Lumberjack busy off-season signing new players

The busy summer of player signings have the South Shore Lumberjacks starting strong at 4-0-0 entering the 2025-26 Nova Scotia Junior Hockey Season.  Over the next 10 days, they will be looking to improve to 7-0-0 with games against the Windsor Oxen and the East Hants Penguins at home and the Sackville Blazers on the road.

Marcus Tench was the rookie of the year in the Nova Scotia Triple AAA Midget Hockey League last season and, "brings a significant competitive edge along with a highly skilled game," said Team Scout Seth Silver.  

Another homegrown talent signed this summer was forward Nolan Wilkie.  Wilkie was a stand-out player for the Parkview Panthers High School Team in 24-25 and and during his career with the Panthers, he collected 53 points in only 29 games.  Silver said, “Wilkie is a player that loves to play on the edge and truly embodies the South Shore blue collar style.”

Another high-school multi-talented individual added by the Lumberjacks is defensemen Preston Carver. Preston is a reliable two-way defensemen who connected for 48 points in two seasons with Parkview.  Carver played a crucial role as part of back to NS Regional High School Championships.  Carter is versatile and can play various situations on the ice while bringing a lot of depth to the Lumberjacks defence.  Carver brings a lot of depth to the South Shore defence and has great size and skill that makes him lethal on the ice.  Silver is confident, “Carver is a player that fans are really going to see grown and develop into a quality player.

The Lumberjacks who reached the Nova Scotia Junior League championship series versus Antigonish in 23-24 only to lose in 7 games to the Capstone Colts in the red Fox Divisional Final in 24-25 are off to tremendous start at 4-0-0 and only believe they can get even better as the month of October is now here,


The Lumberjacks are excited about addition Samuel Cochrane who joins the club after playing in Germany in 24-25 with Krefelder EV Under 20’s.  Scout Silver said, “Sammy has showcased tremendous vision for the game and is one of the smartest players on the ice.  Playing Jr. A  in Germany has really helped Sammy elevate his game and without a doubt should become one of the best two-way forwards on our club this season”.

Another Parkview Panther from the Western Nova Scotia High School Hockey League joining the Panthers this season is Will Cook who finished with 20 goals and 41 points last season.  Cook is a Territorial pick for the Lumberjacks in the draft and Scout Silver commented by saying, “we are very excited to have Cook with us for the upcoming season”.  He is already off to a great season registering 9 points in the Lumberjacks opening four games. .

Cook is described as a player that your eyes are just drawn to when he steps on the ice, also as a very smart player with a great sense for how the game is played.  He is expected to add great secondary scoring for the Lumberjacks.

Landon Garber is also a newcomer to the South Shore in 25-26 after playing two years with the Triple AAA South Shore Mustangs and a year with the High School Panthers.  In Triple AAA Midget, he collected 32 points in 72 regular season games and then went onto the Panthers and had a 20 goal, 32 point season.  Garber was a draft pick by the Yarmouth Mariners, 73rd overall in 2022 and became a Territorial pick for the Lumberjacks in 2024.  Garber is described as a forward with tons of skill and size and has develop well over the past three years between the Mustangs and Parkview.  Silver said, “South Shore Hockey Fans are getting a real heart and soul player who gives you everything he has on the ice.  He can put the puck in the net but can find space to set his teamates up for  goal and is a complete player”.

Joining the Lumberjacks this season is Cole Cooper from Paradise, Newfoundland and has spent the past three years developing with the King’s-Edgeill Highlanders from the U-18 AAA Prep Program in Windsor.  Cole was drafted 16th overall in 2022 by the Miramich Timberwolves of the Maritime Junior Hockey League.  Silver said, “it is not everyday you have the opportunity to add a 6”3 right handed shot defence man.  He was a premier, two-way defender for Kings-Edgehill over three seasons and developed his game nicely.

Drew Muise is another integral part of the rebuilding Lumberjacks being drafted in 2024 by the MJHL Campbellton Tigers.  He has played two seasons with the South Shore Mustangs Triple AAA Mustangs.
Drew is described as a get in your face, sandpiper style of player and loves the physical side of the game.  Drew is described as great shot-blocker which any team likes to have.  He plays like a gladiator and is always ready for a battle.

Luje Crotty is another new addition having played last season in Germany with the Krefelder EV U20’s.  He has also been a captain of the Triple AAA Mustangs the year prior while also having experience with the Western Mustangs U15 Major Program.  Crotty is a big reliable defenseman which teams dream of having.