With a new season just around the corner for the newly-named Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins, the team has found itself a new leader in Cade Kennedy.
The 20-year-old forward has been a fan favourite since he was acquired by the black-and-gold last December from the Yorkton Terriers. He finished the 2023-24 season with 22 points from 15 goals and seven assists. When asked about the announcement, Bruins' marketing director and play-by-play host Marty Martinson had five words to say about Kennedy.
"I mean, what a guy."
Martinson has only been with Estevan's organization during the off-season. However, he's seen Cade's playstyle while working with the Battleford North Stars for the majority of the forward's junior hockey career. Martinson noted that he's a deserving candidate, speaking to his character on and off the ice.
"I mean, you talk about a guy who perfectly embodies what it is to be an Estevan Bruin. On the ice, he's a tenacious player. [He] never gives up on a play, gives his all and plays with his heart and soul. Off the ice, he's mild-mannered, unassuming, humble guy [and a] well-spoken young man. It's just a great day for him obviously and a great day for the organization."
Both the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and Martinson himself recognized Kennedy as one of the most underrated players in the league last year.
"Whether was when he was in Yorkton... or then onto Estevan where he was acquired just prior to Christmas mid-December there of last year. I mean, he's just a guy who brings it every night. He can play up and down the lineup, he can play whatever role you need. What do you want and a leader and a captain, but a guy who's going to be setting a tone there? Whether it's physical, whether it's mixing it up, whether it's penalty killing, whether it's playing power play, he's a guy who really brings it all."
Outside of being tough on the ice, Martinson shared that Cade is a player the team can rally around.
"He's a really just loved guy; the other guys in that room gravitate towards him. For me, as a guy just coming in this year...Cade coming into the office there, introducing himself. Obviously, I knew who he was from being around the league here these last number of years. But you know, that's just the kind of guy he is. So really, [I'm] just looking forward to seeing all that he's going to be able to achieve this year and the team along with him because they've got a heck of a leader there to follow."
"It’s obviously a great honour to be named captain of this team, and this franchise forever. I came to Bruins’ games when I was younger and I had a lot of family friends that played here and were captains of this team, so it’s just a great honour to be able to lead these guys out for the regular season and I’m just excited for Friday and the home opener," Kennedy said in a statement.
The new captain will be put to the test for the first time when the Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins welcome the Melville Millionaires on Friday night. The puck drops at 7:00 pm inside Affinity Place.