Scott returns to senior hockey with a bang
Veteran enforcer didn’t disappoint in first game after at least a seven-year hiatus
MIRAMICHI • James Scott lived up to the hype around his senior hockey comeback in his debut with the Miramichi Mike’s Bar and Grill Northmen.
The 42-year-old enforcer hadn’t played in at least seven years, but he put on a show for the Northmen against Elsipogtog Hawks tough guy Cory Smearer at 11:17 in the opening frame in front of the season’s largest crowd on Friday at the Miramichi Civic Centre.
The Northmen (5-5-1) beat the Hawks (5-4) 5-3 in Beauséjour Senior Hockey League action before losing 4-2 to the defending champ Dalhousie Marauders (5-4-1) on Saturday at the Dalhousie Arena.
Friday’s victory followed Scott and the 34-year-old Smearer chatting along the centre line during the pre-game warmup, then squaring up on a neutral zone faceoff and tossing the mitts immediately after the linesman dropped the puck. They traded punches early on, but Scott made quick work of the six-foot, 185-pound Smearer.
Scott declined a post-game interview, but Northmen captain Kris Keating said the seasoned fighter has been a great addition to the squad.
“It’s no secret why the fans were here tonight,” said Keating, who fired home an empty-netter with 28.3 seconds left in the third period to seal Elsipogtog’s fate.
“[The Hawks] signed Smearer, and we signed James Scott, and the fans got what they wanted to see. James is a good buddy of mine. We’ve played a lot of hockey and baseball over the years.
“It’s unreal to have him as part of our team. He’s got that strong persona and is a leader. Everybody loves him. He’s as tough as nails, as evidenced by his fighting a pretty tough customer in Smearer and doing pretty good for an old man.”
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