A rivalry spanning 50 seasons between Junior B hockey teams, the Alexandria Glens, and Char-Lan Rebels, has come to an end, following their merge into the Glengarry Brigade in April. As the new season begins, the Brigade is slowly establishing itself within the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League (EOJHL).
Glengarry, located about 100 kilometres from Ottawa, is home to around 23,000 residents. Many are deeply familiar with the legendary feud.
The “Battle of Glengarry” dates back to the late 1960s, around the time when both teams were established. The rivalry comprised a series of rough, high-scoring games, fuelling tensions for generations to come.
“They have had many battles over the years,” Jason MacCuaig, president of the Glengarry Brigade, said. “Some of the bigger playoff battles have really rammed up in intensity.”
But as their standings began to decline, so did their future as the only two stronghold teams in Glengarry.
“I was shocked at first because we’re two rival teams joining into one,” Tyler Sauve, Brigade player and former Glens player, said. “But after being in the bottom of the standings for the last three years, something needed to change.”
Compared to bigger Ottawa teams, the Glens and Rebels were not as competitive. They merged to gather a stronger pool of players.
“A lot of the teams in the country have a harder time competing than the teams in the city,” Avery MacCuaig, former Rebels player, said. “People don’t tend to realize how big of an impact that actually is.”
On Oct. 5, a crowd of 100 people showed their support for the Brigade who played their seventh official game at the Char-Lan Recreation Centre, in Williamstown, Ont.
Brigade players dashed onto the ice, sporting their new uniforms, which borrow colours from both legacy teams. “Blue from the Rebels, Green from the Glens and white which symbolizes new beginnings,” Jason MacCuaig said.
With each manoeuvre, players showed a higher level of technical play. Cheering in the stands was Dana Grant, supporting his son Kale Grant, a former Rebels player.
“I think their future is promising,” he said. “They’re competing much better.”
Despite losing 8-5 to the Ottawa West Golden Knights, the Brigade is surpassing its legacy team’s standings.
“In the previous five years, you’d see Alexandria and Char-Lan at the bottom,” Patrick Sauve, assistant general manager of the Glengarry Brigade, said.
The Brigade currently ranks third place in the Martin Division.
“Even tonight, we were down 4-1 at one point, and the game ended 8-5, so we continue to battle,” Jason MacCuaig said. “It’s a team that continues to battle.”
Derek Larocque, Brigade player and former Glens player, remained in high spirits despite the loss.
“There’s still a lot of great stories to remember,” Larocque said, reflecting upon the epic battles he grew up hearing. “Now it’s about moving on and to win together.”
Locals, coaches and players expected tension, especially after retaining 13 players from legacy teams. Instead, the unification has brought peace.
“I feel like in a couple years, the rivalry is going to disappear and we are all going to be one big family,” Tyler Sauve, said.
Currently, the Brigade is focusing on channelling their efforts to become a more competitive team, rallying support for Glengarry and spotlighting the EOJHL.
The merger also represents a new legacy for future generations, defined by solidarity. “We’re hoping kids from the Alexandria Glens minor hockey and Char-Lan Rebels minor hockey aspire to be a Brigade,” Jason MacCuaig said.
While the merger marks the end of a chapter in Glengarry’s history, the new team title immortalizes the rivalry.
“When several soldiers or battalions band together, they call it a brigade,” Jason MacCuaig said. “That was the origin of the name, our two teams coming together to form one.”
At first glance, the two legacy teams possess far too many differences to be capable of banding together. However, the local community’s overwhelming support towards this new phase for Junior B hockey in Glengarry, reminds us that we are stronger when unified. As we undergo a turbulent time in the world, when injustice prevails, the Glengarry community holds a mirror, showing us how we are often more alike than not: it only takes a major change to reflect our similarities back to us.