Opening Weekend Preview | NSJHL

Opening Weekend Preview

Posted on September 10, 2025

By NSJHL Staff

The 2025-2026 Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League Season will open on four fronts Friday night. It is actually hard to believe that after having May, June and July to cool their heels, teams opened training camps in August in preparation of Friday’s season openers. The following is a preview of this weekend’s action across Nova Scotia.

South Shore at East Hants — 7:30 in Lantz, Friday

What more can you say about this fierce rivalry? Despite finishing first the past two seasons, the Penguins have simply hit a roadblock when it came to the Lumberjacks in the opening round of the playoffs. It was two years ago in 23-24, coming off a dynamite regular season, the Penguins went up 3-0 on the Lumberjacks in the opening round only to lose four consecutive games and be eliminated in the first round.

The Lumberjacks also eliminated the Pens in the opening round of the 24-25 playoffs, so it goes without saying the Penguins will be chomping at the bit when it comes to face-off time at 7:30 in Lantz Friday evening.

As always teams make changes to their line-ups, which the Pens and Lumberjacks have both done but one surprise for the Lumberjacks was their acquisition of high-scorer Owen McDermid from the newly named Windsor Oxen, formerly the Valley Maple Leafs. The Lumberjacks will also have returning players Brandon Rideout and Cohen Westlake, and Owen Cleary while in nets, playing his over-age season will be Keegan Greencorn, who has been literally outstanding on more occasions than you can count.

As for the Penguins, they will have second-year Goaltender Fintan Boudreau returning, along with Logan Durno, Christopher Caissie, and Defenseman Noah Comeau. The game promises everything for a season opener Friday night, 7:30 in Lantz, and the Penguins would appreciate an excellent crowd to cheer them on against the Lumberjacks.

Pictou at Antigonish

The Bulldogs have been defending Atlantic Champions for the past three consecutive years and no doubt will be back for another good run this season. The Pictou County Scotians are expected to be more competitive this season as well, although they battled the Bulldogs for first place in the Rowe Division all last season. The Bulldogs will have veteran forwards Zachary Lorette, Daniel Chaisson, Owen Forsythe and Tully Grant back in uniform while Owen Juurlink will play a strong defence. As for the Scotians, the League’s Leading Scorer Nate Supryka in 23-24 will be back after an injury-ogled season and the League’s leading scorer from last season, Lane Lochead, is rearing to go. The Scotians will also have All-Star Goaltender Eli James returning, two number one defensemen in Carter Hood and Drew MacKinnon and two newcomers whom Chris Hatchard thinks a lot of in Chris Jordan and Sam Mattison. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Friday in Antigonish.

Windsor Oxen at Capstone Colts

The Oxen have been renamed from the former Valley Maple Leafs and are seeking to bring Junior Hockey back to its heyday in Windsor. Prior to that, however, they open on the road with a pair of games before returning home Friday, Sept 28th. The Oxen will go up against the defending Nova Scotia Junior Champions, the Colts, in a 7:30 start at the C.F.B. Shearwater Forum. The Colts have six key players back in their line-up but fans will also notice a number of new faces. The veterans returning are offensive stars Liam Andrews and Finn Merritt, who tied the league in goals scored in 24-25. Cooper Puma is also returning as are forwards Cody Carson and Jack Dulong. The Colts will look almost brand new in nets, bringing four to camp and on defence, with the exception of stalwart Camden MacKenzie from the 24-25 Championship Team.

As for the Oxen who recently dealt away offensive star Owen McDermid, they will have back Jacob Gerhardt and Wilson Davison, and Nicholas Vidito up front with Jake and Kayden Kuryluk back on defence. Graydon Mole returns to the nets, and if he provides the Oxen with the play he offered the Maple Leafs in 24-25, goaltending should not be an issue for the Oxen.

Eskasoni at Port Hawkesbury

The Eskasoni Jr. Eagles and Port Hawkesbury Strait Pirates will square off to complete the opening night slate of games. These two clubs have battled for the playoffs in the six Rowe Division over the past number of years. The Pirates have always been able to make it, but Eskasoni has made it only one year since they entered as an expansion franchise in 2018-2019.

Eskasoni is expected to have a number if new players in their line-up with a strong showing at training camp, but ones you can expect back who play strongly fr the Jr. Eagles in 24-25 are forwards Geizer Keagan and Kent Woloddka and defensemen Arlen Denny and Aidan Stanwick. The Jr. Eagles seemed to be busy recruiting players in the off-season, and time will tell as to what kind of team they can jell into when they hit the ice in the Strait.

As for the Strait Pirates, they have done a summer of rebuilding as well. Two strong forwards from up front last season are returning in Jesse Gllis and Cadyn Power, while Liam Trenholm will be back to play an integral role on defence.

The remaining three games to round out the opening weekend of regular season play for 25-26 will feature the Jr. Miners at home against the Strait Saturday night, before the Jr. Miners play Eskasoni Sunday and Brookfield opens their season in Pictou.

Opening Weekend Preview

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