Caps double Wildcats
Muirhead nets hat trick; MacArthur, Chaddock also record three points
It was a successful trip to Berwick, N.S., for the Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals on Saturday.
Kallum Muirhead scored a hat trick while Brodie MacArthur and Chad Chaddock each had three-point efforts to lead the Capitals to an 8-4 decision over the Valley Wildcats.
The Capitals, who sit second in the Eastlink North Division of the MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League), improved to 27-14-1-0 (wonlost-overtime losses-shootout losses).
The Wildcats, who are in the basement of the six-team Eastlink South Division, dropped to 14-26-1-1.
The Caps remain eight points behind the division- and league-leading Edmundston Blizzard (30-9-3-0), and nine points in front of the thirdplace Miramichi Timberwolves (20-13-3-3), who do have three games in hand.
Extends point streak
Before 310 fans at the Kings Mutual Century Centre, MacArthur had a goal and two assists to extend his point streak to 29 consecutive games. Chaddock, meanwhile, collected three helpers.
TJ Shea, who leads the MHL in scoring with 96 points in 41 regular-season games, netted a pair of goals while Zach Thususka and Riley Smith added single tallies for the Capitals, who have scored a leagueleading 177 goals in 42 regularseason games. Jordan Spence (2), Sebastien Cormier, Brodie MacMillan, Cameron Roberts, Thomas Harper and Sam Lau were credited with assists. Taylor Ewing netted a hat trick for the Wildcats, who received a goal and two helpers off the stick of Riley Cunningham.
The Caps built period leads of 4-1 and 7-2.
Alex Bishop earned the goaltending win with a 33-save effort. Wildcats goaltender Graham Dynes also faced 37 shots.
The game’s three stars were:
1. Kallum Muirhead (Caps),
2. Taylor Ewing (Wildcats), 3. Chris Chaddock (Caps). The Caps’ next game is on the road against the Campbellton Tigers (20-17-2-1) on Saturday, Feb. 17.
The Caps return to Eastlink Arena for an Islander Day matinee against the St. Stephen Aces (9-29-0-1) on Monday, Feb. 19, at 2 p.m.