SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — If the opening round of the 2019 MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) post-season is any indication, interest is building in both cities as the Summerside Western Capitals and Campbellton Tigers battle for the Eastlink North Division championship.
Game 1 goes at Eastlink Arena in Summerside on Saturday, with Game 2 at the Campbellton Memorial Civic Centre on Tuesday. Both are 7 p.m. starts.
“We worked all year to have home-ice advantage, and we want to use that to our advantage starting Saturday night,” said Capitals defenceman and assistant captain Conor MacEachern of Charlottetown.
Did You Know?
This year marks the third time in four years the Summerside Western Capitals and Campbellton Tigers have met in the MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) playoffs. Last year, the Caps rebounded to win four straight after dropping Game 1 on home ice in the division semifinal. In 2015-16, the Caps rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to oust the Tigers in seven games in Round 1.
In the Caps’ first-round sweep of the St. Stephen Aces, crowds of 1,464 and 1,704 took in Games 1 and 3 in Summerside.
“It’s always great to have good crowds, especially playoff time,” said MacEachern. “When there is lots of energy in our home rink it means a lot to have the fans come out and support us.”
The Tigers attracted gatherings of 1,608, 1,723 and 2,461 against Edmundston.
“It was amazing,” said Tigers forward Coleton Perry of North Bedeque in describing the atmosphere for the series-clinching Game 5. “The place was just booming, and it gave the boys some energy.”
Tigers general manager and head coach Greg Leland described the Tigers advancing to the division final for the first time since the 2004-05 season as a very special moment.
“It was loud and I was really happy for guys like (Pierre-Luc) Lurette and (Francis) Thibeault, who grew up around here,” said Leland. “Lurette is in his fifth year with the team, and he went through some tough times.
“I was really happy for them, and really happy for the community, because it’s been a while since there was that much excitement.”
Twitter.com/JpsportsJason
Facebook.com/jason.simmonds.180
RELATED
Head-to-Head
Regular-season games between Caps, Tigers:
- Nov. 10: Tigers 1 at Caps 2 (OT)
- Dec. 8: Tigers 0 at Caps 3
- Jan. 11: Caps 4 at Tigers 3 (OT)
- Feb. 1: Caps 4 at Tigers 0
- Feb. 16: Tigers 5 at Tigers 0
- March 1: Caps 2 at Tigers 1
- March 9: Tigers 4 at Caps 5 (SO)
