SUMMERSIDE – The Yarmouth Mariners found out first hand just how potent the Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals’ offence can be on Saturday night.
The Capitals unleashed a 24-shot attack in the second period, which included scoring four goals before the halfway mark of the frame, in staging a 4-2 come-from-behind win over the fourth-ranked team in this week’s Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings.
The Capitals, who have won three straight and improved to 4-2-0-0 (won-lost-overtime losses-shootout losses), also handed the Mariners their first regulation-time loss in nine MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) games. Yarmouth is now 7-1-0-1.
Before an announced crowd of 1,078 fans at Eastlink Arena, team captain TJ Shea scored twice while former Charlottetown Islander Sam Meisenheimer had a goal and an assist in his Caps’ debut to pace the offence. Brodie MacArthur netted the Caps’ other goal while Kallum Muirhead (2), Brodie MacMillan, Conor MacEachern and Cameron Roberts contributed assists.
Miguel Poirier and Brett Crossley staked the Mariners to a 2-0 first-period lead.
Overall, the Mariners held a slim 45-43 shots-on-goal advantage. Dominik Tmej earned the goaltending win with a 43-save effort while Yarmouth rookie goaltender Tyler Caseley of Kensington finished with 39 saves. It was the first loss of the season for Caseley, who has six wins to his credit and was named the league’s rookie of the month for September on Friday.
The game’s three stars were:
1. Sam Meisenheimer (Caps), 2. Dominik Tmej (Capitals), 3. Zach Thususka (Capitals).
The Caps are back in action on Monday against the South Shore Lumberjacks (3-3-1-0) at 1 p.m., as part of the annual MHL Showcase in New Glasgow, N.S. Tuesday, the Caps face the host Pictou County Crushers (1-2-2-1) at 7 p.m. The Caps’ next home game is against the Edmundston Blizzard (4-3-0-0) on Saturday at 7 p.m.
