Big test Saturday

Summerside’s team defence to be tested against nationally-ranked Lumberjacks

One key to the Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals’ recent hot streak has been stingy defence.

The Caps entered Friday night’s road game against the Miramichi Timberwolves having outscored their opposition 25-8 in their five previous games, including two shutouts by Dominik Tmej.

“We have been keeping it tight, and working as a unit,” said Caps’ second-year defenceman Brodie MacMillan of Stratford following Thursday night’s 7-0 whitewashing of the St. Stephen Aces at Eastlink Arena. “We have been down bodies (playing with 14 and 15 skaters recently), and really working hard in practice.”

Caps forward TJ Shea, who took a 14-game point streak into Friday’s game, said the team’s defence is a big part of the recent success. The Caps went into Friday’s game having won three in a row and four out of five.

“That’s where it starts with the defence,” said the 19-year-old Shea, who’s from Anglo-Tignish. “They (defence) pass it up to the forwards.

“They are playing solid back there, every one of them, and that’s what’s creating our offence right now.”

The Caps will face a stiff test on Saturday night, when the Maritime Junior Hockey Leagueleading South Shore Lumberjacks from Bridgewater, N.S., pay their first visit to Eastlink Arena. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. The Lumberjacks were ranked 10th in this week’s Canadian Junior A Hockey League rankings.

“They are the top team in the league, they have a bunch of goal-scorers and it’s really going to be a big test of us defensively,” said MacMillan, who has earned the respect of his teammates and coaches by playing a steady stay-at-home defensive style.

MacMillan and the rest of the Caps will have their hands full against the Lumberjacks, who went into Friday’s game against Amherst having scored a leaguehigh 92 goals while surrendering a league-low 54 goals.

“We have to contain them, keep our bodies in the middle, work as a unit,” said MacMillan in describing the Caps’ approach on Saturday. “They work good as a team, they do not play as individual players and it will be a tough challenge.”

An often overlooked fact about the Caps’ recent strong defensive play is they have been doing it with just four regular defencemen – MacMillan, Sebastien Cormier, rookie Jordan Spence and Jesse Annear – and different affiliated callups.

MacMillan agreed that, assuming everyone can stay injuryfree, having only four regulars can be beneficial.