SYDNEY, N.S. — Allison Gilfoy has a good feeling about the new Maritime Major Female Hockey League season.
The Antigonish native, who travels two hours to attend practice and games, will be one of nine veteran players on this year’s Cape Breton Lynx team — formerly known as the MacIntyre Chevy Panthers.
Although the team will see many new faces in its lineup this year, Gilfoy believes all players will buy into the philosophy the club has created over the years — hard work and determination.
“I think all the returning players are looking to win,” said Gilfoy. “I think we should be a really tough team to play against. It’s always been our role in the league.”
The Membertou-based Lynx will open the 2020-21 regular season this weekend with a home-and-home series with the Northern Subway Selects of Pictou County.
Cape Breton and Northern will meet Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre and on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Pictou County Wellness Centre in New Glasgow.
“We’re all excited to get things started,” said Gilfoy. “We’ll be ready to play when we hit the ice this weekend, for sure.”
The franchise, which rebranded as the Lynx in May after owner and coach Sonya Lynk purchased the club, finished the 2019-20 season in fifth place in the seven-team league with a 6-12-6 record.
The club surprised many in the league playoffs when they forced a fifth and deciding game with the Station Six Fire of Halifax in the semifinals, although they lost the fifth game.
“We were the underdog in that series and really all season,” said Gilfoy, who is in her second year with the team. “We worked hard and did the little things right. We know we can compete with anyone if we play hard and that’s what we will do this year.”
Lynk, a former member of the Elmira College women's hockey program, considers her club to be in the rebuilding stages following the loss of graduates Erin Denny, Shann Cox, Molly Baxendale and Stevi Jardine.
“We’re a younger team, but I think we still have some talent and some younger players that have really made big strides over the past year,” said Lynk.
The veteran coach acknowledged the loss of Denny, who finished her under-18 career with 12 goals and 28 points in 21 games for the organization last season.
“It’s a pretty big loss,” said Lynk. “She was the most valuable player in the league last year, but I think one of the great things that Erin brought to the program was her work ethic and a lot of the girls have followed her and looked up to her in that aspect.”
Lynk said the team’s strength will be defence.
“I think our backend is going to be the bread and butter of our team,” she said. “We will be a tough team to play against defensively, there’s no question about it.”
Along with returning blue-liners Lauren Barrett, Jessica MacLean and Lelia Ludyka, the team received a major boost with the addition of Maddy Corbett, who last season played with the Kingston Jr. Ice Wolves of the Provincial Women’s Hockey League in Ontario.
“It’s absolutely huge for our program,” said Lynk, noting the decision for Corbett to play at home was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s great for her to come home and graduate with her friends and family here and play one more year with the program, but in terms of an impact player, it’s absolutely huge.”
Gilfoy, who played with Corbett in the past, said the Sydney native brings more to the table than just her strong defensive game.
“She will really bring us up in the dressing room and that’s an important part of any team,” said the 16-year-old Gilfoy. “She’s a great candidate for us and I’m really looking forward to playing with her again.”
FLASHBACK
2019-20 Cape Breton Lynx (formerly known as the MacIntyre Chevy Panthers)
- Record: 6-12-6 – 18 Points
- Standings: Fifth in the seven-team Nova Scotia Female Midget ‘AAA’ Hockey League
- Goals For: 50
- Goals Against: 76
Lynk confirmed Corbett, who’s committed to Saint Mary’s University for 2021, will be in the team’s lineup this weekend after completing her 14-day isolation period.
This year’s league will feature eight teams including four from both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Due to COVID-19, teams will only play within their province for the first half of the season. The league hopes for intra-provincial play to begin in the new year.
Prior to the regular season, and part of the team selection process, the Lynx played three exhibition games. The team lost 6-0 and 4-0 to the Northern Subway Selects and 2-1 to King’s-Edgehill School of Windsor.
Lynk believes the weekend games will be challenging but has faith in the team’s ability.
“I don’t think we’ve beaten them (Pictou County) in over a year,” said Lynk. “They lost very few players from last year, so they will be very strong again. I think we’re a real gritty team, so I think it will be good matches for sure.”
Following this weekend's games, the Lynx will return to action on Oct. 24 and Oct. 25 when they host the Bussey Auto Brokers Penguins of Dartmouth at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre.
2020-21 CAPE BRETON LYNX ROSTER
NAME POSITION HOMETOWN
Emma Swansburg Goaltender Shelburne
Anna MacNeil Goaltender NA
Maddy Corbett Defenceman Sydney
Jessica MacLean Defenceman Iona
Lauren Barrett Defenceman Glace Bay
Lelia Ludyka Defenceman Glace Bay
Mae MacEachern Defenceman NA
Morgan O'Keefe Defenceman NA
Morgan Bates Forward New Waterford
Abby Rogers Forward Albert Bridge
Allison Gilfoy Forward Antigonish
Orianna MacNeil Forward NA
Katie MacNeil Forward NA
Julia MacKinnon Forward NA
Marley Hiscock Forward Glace Bay
Claire LeBlanc Forward NA
Nadia Kowal Forward NA
Kameryn Lahey Forward NA
Maira Pino Forward NA
Team Staff
Sonya Lynk - Head coach
Glenn Cox - Assistant coach
Philip O'Neill - Assistant coach
Jess MacDermid - Trainer
Kevin Gilfoy - Manager
Allanna MacIsaac - Manager
Shea Barrett - Safety rep
Terri Lynn Rogers - Safety rep
