LOCAL
CJHL Teams to Watch: Truro, Valley and Chaleur Featured in MHL Update
Three MHL clubs—Truro, Valley, and Chaleur—are featured on the CJHL Teams to Watch list ahead of the national top 20 rankings release on Sept. 28.
Maritime Clubs Earn Early CJHL Recognition
With all nine member leagues launching their 2026-27 regular seasons, the Canadian Junior Hockey League has released its initial “Teams to Watch” list. Among the highlighted Maritime Junior Hockey League franchises are the Truro Bearcats, Valley Wildcats, and Chaleur Lightning as clubs prepare for the first CJHL Top 20 Rankings of the year on Sept. 28.
In Truro, new head coach Ryan Falkenham has guided the Bearcats to a 4-0-0-0 start, making them the only MHL squad remaining undefeated in regulation time. Falkenham took over the bench after previous head coach Jon Greenwood left the team to join the Dalhousie University men’s hockey program.
Wildcats and Lightning Make Early Waves
The Valley Wildcats currently occupy second place in the overall MHL standings under head coach Jesse McLean, holding a 3-0-0-1 record for seven points. All three of Valley’s victories have come during regulation play, supported by a roster featuring the league’s third-leading scorer entering this week’s games.
Meanwhile, the Bathurst, N.B.-based Chaleur Lightning enter their second MHL campaign holding a 2-1-0-0 record under head coach Francis Rochon. After finishing eighth overall last season at 31-18-2-1 to grab the final playoff spot, the Lightning have surrendered just nine goals through their opening contests, the third-lowest mark in the league.
National Race to the Centennial Cup
Across the country, 116 teams representing over 2,500 players are beginning their campaign toward the 2027 Centennial Cup, which will take place next May at Centrefire Place in Fort McMurray, Alta. The host Fort McMurray Oil Barons automatically secure an entry alongside nine league champions, though head coach Tom Keca’s squad aims to qualify through league play.
Defending national champion Niverville Nighthawks of the MJHL raised their championship banners while starting 2-0, while the OJHL’s Markham Royals boast the country’s best record at 7-0-0-0. Other notable undefeated starts include the NOJHL’s Soo Thunderbirds at 4-0, Quebec’s Collège Français de Longueuil at 4-0-0-0, and the CCHL’s Kemptville 73’s, who lead their league with a 6.5 goals-per-game average.
LOCAL
Your Current 3 Day Forecast — October 23, 2026
Your Current 3 Day Environment Canada forecast for Miramichi, Rogersville, Doaktown.
THE MIRAMICHI CURRENT · WEATHER
Your Current 3 Day Forecast
October 23, 2026
Across our communities
| Community | High / low | Rain | Wind | Alert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miramichi | 13° / -3° | 0% | N 20 km/h | None |
| Rogersville | 13° / -3° | 0% | N 20 km/h | None |
| Doaktown | 13° / -5° | 0% | N 20 km/h | None |
Miramichi
Now
8.6°
Current condition unavailable
Sunrise 7:51 a.m. · Sunset 6:21 p.m.
Moon: Waxing gibbous · 94% lit
Observed 4:00 p.m.
Next 12 hours
Tonight
A few clouds. Wind north 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming light overnight. Low minus 3. Wind chill minus 8 overnight.
Rain 0%Wind 20 km/hGusts 40 km/h
Saturday
Sunny. Wind up to 15 km/h. High 13. Wind chill minus 7 in the morning. UV index 2 or low.
Rain 0%Wind 10 km/h
Sunday
Sunny. High 15.
Rain 0%Wind 0 km/h
Rogersville
Now
7.2°
Current condition unavailable
Sunrise 7:50 a.m. · Sunset 6:20 p.m.
Moon: Waxing gibbous · 94% lit
Observed 4:00 p.m.
Next 12 hours
Tonight
A few clouds. Wind north 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming light overnight. Low minus 3. Wind chill minus 8 overnight.
Rain 0%Wind 20 km/hGusts 40 km/h
Saturday
Sunny. Wind up to 15 km/h. High 13. Wind chill minus 7 in the morning. UV index 2 or low.
Rain 0%Wind 10 km/h
Sunday
Sunny. High 15.
Rain 0%Wind 0 km/h
Doaktown
Now
9.4°
Current condition unavailable
Sunrise 7:53 a.m. · Sunset 6:24 p.m.
Moon: Waxing gibbous · 94% lit
Observed 4:00 p.m.
Next 12 hours
Tonight
Clear. Wind north 20 km/h becoming light this evening. Low minus 5.
Rain 0%Wind 20 km/h
Saturday
Sunny. High 13. UV index 2 or low.
Rain 0%Wind 0 km/h
Sunday
Sunny. High 16.
Rain 0%Wind 0 km/h
Track the weather
Last checked 2026-10-23T19:15:25.000Z · Changed: Miramichi, Rogersville, Doaktown · forecast, temperature, wind, hourly · Next check 2026-10-23T20:15:00.000Z
LOCAL
Dissident PC Member Prepares to Launch New Political Option in New Brunswick
Former Progressive Conservative member Jason Purdy plans to establish the New Brunswick Party following Daniel Allain’s PC leadership election victory.
Former Conservative Activist Mobilizes New Political Movement
Voters in New Brunswick could soon see a new political option on their ballots as Jason Purdy, a former Progressive Conservative Party member, prepares to register a centre-right organization called the New Brunswick Party. Purdy, a resident of Noonan near Fredericton, stated that his decision follows the recent PC leadership victory of Daniel Allain. Disagreeing with Allain’s vision of a socially progressive and fiscally conservative party, Purdy aims to offer an alternative for traditional conservative voters who feel unrepresented by the current leadership.
Registration Rules and Leadership Response
Under provincial electoral laws, registering a new political entity requires forming riding associations in at least 10 provincial ridings, with a minimum of 10 candidates needed to secure a spot on the election ballot. Purdy expects to complete the registration process within a month, citing initial support from a dozen organizers and interest from several hundred supporters. Should a provincial byelection be triggered for Allain—who currently does not hold a seat in the legislature—Purdy intends to run a candidate against him. For his part, Allain dismissed concerns that a new entity would divide votes, expressing confidence in his party’s existing membership strength following his victory over MLA Don Monahan.
Historical Context and Political Reactions
If successfully registered, the New Brunswick Party would mark the third Tory breakaway movement in the province over the past four decades. Previous historical splinters include the Confederation of Regions party in 1989 and the People’s Alliance in 2010. Addressing the initiative, PC caucus member Kris Austin characterized the creation of another political group as counterproductive, arguing that conservative voters must find common ground rather than risk public division. Meanwhile, Purdy emphasized that his proposed party will actively reject radical or extreme ideologies from both sides of the political spectrum.
COMMUNITY
What the Latest Strike Delay Means for the Arbec Wellness Centre Opening
Miramichi’s Arbec Wellness Centre opening is pushed to early next year following a summer electricians’ strike that added $250,000 to project costs.
Cost and Schedule Impacts
The budget for Miramichi’s new Arbec Wellness Centre has risen by approximately $250,000 following a four-week labor dispute. The project’s price tag now stands at an estimated $100.8 million, up from $100.6 million. Construction is now expected to wrap up around Jan. 22, setting up a potential move-in date in February after a two- to four-week transition period.
Strike Causes Ripple Effect
Speaking at the Sept. 29 council-in-committee meeting, CBCL Limited engineer Tim McLeod explained that the summer walkout by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1555 caused wider scheduling disruptions. While the strike has ended, its impact extended beyond electrical work to delay mechanical and commissioning activities that relied on critical path milestones.
Facility Location
The long-awaited municipal facility is currently nearing completion off Douglastown Boulevard, situated west of Service Canada and Walmart.
Your Current 3 Day Forecast — October 23, 2026
Dissident PC Member Prepares to Launch New Political Option in New Brunswick
A Conservative Organizer Aims to Launch a New Centre-Right Movement in New Brunswick
Why B.C. Lions Starters Are Resting as the Regular Season Concludes Against Winnipeg
What the Latest Strike Delay Means for the Arbec Wellness Centre Opening
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B.C. Supreme Court Grants Cowichan Tribes Title to Historic Richmond Lands and Fishing Rights
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