Roy, were all drafted into the National Hockey League. (In Pavelec’s case, he was chosen by the Atlanta Thrashers before coming to Cape Breton). Lavoie, St-Germain, and Dallaire were not. While the difference is apparent- the latter three mentioned netminders were later bloomers who became junior stars just as veterans- there can be no doubt the spotlight on the net in Cape Breton was shone after the arrival of Marc-André Fleury.

Fleury was born in Sorel on November 28th, 1984. At the time he was born, the franchise that used to share his hometown was now in Granby, and employing a goaltender by the name of Patrick Roy. His parents Andre and France could not have known that just like Roy, Fleury would one day raise the Stanley Cup.

A superstar to be in Cape Breton, Fleury actually started as a forward before converting to goal. His skill was apparent in midget, even though his late birthday meant he was often playing against competition that was older. He was a first round pick into the QMJHL. Although in junior, he was picked at the bottom of the first round- at pick 16, with a draft selection acquired via trade.

Prior to Fleury’s rookie year in 2000-01, then 17 year old Daniel Boisclair had split duties with Dallaire. Cape Breton coach and general manager was impressed enough with his rookie Fleury, and the now 18 year old Boisclair, that Dallaire was moved out. While Boisclair would get more starts throughout that season, it would be the first year tender getting the call come playoff time.

One legendary story told by Vincent imparts the character of #29 in goal. During one game in which Fleury was pulled after allowing goals on consecutive shots, the Eagles bench boss instructed his rookie tender to track all shots by the opposing team. When Vincent looked at the sheet, he didn’t find any data, but just a quote- “I am not a statistician. I am a goaltender. Marc-Andre Fleury” with the goaltender’s signature.

While Vincent was angry with his netminder’s refusal to abide by instruction, it made him aware that the 16 year old had a special mindset for the game of hockey. While Fleury wasn’t successful in holding his starting position through the playoffs, his pure skill was evident through his first campaign. Back when the province was known as a goaltending factory, Cape Breton’s goaltender was between the pipes for Team Québec at the World Under 17s in a town not far from Fleury’s junior home, New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.

In 2001-02, when Cape Breton was poised to take a shot at the championship, Fleury and Boisclair were sharing the crease to start the season. On a team loaded with veterans, it was the 17 year old who was counted on to guide the way (Boisclair was dealt to Victoriaville) and for good reason. Fleury tied for the league lead in save percentage, at 915- ironically knotted with the former Eagle Dallaire, who was now in Halifax. The two would clash in a memorable post-season battle when Fleury’s Cape Breton squad knocked out Dallaire’s Halifax team in an emotional series.

Playoff success obviously draws attention from the the pro scouts, but perhaps more impressive was what “Flower” would do with a rebuilding side the following year. Due to the late birthday the Sorel native would have a third year in the QMJHL to showcase his skills to NHL teams. With nine players from departing from Cape Breton, including 100 point man Dominic Noel and second team all-star defenseman Mathieu Dumas, Fleury would face a lot of shots.

Through November of his 18 year old season, Fleury posted a .500 record on a very young Eagles team that would turn over at such a quick rate that 42 players would wear the uniform that season. In more than half of those starts the Cape Breton keeper would face 40 or more shots.

Dealing with the heavy workload impressed the faces of those at Hockey Canada and they decided Fleury would wear the maple leaf at the World Juniors. It would be an unique situation, with Canada’s home games being played at the Halifax Metro Centre, usually enemy territory for a goaltender who lives in Sydney. And play the Eagles goaltender would- not just as Canada’s starter, but the best goaltender in the tournament.

Canada rolled through the round robin 4-0, topping the talented Finns 5-3 to conclude the “regular season” portion of the tournament on New Year’s Eve. Fleury was spectacular, and won over the fans of the city whose team he had eliminated eight months prior. As the chants of “Fleury” rained through the Metro Centre, TSN’s Gord Miller exclaimed, “A Cape Breton goaltender getting his name chanted in Halifax, who’d ever thought we’d see the day?”

Fans were chanting his name at the Sydney Airport, too, when he returned from the tournament. Canada didn’t capture gold, but the Eagles goaltender was named MVP. After a firesale at Christmas time that included the infamous “boomerang trade” with Halifax, Cape Breton was further depleted. But their star goaltender continued to shine, and named to the CHL’s third all star team in his draft year.

2003 was one of the deepest drafts in NHL history. Every single player chosen in the opening round went on to play in the National Hockey League. 27 of the 30 players have appeared in at least 200 games. Stars such as Eric Staal, Jeff Carter, Brent Seabrook, Zach Parise, Ryan Getzlaf, Brent Burns, Ryan Kelser, Mike Richards, and Corey Perry.

But the Pittsburgh Penguins coveted Marc-André Fleury above them all. For just the second time in NHL history a goaltender was chosen #1 in the NHL draft. And it’s doubtful anyone in Pittsburgh was regretting that selection just six years later, when the former Screaming Eagle came across to stop Nicklas Lidstrom in the final second of game 7 of the Stanley Cup final.

One year prior, on January 25th, 2008, his number was retired at Centre 200, the only player to have been bestowed that honour by the Screaming Eagles. Forever a Stanley Cup champion and forever #1 in the NHL draft, Marc-André Fleury is forever #29 in Cape Breton.

To see the Penguins select Marc-André Fleury at #1, click the video below