Excitement builds for start of QMJHL season

Your favourite QMJHL teams are ready for puck drop.

The season starts Friday night, and teams are gearing up for a tight race in the standings.

Mavs Gillis with Eastlink Community TV says there are few teams looking to make a push.

“In Cape Breton, there’s a tremendous amount of excitement to see if the Eagles can take that next step and finally make it to a league final,” said Gillis.

The Eagles made it to the third round last season for the first time in 17 years.

Other teams to watch out for in the Eastern Conference include Moncton, Chicoutimi and Memorial Cup host Rimouski.

Gillis says the Wildcats made some key additions.

“They picked up Dylan MacKinnon and Markus Vidicek from Halifax, but maybe their biggest acquisition was Head Coach Gardiner MacDougall, who went undefeated last season behind the bench at UNB.”

He adds the Halifax Mooseheads are in year one of a rebuild, and under new coach Andrew Lord, they’ll want to build a reputation of grit and determination.

Halifax just named Brady Schultz as captain, he’s the first American to wear the ‘C’ for the franchise.

The young Mooseheads start their season in Charlottetown, the Eagles head to Bathurst, the Wildcats take on Saint John.