Although the Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals went into Friday’s road game against the St. Stephen Aces looking for their first regular-season win after three straight losses, McGuigan is keeping things in perspective.
“We have started off struggling, but at the end of the day we have outshot teams, outchanced teams and outplayed teams in all three games, but just ended up on the wrong side of the scoreboard,” reflected the Charlottetown native and Summerside resident. “There are some positives to take out of those games, but we are really looking forward to getting back home and getting into our own surroundings.”
The Caps will return to the friendly confines of Credit Union Place for their home opener at Eastlink Arena on Saturday. The Woodstock Slammers, who edged the Caps 4-3 in the season opener for both teams on Sept. 16, will provide the opposition for the 7 p.m. start.
“All the boys are excited,” noted Caps forward and assistant captain TJ Shea of Anglo/Tignish. “It will be a close, hard-fought game. We missed out a lot of opportunities in that game.”
McGuigan liked what he saw from the Caps in the previous meeting versus Woodstock.
“The first game of the season up there I thought we were the better hockey throughout,” added McGuigan. “We took it to them a bit, but it was just unfortunate they scored on their opportunities and we didn’t.”
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Type of team?
So, what type of team can fans expect to see from the young Caps this season?
“You are going to see a hard-working, young, blue-collar hockey team in Summerside this year,” answered McGuigan. “It’s kind of exciting to be honest.
“It didn’t start on the exact footing we would have liked, but at the end of the day it’s a process with a young team. The fans are going to be excited about seeing the young guys and the progression they make throughout the year.”
McGuigan said the Caps will rely on their work ethic and speed.
“We are a small forward group that is very fast,” said McGuigan. “I like our team speed overall.
“We are going to have struggles scoring some goals at times, but our work ethic will come into play on a lot of those nights.”
McGuigan, who added the team’s “back end is coming along well,” said the Caps will look to play a tight-checking, defensive-style of play.
“Right now our structure isn’t what I’d like it to be,” said McGuigan, who acknowledged the Caps have to improve in all areas. “When you get basically 17 or 18 new players it’s a growing process you have to go through.”
Included in those numbers are seven players – Thomas Harper, Josh MacDonald, Cameron Roberts, Cody Smith, Jordan Spence, Zach Thususka and Bryce Tracey – who are still midget-aged or just graduated into junior.
Scoring
With last year’s team-leading scorer Brodie MacArthur, who had 50 points in 50 games cracking the lineup of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Moncton Wildcats, three returnees who will be counted on to lead the offence are Kallum Muirhead, who had 42 points in 43 games last season; Shea, who registered 39 points in 41 games, and Hunter McIntyre, who recorded 36 points in 43 contests.
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Roster
Summerside Western
Capitals’ roster and hometowns:
Goal
1. Cody Smith, Glace Bay, N.S.
36. Rett Rook, Camrose, Alta.
Defence
2. Sebastien Cormier, Stratford.
3. Jesse Annear, Montague.
4. Matthew O’Leary, St. John’s, N.L.
5. Brodie MacMillan, Stratford.
22. Jordan Spence, Cornwall.
24. Scott Bagby, Downers Grove, Il.
Forwards
7. Austin Taylor, Summerside.
9. Alex Hambly, Stratford.
10. Kallum Muirhead, Charlottetown.
11. Morgan MacDonald, Little Pond.
12. Hunter McIntyre, Kilmuir.
14. Jonathan Larter, Stratford.
15. Zach Thususka, Summerside.
18. Thomas Harper, Kensington.
19. Cameron Roberts, Kensington.
28. Josh MacDonald, Cornwall.
29. Bryce Tracey, Lincoln, N.B.
79. Andrew Murphy, Mount Pearl, N.L.
81. TJ Shea, Anglo/Tignish.
