Senior hockey returns to the arenas in eastern Newfoundland tonight with two games scheduled in the Avalon East Senior Hockey League.
The season kicks off at 7:30 p.m. with the Southern Shore Puglisevich Senior Breakers playing host to the Clarenville Ford Caribous at the Ken Williams Memorial Arena. At the Jack Byrne Arena, the St. John’s Senior Caps open their season hosting the Harbour Grace Ocean Enterprises CeeBee Stars. With the Northeast Senior Eagles taking the 2021-2022 season off, the Caps will be calling the Jack Byrne Arena home this season.
In addition to the four teams playing Friday evening the Conception Bay Blues are also back for another season. On Saturday in Harbour Grace, the Blues will see their first action when they visit the CeeBees.
Meanwhile, the Caribous play host to the Breakers in the second half of their home and home series Saturday.
The senior league is returning to the Avalon East brand after a number of years as the East Coast Senior Hockey League. The return honours the long history of the Avalon East Senior Hockey League and the
many Hall of Fame players who played in the league over its illustrious 54 season history.
At the Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador Annual General Meeting in June 2021, a plan was approved to provide certainty around Herder competition that provides a path to the Herder for all senior hockey
teams in the province. The Avalon East champion, representing the only Senior A league in the province, will face the Provincial Senior B champion in Herder competition. The Senior B champion will be allowed
to select strengthening players to ensure a competitive Herder.
The Southern Shore Puglisevich Senior Breakers welcome back former St. John’s Icecap Josh Lunden as head coach. Former Herder Champion goaltender, Mark Yetman, is back between the pipes, with
veteran defensemen Daniel Cadigan and Daniel Dalton leading the way. Up front, the Breakers have a lot of experience led by Team Captain Jeremy Nicholas along with veterans Michael Chafe and Peter
Kavanagh. Supporting the veteran forwards are graduating junior players Kieran O’Driscoll and AJ Doyle.
In looking ahead to the new season General Manager Ian Sullivan says “This is a year of unfinished business for the Breakers who held a record of 17-0-1 heading into the 2020 playoffs before the COVID-
19 pandemic shut down hockey.” Expect the Breakers to be fighting for first place throughout the season.
The St. John’s Senior Caps have a new but familiar face back behind the bench with Scott Bray as head coach. Scott is being assisted by Pat O’Keefe and former head coach Wally Bray. Back between the
pipes is Kyle Downer supported by a strong defensive core lead by Pat O’Keefe Junior and Pat Parfrey. Up front Kyle McGrath is coming off a strong showing at the Growlers training camp and is joined by
senior hockey veterans Terry Ryan and Kyle McGuirk.
According to Team President Seamus O’Keefe, “After a successful 2019/2020 season was cut short due to the COVID pandemic, the Senior Caps enter this year with a sense of unfinished business that they hope to take care of at their new home in the Jack Byrne Arena. The Caps should finish near the top in the standings come playoff time.
The Clarenville Ford Caribous will have former team Captain Dustin Russell back behind the bench bringing a wealth of experience to the team. Competition for the starting goaltender job is stiff with four excellent goalies in camp. Veteran defenseman Justin Pender returns to lead the ‘Bous defence.
