SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. – Kayden Peck is thrilled to be completing his junior hockey career in the province where his life started.
The forward joined the Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals of the MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) for his 20-year-old season after playing three years in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.
“My whole family is from P.E.I.,” said the son of Kelly Peck and Victor Van Hul. “My mom moved out west to go to school when I was young, and we stuck out there until last year.”
Peck, who is now living in Charlottetown, is working with his father’s business in the P.E.I. capital, and he plans to return to school next year.
“I like it being around all my family, and they get to watch all my games,” said Peck.
A conversation with Caps general manager Pat McIver last year led to Peck attending training camp, and subsequently earning a roster spot.
“It’s been a good experience (with the Caps),” said Peck. “It’s been different playing with new players, and jumping into a room of guys I had never played with before, and they knew each other. But they made it really easy, they welcomed me and I felt like part of the team right away.”
“My whole family is from P.E.I. My mom moved out west to go to school when I was young, and we stuck out there until last year.”
-Kayden Peck
Click here for update on Thursday's game rescheduled:
Peck, listed as a six-foot-two and 185-pound right-winger, has made a favourable impression with his new team.
“Kayden has been a pleasant surprise,” said Capitals head coach Billy McGuigan. “He’s a very skilled player, he’s a big body and he’s a depth guy for us.
“I call him a glue guy in the dressing room. He’s an outstanding young man, keeps the room nice and light, all the guys on the team really like him and he’s just a great attribute to have.”
Peck has eight goals, including two game-winning tallies, and seven assists for 15 points in 33 regular-season games. He enjoyed a big month of December, when he averaged a point a game – seven points in seven games – and had a stretch of scoring in four of five games.
“I’m a positive guy, and am good in the room,” said Peck in describing his role. “I try to keep it light in the room.
“I have good speed in the zone and can shoot the puck and like to contribute on the power play whenever I can. Whatever my role is that day I go out and do it.”
Level of play
Peck admits the he has had to adjust to a higher level of play in the MHL than the “high-calibre junior B” hockey he previously played in British Columbia.
“It’s a step up,” confirmed Peck. “There are a lot of high-end players (in the MHL) individually for sure.”
It’s been a win-win year so far for Peck. Not only is he closer to family members, but he is playing on the fifth-ranked team in this week’s Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings.
“It’s definitely a good team to be on for my final year,” said Peck. “We are making a run for a championship, and that’s what I wanted to do for my 20-year-old year.
“Hopefully all goes well, and the season has been going great so far.”
As the MHL-leading Caps, who have 58 points in 34 regular-season games, pursue a championship, McGuigan expects Peck to provide important contributions.
“He’s going to be a big important part of our team in the playoffs,” said McGuigan. “To a man all 20 guys are really important. . .
“I think he will score some timely goals for us, he has a lot of skill, a big shot and he will be a guy to watch down the stretch. With his skill set, his size and his shot, I look for good things to start happening for him.”
Twitter.com/JpsportsJason
Facebook.com/jason.simmonds.180
RELATED
Summerside Western Capitals’ game-day notes
- The Capitals host the Grand Falls Rapids at Eastlink Arena on Thursday. Puck drop is 7 p.m.
- The Capitals lead the MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) and Eastlink North Division with 58 points on the strength of a 28-5-1 (won-lost-overtime losses) record. The Rapids are sixth in the Eastlink North Division at 9-18-5.
- The Capitals hold a three-point lead and three games-in-hand over Eastlink South Division-leading Yarmouth Mariners (25-7-4) in the overall standings, which will determine home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
- Capitals forward Brodie MacArthur leads the MHL in scoring with 67 points – 29 goals and 38 assists. MacArthur is four points ahead of teammate TJ Shea (25-28—63), who has missed the last two games with an injury.
- Capitals head coach Billy McGuigan said Shea and defenceman Noah Massie, who is also nursing an injury, are both “day-to-day,” and noted it is possible they could play Thursday. The Caps are also expecting sophomore Cameron Roberts back in the lineup after he played in the Canadian Junior Hockey League Prospects Game in Okotoks, Alta., on Tuesday night.
- Roberts, the only MHL player selected for Team East, went pointless in a 5-2 loss to Team West. The game attracted over 200 scouts from the National Hockey League, Canadian Hockey League, U Sports and NCAA.
- After Thursday’s game the Caps will not play again until Jan. 30, when the Pictou County Crushers visit Credit Union Place for a rare Wednesday game at 7 p.m.
