SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals made a huge jump in the latest Canadian Junior Hockey League top-20 rankings released Monday.
The Capitals, who sport a Maritime Junior Hockey League-best record of 31-5-1 (won-lost-overtime losses), have moved up four spots from No. 8 to No. 4. Summerside recently became the first club in the 12-team loop to clinch a playoff spot.
The Capitals, winners of seven games in a row and eight of their last nine, are coming off two impressive home wins – 8-2 over the Edmundston Blizzard (23-8-6) on Thursday and 8-1 against the Fredericton Red Wings (21-14-2) on Saturday – in which they outscored their opponents 16-3.
The Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) are ranked No. 1. Another AJHL team, Sherwood Park Crusaders (38-6-0) hold down the No. 2 spot while the British Columbia Hockey League’s Coquitlam Express (38-7-1) sits third.
The Carleton Place Canadians (37-6-5) of the Central Canada Hockey League round out the top-five teams.
The Blizzard received an honourable mention in this week’s rankings.
The Capitals are on the road this week visiting Fredericton on Thursday and the Grand Falls Rapids (12-20-4) on Friday. Summerside’s next home game is Thursday, Jan. 30, against the Miramichi Timberwolves (10-23-4) at 7 p.m.
- RELATED:
- Click here for story on Saturday's game between Summerside Western Capitals and Fredericton Red Wings:
- Click here for story on Thursday's game between Summerside Western Capitals and Edmundston Blizzard:
- Click here for story on Carson MacKinnon offering his thoughts on returning home to join Summerside Western Capitals: