Young players impress, earn spots on Cape Breton Eagles roster

SYDNEY, N.S. — When the Cape Breton Eagles took to the ice earlier this month, the organization expected training camp to be competitive.

With 18 veterans returning players — at the time — and a number of rookie players coming in from previous drafts, there were only so many spots available.

The players didn’t disappoint, providing one of the club’s most competitive camps in recent years. Some players impressed management.

Forwards David Doucet and Connor Trenholm, as well as defenceman Jérémy Langlois, became part of the 2019-20 roster after the 16-years-olds signed with the team last week.

Along with stellar puck movement and poise, Langlois proved his offensive ability by posting five assists in two preseason games, while Doucet and Trenholm earned their way onto the roster with continuous hard work throughout the camp.

“Langlois is going to be a bluechipper in our league,” said Eagles general manager Jacques Carrière of the team’s first-round draft pick in June.

“He came in and made a very good steady case for himself and kept on improving the whole week and played stellar in the preseason games for us, so I think he’s going to be a player the fans are going to enjoy.”

Carrière spoke highly of Doucet, a second-round draft pick, and Trenholm, a third-round selection, both at the QMJHL Entry Draft in June.

“They’re both hard workers and they’re going to be part of our leadership group — not this year because they’re too young, but moving forward and not too long they will be leaders on the team.”

On Monday, Cape Breton confirmed the 22 players who will be on the team’s opening night roster on Sept. 20 in Bathurst, N.B. Among those players are 17-year-old defenceman Alex Falardeau and Czech Republic import Ivan Ivan.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old defenceman Logan Kelly-Murphy, a free agent invite, earned his way on the opening night roster after playing last season with the Campbellton Tigers of the Maritime Junior Hockey League.

“He made a strong case for himself and proved that it’s never over if you don’t get drafted,” said Carrière.

“It was obvious that he worked hard over the summer to get ready for his major junior camp — he did the right things and trained the right way and proved that he could play major junior.”

Although not making the opening night roster, defencemen Matthew Lint (17) and Zach Welsh (16), as well as goaltenders Kenzie MacPhail (16) and Jack Cashen (16), remain in camp.

According to QMJHL rules, a team is allowed to carry three 16-year-old players. However, a team can have more than three 16-years-olds in their lineup, if requested and approved by the league.

Although Welsh is close to being able to play in the QMJHL, Carrière isn’t anticipating the club having more than three 16-year-olds on the roster.

“Welsh on the back end is not too far from having a ‘Q’ spot, so it bodes well for us as far as what our future looks like,” said Carrière.

With the progression of Doucet and Trenholm, the Eagles were forced to move a veteran forward to make room for the young players.

In the end, the team traded 19-year-old forward Isiah Campbell on Monday to the Drummondville Voltigeurs for 17-year-old forward Adam Bowness.

“It was pretty much a numbers game for us,” said Carrière. “We have a pretty good offence and our group of top forwards are pretty strong — it wasn’t fair for us to ask Isiah to play a 13th or 14th forward role.”

YOUNG EAGLES

Players 17-and-under named to the Cape Breton Eagles opening night roster:

Forward - Ivan Ivan (17)
Forward – David Doucet (16)
Forward – Connor Trenholm (16)
Defenceman - Jérémy Langlois (16)
Defenceman – Alex Falardeau (17)

The team also traded 16-year-old prospect Milo Roelens to the Gatineau Olmypiques for a third-round pick in 2020, originally owned by Victoriaville, a third-round pick in 2021, and 18-year-old forward Alexandre Pellerin.

Roelens' desire to play in the QMJHL this season was part of the reason for the trade, said Carrière.

“With the kind of team that we’re going to have, we didn’t feel comfortable to play a fourth 16-year-old, so we decided to cut him,” said Carrière, noting Roelens’ brother, Metis, plays for the Olympiques.

“Gatineau displayed a very good interest and the price they wanted to pay for him was something we couldn’t let pass — we got our value back and we added another third-round pick, which we can use for the future.”

The club also traded 18-year-old forward Mikael Martel to the Rimouski Océanic for a fifth-round pick in 2021, which was originally owned by Saint John.

Martel reported to Cape Breton’s training camp in 2018, however did not attend this year’s camp. Schooling was the reason for the trade.

“He didn’t come to his second camp because he was in the police foundation program,” said Carrière, noting there are only three colleges that offer the program in Quebec, one being in Rimouski.

“He wanted to continue in police foundation and expressed interest to come back into the league. Rimouski called and wanted him on a camp loan and we let him go and he made the team.”

Carrière confirmed both Pellerin and Bowness will not be added to the team’s training camp roster. Pellerin will play with Fredericton in the Maritime Junior Hockey League, while Bowness will suit up for Campbellton.

Both players are expected to be signed by the team as affiliate players. They’re expected to be in the Eagles lineup when the club plays the Saint John Sea Dogs in preseason action on Sept. 14 in Fredericton, N.B.

In other team news, Carrière said he spoke with injured defenceman Antoine Crête-Belzile this week. The 20-year-old hasn’t been on the ice since suffering a concussion in the playoffs against Charlottetown last season.

“He’s still showing some concussion signs, so he’s at home still resting under medical care,” he said. “I wish I could tell you right now if he’s going to return in September, October or November, but we don’t know at this time.”

Crête-Belzile has not been signed to a player card, however he remains on Cape Breton’s protected list.

The team will have until Jan. 10, 2020, to decide whether or not he will be added to the roster. The team must submit its final roster to Hockey Canada on that date.

Carrière also confirmed 18-year-old forward Aaron Brown attended the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies camp earlier this month on loan from the team.

The Halifax native, who was an 11th-round pick in 2017, was unsuccessful in making the Huskies and will not be added to the Eagles training camp roster.

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