SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals made a significant scheduling announcement on Thursday afternoon.
The Capitals announced that it has “made the difficult decision to postpone our scheduled games until after Christmas” due to the current travel restrictions in the Maritimes. The Summerside-based team is the lone Prince Edward Island entry in the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL).
“The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for all of us and continues to evolve every day,” continued the release. “It is important that we stay positive during these troubling times. We will get through this together.”
The Caps last played on Nov. 21 – a 3-1 home-ice victory over the South Shore Lumberjacks. The Capitals will have seven games, including four on home ice, postponed from Dec. 3 to Dec. 20.
The Capitals, who have played the fewest games in the 12-team league, are off to a start of 3-1-1 (won-lost-overtime losses).
The Caps’ first post-Christmas game is scheduled for Credit Union Place on New Year’s Eve against the Miramichi Timberwolves at 5 p.m.
The release notes the Caps and MHL “are 100-per-cent committed to a full season and are looking forward to getting back on the ice at the CUP (Credit Union Place) in front of the best fans in the league.”
Fred Page Cup
The Caps did receive some exciting news on Tuesday night with the announcement that the City of Summerside and Caps will host the 2022 Fred Page Cup Eastern Canadian junior A hockey championship from May 3 to 8.
The four-team event will feature the host Capitals and the champions of the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL), Quebec Junior Hockey League and the Central Canada Junior Hockey League competing at Credit Union Place. Should the Caps win the MHL championship, the runner-up will represent the league.
The Fred Page Cup winner will advance to the Centennial Cup national championship tournament in Estevan, Sask.
Jason Simmonds is the sports reporter for The Guardian.
