SUMMERSIDE – The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals bounced back in a big way.
After dropping a 5-4 road decision to the Grand Falls Rapids on Friday night, the Caps went into one of the toughest buildings for visiting teams in the MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League), and posted a convincing 9-1 victory over the Edmundston Blizzard on Saturday night.
The Capitals enter the Christmas break atop the Eastlink North Division at 20-5-0 (won-lost-overtime losses), and tied with the Amherst Ramblers (19-7-2) for second place in the 12-team league’s overall standings. Summerside, which was ranked No. 5 in last week's Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings, is nine points behind the league-leading Yarmouth Mariners (24-5-1), but has five games-in-hand for a potential 10 points. The Caps have also played three fewer games than Amherst.
The Caps are back in action on Saturday, Dec. 29, when they travel to Berwick, N.S., to take on the Valley Wildcats (5-19-3). Valley makes a return visit to Summerside on New Year’s Eve for a 5 p.m. start.
Click here for story on Friday night's game between Caps and Grand Falls:
Quick start
Before 2,828 fans at the Jean Daigle Centre, the Caps jumped out to a 4-0 lead after one period, and extended that margin to 6-0 at the end of 40 minutes.
Overall, the Capitals outshot the Blizzard 41-22, including a 22-3 advantage in the opening frame.
The Caps, led by captain TJ Shea’s one goal and four assists, received goals from nine different players. Brodie MacArthur (1-3), Cameron Roberts (1-3), Michal Sivek (1-1), Sullivan Sparkes (1-1), Ryan MacDonald, Conor MacEachern, Kayden Peck and Jesse Annear also dented the twine. Kallum Muirhead and Noah Massie added single assists.
Jean-Maxine Bond scored the lone goal for the Blizzard (15-10-3).
Click here for story on Caps ranked No. 5 in last week's Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings:
Dominik Tmej, who recorded back-to-back shutouts in his last two starts, earned the goaltending win. Bond’s goal at 2:48 of the third period snapped Tmej’s shutout streak at just under 193 minutes.
Francis Asselin allowed four goals on 22 shots in 20 minutes of action in goal for the Blizzard, and Evan MacDonald stopped 14 of 19 shots in 40 minutes.
The game’s three stars were:
1. TJ Shea (Caps), 2. Brodie MacArthur (Caps), 3. Cameron Roberts (Caps).
