The team was started in Halifax, but moved to Bridgewater four years ago. Ken Petrie, owner and general manager of the Lumberjacks, says it was a little unusual for a Junior A team to move to a smaller area, but it proved to be a popular one.
Junior A hockey is second tier to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, which is the highest junior level in Canada. The rules for players are a little different that the QMJHL however, and Pitre says the players at the Junior A level are just as high caliber.
Players on the team come from all over, with the Bridgewater team having players from Boston, Vancouver, PEI, NB, Newfoundland as well as Nova Scotia. They team also has several players from Bridgewater area as well
About half the team goes to school in Bridgewater, but for others it’s like a full time job.
Since most of the players live in the Bridgewater area, they are also very active in the community at large. The team goes into the schools to work with children, doing everything from hosting ball hockey games to helping with the reading programs in the school. The team runs an annual hockey camp as well for the minor hockey leagues on the South Shore.
“It’s become a real South Shore team,” says Pitre.
At the game, the team will be paying tribute to the fire fighters of Queens County, for their efforts battling the fire at White Point Beach Resort in November 2011. A raffle draw for a weekend getaway at White Point Beach Resort will be held during the game, with the proceeds going to the Liverpool Fire Association.
Tickets for the game are $10, and $5 for youth.
