SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals slipped one spot in the latest Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings released Monday morning.
The Caps are ranked fourth after going 2-1-1 in four games over six days, including three road contests in less than 24 hours over the weekend. Summerside sits atop the MHL’s (Maritime Junior Hockey League) overall standings with a record of 33-6-2 (won-lost-overtime losses). The Caps hold a 15-point lead over the second-place Campbellton Tigers (24-12-5) in the Eastlink North Division, and have a four-point cushion over the Eastlink South Division-leading Yarmouth Mariners (30-8-4) in the overall standings.
The Mariners jumped two spots this week, going from 16th to 14th. The MHL’s Amherst Ramblers (29-11-2) received an honourable mention.
Click here for story on Sunday's Western Capitals' game against Edmundston Blizzard:
Click here for story on Saturday's Western Capitals' game against Edmundston Blizzard:
Click here for story on Friday's Western Capitals game against Grand Falls Rapids:
The Caps, who are 7-1-2 in the last 10 games, and Tigers each have nine regular-season games remaining, and Yarmouth has eight on its schedule.
The Brooks Bandits, who set an Alberta Junior Hockey League record with 25 wins in a row on Saturday, remain the top-ranked team in Canada. Brooks is 49-3.
The Thunder Bay North Stars (34-3-2) of the Superior International Junior Hockey League stay at No. 2, despite having a 13-game winning streak snapped on Saturday.
The Oakville Blades (35-5-5) of the Ontario Junior Hockey League move up from fourth to third. The Portage Terriers (40-9-3) of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League round out the top five.
The Capitals return to action on Friday in Truro, N.S., against the Bearcats (22-15-4). The Caps return to Eastlink Arena to host the Campbellton Tigers (24-12-5) on Saturday at 7 p.m., and the South Shore Lumberjacks (19-17-3) visit Summerside on Monday for the annual Islander Day game at 2 p.m.
Sign player
The Caps announced the signing of 19-year-old forward Cedric Chenier late Sunday night. Chenier played with the Spokane Chiefs in the 2017-18 Western Hockey League season. The Caps signed Chenier before the Feb. 10 roster deadline. Teams could add players who were not signed with any other team on Jan. 10.
Chenier, listed as five-foot-10 and 190 pounds, had six points, including two goals, in 37 regular-season games with the Chiefs. Prior to joining the Chiefs, he had 65- and 68-point seasons playing midget hockey in his hometown of Winnipeg.
Chenier is expected to arrive in Summerside on Monday.
