The Last Titan

The celebration is long over, but the banners are in the rafters for everyone to see. 

It was a win for the ages. 

They won it for the community; they won it for each other. 

The community remembers it like it was yesterday, the celebration may be long over, but the bond between brothers will last forever.

 

Two years have gone by since the Acadie-Bathurst Titan were the talk of the Canadian Hockey League. 

Two years seem like an eternity for an organization on the downward cycle of a rebuild. 

There’s only one player that can tell the story. 

One player that experienced hoisting junior hockey’s holy grail. 

Logan Chisholm is the last Titan. 

A Champion

Logan Chisholm is the only player that remains on the Acadie-Bathurst Titan that won it all.

The only player that can explain what it takes to win. 

You see Logan Chisholm has always been a champion, on and off the ice. 

The quiet soft-spoken, humble kid from rural Nova Scotia journey to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League was like many other young aspiring Maritimers, with one exception.

The dream and journey was shared amongst a special group of players, friends and teammates.   

The early morning practices, the bitterly cold feet from hours playing on the outdoors rinks were just part of the process, just part of the dream. 

From Antigonish, Nova Scotia to Bathurst, New Brunswick and the bright lights of the QMJHL Logan Chisholm has always trusted the process, embraced the journey and has never forgotten the value of hard work.

The journey to the QMJHL was always in reach for the special group of Cape Bretoner’s destine for greatest in the game. 

Long before the thought of winning the President Cup or Memorial Cup Logan Chisholm was already part of hockey history in the Maritimes. 

The skilled gritty two-way forward was part of the Cape Breton West Islanders team that won the TELUS Cup. 

“It was a pretty quick turnaround,” said Chisholm looking back on his journey to the QMJHL. 

“Obviously, you go from one great league to another and try getting adjusted to that.” 

“It was a big jump, playing with bigger guys, but it turned out well,” Chisholm  said. 

“It was a big thing for us and the small Acadian community that I come from,” Chisholm said of winning the TELUS Cup and making the jump to the Q. 

“We have so much support back there, I don’t it was just the family, I think it was everyone involved from my coaches to my teachers to everyone in the community, it really had an impact on everyone.”

The Islanders win will forever go down in the annals of Maritime hockey lore. 

The Acadie-Bathurst Titan selected the speedy winger in the 2nd round 35th overall in the 2017 QMJHL Entry Draft.

What was it like making the jump to the next level with a team that was loading up for a “memorable” championship run. 

“At the start of my rookie year I had my appendix taken out so I missed a few games.” 

As a sixteen year old Chisholm played fifty-one regular season games that year. 

“As a sixteen being around an older team with so many nineteen year olds, they made it really easy to fit in and be able to play that well and play a game that I wanted to play.” 

Chisholm scored 5 goals and 6 assists for 11 points and finished the season as a + 5.

“I was just soaking all that stuff in. I mean you are playing with guys like Noah Dobson who’s in the NHL right now, and Viel the captain, it was easy to learn from those guys and soak everything in,” confessed Chisholm. 

What player took Chisholm under their wing so to speak that season and showed him the ropes? 

“There were two of them,” Chisholm said proudly. 

“Adam Holwell and I connected right away.” 

“It was kind of like a father son relationship, or that’s what we called it.” 

“He definitely took me under his wing.” 

“Cole Rafuse who became a captain here was another guy that I connected with right away.”

Chisholm understood what it takes to win a championship. 

He understood how important and special the bond is between teammates on and off the ice being part of a championship team

“Those two guys really showed me the way and I’m very grateful for that.” 

“I’m very fortunate to have created those bonds with them.” 

From top to bottom the Acadie-Bathurst Titan were built to win, but what was it like as a rookie to have Mario Pouilot as a coach during that season?

Pouilot is known to be very demanding, but very fair and a coach that you ultimately know where you stand. 

“Oh definitely,” Chisholm said. 

“Mario puts players in a position so they can succeed.” 

“As a sixteen year old, he wasn’t relying on me too much, but he allowed me to grow as a player and gave me the opportunity to as well.” 

How special was it being part of that team, a team destine for greatest? 

“It was pretty cool, not just on the hockey side, but seeing how much the community came together.” 

“It just didn’t have an impact on us, it had an impact on the organization and the city as well.” 

“Those championships created a big buzz in the community which is still talked about.”

“It just brought joy to everyone.”

Like many sixteen year olds Chisholm found himself on the outside looking in come playoff time, but the youngster did find his way into the line up for two post season games. 

“That first round series was definitely a wake up call for us,” Chisholm said. 

“We were coming as the top seeds, that’s where the run started. That’s when we figured out how to play playoff hockey and we really settled in from there.” 

To this day Chisholm remembers the valuable lessons learned from being a part of that team. 

He may not have suited up for many games, but he had a front row seat to witness history. 

“There was a lot of value that you can take from that.” 

“Just by practicing, you learn the work ethic to be able to play in the league every day.” 

“Taking the little things that everyone does even if it’s a battle in practice, the older guys were always going hard.” 
“I think that transferred over to my game,” confessed Chisholm. 

“Just trying to play the game the right way, that’s a big thing. That’s the way we did it and I’m trying to keep that culture going.”

Even though Chisholm didn’t suit up during the Memorial Cup, one word comes to his mind when asked about that experience.

Incredible!

“It was a top notch event.” 

“The Memorial Cup is something you dream about coming into major junior hockey and just being there was amazing and eventually lifting the Cup it was just incredible.” 

From the top of mountain to junior hockey’s dreaded cycle and the lowest of lows, Logan Chisholm has experienced it all. 

“We were expecting a big overall and it has definitely took a toll on us as you could see last year.” 

“I mean we tried to keep that experience we had and try show the younger guys and the new guys coming in so that’s something we looked for,” said Chisholm of continuing the Titan culture. 

“Being the only guy left, I’ve tried to continue to implement that.” 

“I try to talk to the boys of how the feeling was and how we got there.” 

Now in year two of the rebuild the Titan are confronted with even more adversity.  The young proud skilled rebuilding team only have one win to show for this season. 

The wins have been very difficult to come by, but the compete level is still very high. 

How have the coaching staff and players dealt with that adversity this season? 

“The big thing right now is trying to stay positive.” 

“We have been in every game, and we are trying push through that. We all have a feeling that once we get going we will get on a roll and keep that momentum going.” 

“Right now we are working on improving our game and keeping our hard work attitude and just try to go to work every day and push for those wins.”

Spoken like a true leader. Spoken like a true champion. 

Has the three-year veteran of the QMJHL given any thought at the prospects of being moved during this season’s Trade Period? 

“I haven’t really put to much thought into that. I’m a guy that tries to stay in the present and focus on here. Obviously, it’s tough thinking about that because all of my time in junior has been spent here.” 

“I’ve grown so much in my three seasons here, so it’s definitely an odd to think about that.” 

Logan Chisholm is a winner on and off the ice. There’s just no other way to put it. 

The incredibly humble down to earth and well-spoken kid from Antigonish, Nova Scotia becomes very reflective when asked about his journey in the game and the championship teams he has been apart of. 

“It’s still surreal right now,” said Chisholm of having won a TELUS Cup, President Cup and Memorial Cup. 

“I don’t think that it will sit in until I’m finishing my junior career.” 

“I’ve just been so lucky to play so many good guys,” Chisholm said proudly.

“Those championship teams formed a brotherhood and it’s pretty surreal.” 

“Just thinking about it now gives me chills.”

What does the future hold for Logan Chisholm? 

“That’s a tough one, obviously the pro route would probably be the first option, but I come from a university town and I grew up watching X play a lot so I think that would be a good back up plan if the pro route didn’t work out.”

The celebration is long over, but the banners are in the rafters for everyone to see. 

It was a win for the ages. 

They won it for the community; they won it for each other. 

Logan Chisholm may be the last Titan, but he will always be a champion for the Titan organization and the game.