Eagles Return To The Nest To Host Wildcats
The Cape Breton Eagles will play a divisional rival for the final time this season as the club begins a five game home stand. And if prior meetings are any indication, it should come down to the wire as the Moncton Wildcats visit the Cape Breton Eagles.
Three of Moncton’s four visits to Centre 200 were one goal games. Moncton has won six of eight meetings this year in total, while the Eagles have two of three of the games that have gone to overtime. Moncton currently sits seventh in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 23-22-6 (11-12-3 on the road) while the Eagles are tenth in the Eastern Conference at 12-33-6 (4-13-4 at home.)
Tonight will also be a special night for Moncton Wildcat Brooklyn Kalmikov. The former Eagle was drafted by Cape Breton 15th overall in 2017, and spent 2.5 years with the Eagles before being dealt to Victoriaville in the 2019-20 season (he was moved to Moncton earlier this year.) This evening will mark his final QMJHL game at Centre 200.
During his tenure with the Eagles, Kalmikov became the first 16 year old in team history to score a hat trick (a feat that has been matched one since, by Cam Squires earlier this month.) Kalmikov leads the Cats in scoring (60 points in 52 games) and has plenty of support on his line. Wildcats head coach Daniel Lacroix has elected to use his three leading scorers on the same trio, with Yoan Loshing centring a line with Kalmikov on the right and Vincent Labelle on the left.
Moncton’s two other overagers are also fifth year players in the QMJHL. Defenseman Jaxon Bellamy began his career with the Wildcats at 16, was traded to Sherbrooke (and later Bathurst) before returning to Moncton this year during the trading period. Another trade deadline acquisition, Jonathan Lemieux, is between the pipes in Moncton- and he was spectacular in Moncton’s 1-0 win over Charlottetown on Sunday.
For the Eagles, the hope is that a return to home ice will lead to success. While the team failed to pick up any win during the three game road trip over the weekend, the team has a point in half of the games on home ice in the month of March, with wins over Chicoutimi, Moncton, and an overtime loss against Sherbrooke. Despite the recent losses on the road, Rémi Delafontaine stopped 71 of 77 shots in two starts on the road.
Season ticket holders are asked to use their January 4th tickets for tonight’s game. Additional tickets for all Eagles home games can be purchased at https://www.ticketmaster.ca/cape-breton-eagles-tickets/artist/891825. They are also available for purchase in person at the Centre 200 box office and by the phone during box office hours (Mon-Fri, 11AM to 4 PM) at 902-564-2200
