Annear to make season debut

Western Capitals defenceman expected in lineup tonight in St. Stephen

The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals have had a lighter schedule so far this season than any other team in the MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League).

Despite that, they continue to hold a five-point lead over the Campbellton Tigers atop the Eastlink North Division.

The Caps do trail the Eastlink South Division’s Yarmouth Mariners by 11 points in the overall standings, but they have six games in hand. The Mariners and Capitals are currently ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Canadian Junior Hockey League.

The light schedule has made it difficult for the Caps to maintain momentum, acknowledges team manager Pat McIver, but he said they are still finding ways to win. Their way to victory during their last outing, last Saturday at home, was goaltender Dominik Tmej, who turned aside all 59 Tigers shots in a 3-0 shutout win.

The Caps are in action just once this weekend, travelling to the Garcelon Civic Centre Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. game against the St. Stephen Aces.

They will have three road games during the Christmas period: Dec. 21 in Grand Falls, N.B., Dec. 22 in Edmundston, N.B., and Dec. 29 against the Valley Wildcats in Nova Scotia. They will be back home for a New Year’s Eve game against the Wildcats. McIver said the Caps expect to have defenceman Jesse Annear back for his first game of the season Saturday in St. Stephen, N.B. They will be missing Noah Massie who has been recalled by the Charlottetown Islanders.