Missing mascot returned to Screaming Eagles

Screech is back in the nest.

The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles hockey team has its mascot back after it was taken from a storage room in Sydney's Centre 200 last month.

It's a big relief, said Peter MacDonald, the team's marketing manager.

"Whenever we lose anything like that going into playoffs, it's definitely a blow," MacDonald said Tuesday.

Cape Breton Regional Police haven't said how the mascot was recovered.

Christopher David MacKay, 19, has been charged with break and enter, and theft. He remains in custody until a bail hearing on Thursday.

Without the new $5,000 Screech suit, the team had to pull out an old costume for its first two games of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs.

But the new mascot may not be much of a lucky charm.

The team won its two games with the old Screech, but lost Tuesday night's game when the new Screech was cheering from the stands.