AMHERST, N.S. – Hunter McIntyre’s even-strength goal at 7:54 of the second period proved to be the difference.
That marker gave the Amherst Ramblers a 4-1 lead, and stood up as the game-winner in a 4-3 victory over the Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals on Saturday night.
The final pre-season game for both MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) teams was played at the Amherst Stadium.
Click here for story on Thursday night's game between Caps and Ramblers:
Two power-play goals in the third period by Kayden Peck (3:01) and Cameron Roberts (8:27) brought the Capitals to within one goal. Marc Richard netted Summerside’s other goal, with assists credited to Josh MacDonald (2), Bennett MacArthur, Kyle Nichol and Ed McNeill.
Cole Waugh (1-1), Stephen Fox and Will Lafford also lit the lamp for Amherst, which held period leads of 3-0 and 4-1. Caleb Rich added a pair of helpers.
Overall, the shots-on-goal totals were even 29-29.
Matt Williams stopped 26 shots to earn the goaltending win, and Daniel Thompson made 25 saves for the Caps, who trimmed the Ramblers 7-1 in the opener of the home-and-home series in Summerside on Thursday night.
McIntyre, who’s from Kilmuir, Williams and Thompson were recently involved in trades between the Caps and Ramblers.
The game’s three stars were:
1. Hunter McIntyre (Ramblers), 2. Josh MacDonald (Capitals), 3. Caleb Rich (Ramblers).
Click here for related Western Capitals' story:
.500 pre-season record
The Capitals completed the pre-season with a 2-2 (won-lost) record. Amherst, which is hosting the 2019 Fred Page Cup Eastern Canadian junior A hockey championship from May 1 to 5, went 3-1 in its four exhibition games.
The Caps open the regular season on the road in Bridgewater, N.S., against the South Shore Lumberjacks on Friday night. The Caps will continue a season-opening four-game road trip against the Mariners in Yarmouth, N.S., on Saturday. The Caps’ home opener is against the Edmundston Blizzard at Eastlink Arena on Saturday, Sept. 29. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.
