SYDNEY, N.S. — The Cape Breton Eagles will conclude the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League preseason this weekend with a two-game series with the Saint John Sea Dogs at Centre 200.
The Eagles (1-2-0-1) will open the set with the Sea Dogs (2-2-0-0) on Friday at 7 p.m. The two teams will also meet on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Sydney venue.
Cape Breton officially released its 2020-21 roster last week and enters Friday's game coming off a 7-4 victory over the Moncton Wildcats at the Avenir Centre in Moncton on Sunday.
As for the Sea Dogs, their full roster for the season has yet to be announced. They picked up a 6-3 victory over the Halifax Mooseheads on Sunday at TD Station in Saint John.
Shawn Element leads the offense for the Eagles in the preseason after recording a hat trick in his lone contest, to date, last weekend. Meanwhile, rookie Davis Cooper has two goals and three points in four games, and defenseman François-James Buteau has three assists in four contests.
The Sea Dogs are led by defenseman Charlie DesRoches with four goals and six points in three games, while former Eagle first-round draft pick Alex Drover has a goal and six points in four games. Peter Reynolds, an eligible prospect for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, has two goals and four points in four games.
William Grimard and Nicolas Ruccia will lockdown the goaltending duties for the Eagles. Grimard, who will be the team's No. 1 netminder this season, has the team's lone win in the preseason, while Ruccia has dropped both his games.
Veterans Carmine-Anthony Pagliarulo and Noah Patenaude are anticipated to be the goaltenders for the Sea Dogs this week as newly acquired Creed Jones will finish his 14-day isolation period this weekend.
Cape Breton is sixth in the Maritimes Division on the power play (6.7 per cent) in the preseason and is second in the division on the penalty kill (84.6 per cent). As for the Sea Dogs, they're second in the division on the power play (30.8 per cent) and fifth on the penalty kill (66.7 per cent).
The final two preseason games will be open to the general public. Notable rules include wearing a mask for the entire game, no concessions, and fans will be asked to go directly to their seat and only vacate it when a washroom break is needed.
Following the weekend games, Cape Breton will open the regular season on Oct. 2 when they host the Halifax Mooseheads at 7 p.m. at Centre 200.
