Glace Bay Minor Hockey is saddened to learn of the passing of local hockey icon, Blair Joseph.

Blair and the Joseph family have had a significant influence on the local, national and international hockey scene for decades.

He was a great player and coach, an all-round nice guy possessing a terrific sense of humor and was always there for speaking engagements and community functions.

He will be missed.

Our deepest condolences go out to the Joseph family and many friends. Rest In Peace Bearcat.

Sandy MacInnis dropped in to the GBMH Office this afternoon to pick up his BIG winnings from our Final Draw of the Season!!! 

Congrats Sandy!!

Congratulations to the Antigonish Bulldogs who captured with Nova Scotia U15 AA Provincial Title with a 1-0 overtime win over Cole Harbour in the Championship game at Dominion Rink Sunday afternoon. 

Thanks to the players, coaches, volunteers and everyone who made this years provincial tournament a huge success! 

DOMINION, N.S. — When the Glace Bay Miners entered the 2022-23 season, the team’s overall goal was to make it to the provincial championship tournament again. 

The team had captured the Nova Scotia title last April as the No. 4 seed in the tournament, going undefeated at the Port Hood-hosted event. 

With only three returning players from the championship-winning team – Sam Murphy, Steven Mann and Brandon MacNeil – back for the season, head coach Daryl Babstock knew the team would have to put in the work in order to reach the tournament. 

“We have 10 kids who can come back next year if they don’t move on to the (Joneljim) Cougars program next season,” said Babstock. “We had a good year and finished well in the league, but this weekend will be important for everyone.” 

2023 NOVA SCOTIA UNDER-15 ‘AA’ PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP

•  Host: Glace Bay Minor Hockey Association
•  Location: Dominion and District Community Centre
•  Teams: Glace Bay Miners (host), Sydney Steelers, Northside Vikings, South Shore Lumberjacks, Cole Harbour Wings, TASA Ducks and Antigonish Bulldogs 

Glace Bay finished first overall in the four-team Cape Breton Hockey Federation league with a 19-4-5 record. The team claimed the Cape Breton Cup championship earlier this season. 

The Miners will enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed. They will be joined in the event by local representatives Sydney Steelers and Northside Vikings as well as the Antigonish Bulldogs, Cole Harbour Wings, South Shore Lumberjacks and TASA Ducks. 

Babstock anticipates the tournament being competitive.

“It’s going to be good hockey and it should draw some good crowds, especially with the local teams taking part,” said Babstock. “It’s going to be entertaining to watch. I think local fans will enjoy this level of hockey.”

When it comes to the tournament seeding, Babstock said he isn’t looking too much into it.

“Anybody can beat anybody in any given game in this tournament,” he said. “The seedings don’t always mean anything, you have to play the games and we know we still have to work and play hard in order to win.”

Thursday

• 12 p.m. Northside vs. Glace Bay
• 2 p.m. – Antigonish vs. Cole Harbour
• 4 p.m. – Sydney vs. South Shore
• 6 p.m. – TASA vs. Northside 

Friday

• 8 a.m. – Cole Harbour vs. Sydney
• 10 a.m. – South Shore vs. Northside
• 12 p.m. – Antigonish vs. TASA
• 2 p.m. – Glace Bay vs. Sydney
• 4 p.m. – Northside vs. Cole Harbour
• 6 p.m. – South Shore vs. Antigonish
• 8 p.m. – TASA vs. Glace Bay

Saturday

• 10 a.m. – Glace Bay vs. Antigonish
• 12 p.m. – Cole Harbour vs. South Shore
• 2 p.m. – Skills competition
• 4 p.m. – Sydney vs. TASA

Sunday

• 8:30 a.m. – First place vs. Fourth place
• 10:30 a.m. – Second place vs. Third place
• 2 p.m. – Championship
   

Glace Bay will open the tournament on Thursday when they take on Northside at 12 p.m. The team will continue the event on Friday at 2 p.m. against Sydney and 8 p.m. against TASA. 

The Miners will finish the round robin on Saturday at 10 a.m. against Antigonish. 

Babstock said the first game of the tournament will be important for his club. 

“Northside’s record doesn’t show what kind of team they are,” he said. “If they come to play they will give us a good game. We won’t take them lightly, that’s for sure, and I’ll be reminding our kids from the start that we have to jump on them.” 

The tournament semifinal will take place on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The championship game will be played at 2 p.m. 

GLACE BAY, N.S. – Doug Sulliman and Henry Boutilier were inducted into The Glace Bay Miners Hall of on Sunday.

Sulliman played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League and was drafted 13th overall in 1979.

“To come home in front of the people you grew up with, friends and family, and to be honoured in this way is humbling,” said Sulliman.

After a standout junior career with the Kitchener Rangers, Sulliman played 631 career NHL games, scoring 160 goals and 168 assists for 328 points.

He has many memories playing the game, but one stands out, when he was assigned to shadow Guy Lafleur.

“I was standing next to Lafleur and the puck dropped and all of a sudden he was gone. I saw him across the ice and i charged across the ice and then he was gone again. He ended up with 2 goals and 1 assist in the first period and that was then end of that experiment,” said Sulliman.

Joining Sulliman in the Hall of Fame is long-time Little League Coach Henry Boutilier.

He passed away at the age of 67 from cancer, and was well-known for his time as coach of the Glace Bay Colonels, helping the team to five national titles, along with several trips to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. 

But he also spent a lot of time at the rink, as a coach and referee.

“He would be saying what's all the fuss for, but I’m sure he'd be honoured and humbled. He really would appreciate it,” said Cynthia Boutilier, Henry’s widow

The Hall of Fame pays tribute to those who have contributed to the game of hockey in Glace Bay over the years.

“We had both ends of the spectrum covered. We had a great hockey player, a great coach and we had another great coach in Henry Boutilier and an official. So it's very important to the community,” said James Edwards, Glace Bay Minor Hockey President

Sulliman's and Boutilier's picture will now be displayed in the Glace Bay Miners Forum for all to see and to learn about their contributions to the sport.

WATCH STORY HERE: https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/nhl-player-little-league-coach-inducted-into-glace-bay-miners-hall-of-fame-1.6330943