Plenty of Cape Breton sports highlights this week

Updates from Richmond County, Dubois makes donation, Gillis wins award and more

Welcome to another edition of Sports Chat.

With COVID-19 cases drastically decreasing and numbers remaining fairly low over the past two weeks, all signs are pointing to the potential of live sports this summer – aside from golf – which is welcome news to everyone.

There’s lots of Cape Breton-related sports highlights to get to this week. Let’s go.

RENOVATIONS IN PETIT-DE-GRAT

We start this week in Richmond County where an important community baseball field will undergo renovation improvements.

Renovations are scheduled to take place at Petit-de-grat Ball Field, a venue with a beautiful backdrop of Petitde-grat Harbour. The renovations will include French drains, a new home plate area, as well as work to the pitcher’s mound.

Along with minor baseball, the field is also used by the Petit-de-grat Red Caps, Isle Madame Mariners, and Little Anse Hawks in the Richmond Amateur Baseball Association.

The field is well-used by members of the Richmond County community and to see investment in the field is great news for all who use the field.

The renovations are expected to be completed sometime this month. The cost of the work was not publicly announced at press time.

HOPEFUL FOR BASEBALL SEASON

Staying in Richmond County, organizers of the Richmond Amateur Baseball Association (RABA) are hopeful to have a season this summer.

Like many leagues last year, the RABA was forced to cancel the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but with light at the end of the tunnel, the association anticipates a season.

If all goes as planned, and health officials give permission, the league could begin the July 23-25 weekend.

According to reports, teams would played two exhibition games and 12 regular season games with league play extended into September. A year-end weekend tournament is expected to decide a league champion.

The 2021 season is expected to feature teams in St. Peter’s, Port Hawkesbury, Petit-degrat, Little Anse, and Isle Madame. Inverness made the decision to leave the league and have not provided any intention to be reinstated this year.

Here’s hoping the players can get back on the field sooner rather than later for competition. I think everyone needs it after the past 14 months and this pandemic.

MARCHAND TO THE HALL OF FAME?

We can’t leave Richmond County this week without mentioning the efforts of community members in Arichat and Petit-de-grat who are working tirelessly to get the late Barry Marchand into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame (NSSHF).

Marchand, a longtime baseball player, coach, teacher and volunteer, died on April 25 at his home in Petit-de-grat. He was 71.

Marchand, originally from Louisdale, is considered by many to be one of the greatest athletes from the Richmond County area, but was also known for his volunteer work at the Petit-de-grat Ball Field.

Gerry Sampson of Arichat has been working for more than a year on a submission for the NSSHF in an attempt to have Marchand inducted.

As of now, Sampson and community members are waiting word on whether Marchand will be inducted.

At the end of the day, even if Marchand isn’t inducted, his legacy will always be remembered in Richmond County and that trumps all.

CAPE BRETON CONNECTIONS IN FRASER VALLEY

Turning to the court, a pair of Cape Breton connections will continue their professional basketball careers in British Columbia this season.

Former Cape Breton Highlanders guard Jamal Reynolds as well as former Cape Breton Capers forward Shaquille Keith have both signed with the Fraser Valley Bandits of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL).

Reynolds played the past two seasons with the Guelph Nighthawks of the CEBL and was a key member of the Ontario-based team in 2019, finishing in the top five in several statistical categories including points per game (16.7).

Keith was part of the Ottawa Blackjacks in the 2020 CEBL Summer Series and averaged 10.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists on 51.4 per cent from the field.

The CEBL received some positive news on Thursday when the league’s retun-toplay document was approved by public health officials in Alberta, B.C., Ontario and Saskatchewan, meaning the league will start on time on June 24.

DUBOIS’ GENEROUIS DONATION

Switching to hockey, a former Cape Breton Screaming Eagle recently made a generous donation in his home province of Quebec.

Winnipeg Jets star Pierreluc Dubois, who played twoand-a-half seasons in Sydney, donated $5,000 to École Secondaire Fernand-lefebvre school in Sorel-tracey, Que.

Meanwhile, the Gervaistalbot Foundation, created by former Nhlers Maxime Talbot and Bruno Gervais, also donated $5,000 to the school, bringing the total to $10,000.

The funds will be used over the next few months to purchase clothes and fodd for needy students.

Kudos to Dubois, Talbot and Gervais on the donation. It’s nice to see former and current Nhlers giving back to the communities who’ve supported them over the years in their hockey careers.

THIBIDEAU TO QUEBEC

Jumping back to the field, Sydney Sooners fans won’t have to worry about Chris Thibideau’s bat in the Dartmouth Moosehead Dry lineup this season – if there’s a league at all.

Thibideau recently joined the Quebec Capitales of the Frontier Independent Pro League, which is based out of Illinois, for 2021.

In 2018 and 2019, Thibideau was the Nova Scotia Senior Baseball League most valuable player and an all-star shortstop both seasons.

Thibideau, a Dartmouth product, was a 2013 draft pick of the San Diego Padres. He never played a game with the team.

Best of luck in Quebec, Chris.

DUMONT IN SHAWINIGAN?

Staying in Quebec, but turning to hockey, a former Cape Breton Screaming Eagles head coach has reportedly been interviewed for another Quebec Major Junior Hockey League job.

According to reports out of Shawinigan, Marc-andre Dumont has been interviewed for the Cataractes’ head coach position, which was left vacant after team notified former Eagle head coach Ron Choules they woudn’t be bringing him back for 2021-22.

Dumont, who was like by some and disliked by others during his time in Sydney, spent seven seasons as the Eagles’ head coach and general manager, but was never able to get the team past the second-round of the playoffs.

Other candidates reportedly interviewed for the job include Eric Belanger and Gordie Dwyer.

Ironically, if Dumont is the successful candidate, it would be the second time he replaced Choules behind the bench. He took over as the Eagles head coach and GM in December 2012 from Choules, who had only spent a season-and-a-half in Sydney.

The drama may be real.

GILLIS WINS AWARD

Turning our attention back to Nova Scotia, a Cape Breton hockey player recently received a team award for his efforts during the 2020-21 Maritime Junior Hockey League season.

Forward Sam Gillis of Sydney was named the Yarmouth Mariners’ fan’s choice award winner during the club’s virtual award ceremony recently.

In 34 games last season, Gillis had 21 goals and 32 points in 34 games. He also recorded two goals and seven points in five playoff games, before the remainder of the playoffs were ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Congratulations, Sam, and best of luck with offseason training.

ALL-STAR HONOURS IN ENGLAND

Speaking of awards, a former Cape Breton Screaming Eagle defenceman was recently named to a pair all-star teams following the completion of the 2021 Elite Series in the Elite Ice Hockey League.

Jérémy Beaudry was named to the fan and media all-star teams recently following his Sheffield Steelers championship loss to the Nottingham Panthers late last month.

The 27-year-old, who played one season with the Eagles in 2013-14, appeared in 15 games with the Steelers in the series, posting six goals and 13 points.

Earlier this week, Beaudry signed with HK Spisska Nova Ves in Slovakia for the 202122 season. It’s unknown if the Steelers even offered to bring him back next season – they’d be foolish not to have at least tried.

Congrats, Jérémy.

EAGLES PROSPECT TRADED

Back in Atlantic Canada, a Cape Breton Eagle prospect has been traded in the Maritime Junior Hockey League.

Alex Cormier, a 10thround pick of the Eagles in 2019, was traded from the Grand Falls Rapids to the Amherst Ramblers for a conditional eighth-round pick, originally belonging to South Shore, in 2022.

In eight games with the Rapids last season, the Dieppe, N.B., product had two goals and two penalty minutes.

Cormier was originally a first-round pick, No. 9 overall, by the Campbellton Tigers at the 2019 MHL Entry Draft.

FORMER EAGLE PROSPECT HEADING TO COLLEGE

In other Eagles-related news, a former draft pick has decided to continue his hockey career at the college level next season.

Defenceman Guillaume Nadeau has committed to the Champlain St. Lawrence Lions of the Quebec Collegiate Hockey League for 2021-22.

Nadeau, an eighth-round draft pick of the Eagles in 2019, was traded to the Victoriaville Tigres last September for defenceman Michael Mcquaid, who played eight games with Cape Breton last season as an affiliate player.

The 17-year-old Nadeau appeared in 42 games with the Séminaire St-françois Blizzard of the Quebec Under-18 ‘AAA’ Hockey League, posting five goals and 20 points in 2019-20.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020-21 under-18 ‘AAA’ season in Quebec.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

As some of you may recall, last month, the Cape Breton Post ran a weeklong series on the Cape Breton Oilers leading up to the 25th anniversary of the team leaving Sydney for Hamilton.

As part of the series, the Post provided readers with an update as to where some of the players are today in the hockey community and one player not mentioned — because we didn’t know where he was — was Daryl Reaugh.

After the story ran, reader John Noseworthy told us Mr. Reaugh, who played with the Oilers during the 1988-89 season, is currently a colour commentator for the Dallas Stars in Texas.

Reaugh works the games with Josh Bogorad on Fox Sports Southwest. Of course, the Stars are not currently playing, but be sure to watch for the former Oiler on broadcasts next season.

Thanks for the tip, John.

REMEMBERING THE MINERS

Finally this week, I wanted to take a section of this column to remember all the Cape Breton miners for their sacrifice and commitment to their families when local mines were in operation.

Friday was Miners Memorial Day, otherwise known as Davis Day in memory of the late William Davis, who was deliberately shot by a police officer while protesting for Miners rights and their families in New Waterford on June 11, 1925.

It’s unfortunate to hear some businesses in coal mining towns elected to keep their doors open entirely on Friday, instead of closing to mark the day. Some, as always, closed for the morning, or an hour at 11 a.m., to remember the sacrifices made.

As someone who grew up in a coal mining town and have family members who worked in the mines, some may have forgotten the importance of the day, but William Davis and Davis Day will never be forgotten in this column.

My thoughts are with miners and mining families across Cape Breton and Nova Scotia.

Have a note of interest you would like to see appear in this weekly column? Send it to Jeremy at jeremy.fraser@cbpost.com along with a name and phone number for contact purposes.