While the opening face-off of the 2023-24 Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League Regular Season is still 11 days away, the exhibition season for all clubs opened in Bridgewater at the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre Saturday night with the Lumberjacks winning 6-1 over the Valley Maple Leafs. Scoring for the Lumberjacks who moved their franchise from Liverpool earlier this summer were Alec Howie who also picked up an assist, Daniel LeBlanc, Mitchell MacIntosh, Zane Scott, John Shubaly and Rainnie MacKinnon. C. Brown was the lone Valley Maple Leaf goal scorer who trailed 2-0 and 4-0 after the opening two periods before the teams traded goals in the third period. The Lumberjacks outshot Leafs 32-22. With ten more exhibition games to play before the regular season opens, here are the games already confirmed as fans may want to come out and see how a hockey team is developed in the pre-season.
Thursday, Sept 7/23 - 7:30 p.m.
Sackville Blazers at the Valley Maple Leafs 7:30 in Windsor
Friday Sept 8/23
Brookfield at Capstone Colts in Shearwater - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday Sept 9/23 - 7:30 p.m
Port Hawkesbury at Membertou— 7:30 p.m.
Sunday Sept 10/23 -
Brookfield at Cumberland — 1:00 p.m. in Springhill
East Hants at South Shore in Bridgewater 6:00 p.m.
Eskasoni at Pot Hawkesbury — 7:30 p.m.
Membertou at Antigonish — 8:00 p.m.
Mon Sept 11/23
Antigonish at East Hants - 8: 15 p.m.
Valley at Sackville — 7:30 p.m.
Brookfield at Pictou — 8:00 p.m. at Pictou County Wellness Centre - Sobey’s Arena
Tuesday, Sept 12/23
Pictou at Cumberland County - 7:30 p.m.
The exhibition season concludes Tuesday Sept 12 and Coaches will have had a chance to see who they want in they starting line-ups to open the 23-24 NSJHL Regular Season on Friday Sept 15. There are 4 games on opening night and they are:
Friday Sept 15/23
Valley at Cumberland 7:30 p.m.
South Shore at Port Hawkesbury 7:30 p.m.
Sackville at East Hants 7:30 p.m.
Brookfield at Capstone in Shearwater 7:30 p.m.
When you look at the final standings of the 22-23 NSJHL Season and how narrowly teams either missed the playoffs or missed a higher position due to a point or two, you will not have to tell players and coaches, how vital each of their 32 games to be played this year will be essential in their playoff chase whether that is opening night or their final regular season game of the season.
GrayJay Sports