Western Capitals advance

Summerside to face Campbellton in division final

SUMMERSIDE – The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals are onto Round 2 of the Maritime Junior Hockey League Canadian Tire playoffs for the fourth year in a row.

The Capitals defeated the St. Stephen Aces 5-3 on Saturday night to sweep the best-of-seven Eastlink North Division semifinal.

The Caps will face the Campbellton Tigers in the best-of-seven division final, which is expected to start at Eastlink Arena in Summerside this weekend. The Tigers blanked the Edmundston Blizzard 5-0 on Saturday night to win the other semifinal 4-1.

Forward Coleton Perry of North Bedeque scored a goal, assisted on another and was named the first star in the Tigers victory.

Perry, a product of the Kyle Dunn-coached Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild major midget program, is in his second season with the Tigers.

He had one goal and three assists in the five-game series versus Edmundston.

Before 1,040 fans at the Garcelon Civic Centre, Dylan Riley and Sullivan Sparkes each scored twice for the Caps, who received a goal and an assist from captain T.J. Shea. Sparkes, who started the season with the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, recorded a series-high eight points – three goals and five assists.

Brodie MacArthur, Noah Massie, Ryan MacDonald, Kallum Muirhead, Jacob Arsenault, Kyle Nichol, Brodie MacMillan and Conor MacEachern contributed assists for the Caps.

Zach Alchorn, Michael Waugh and Michael Johnson countered for the Aces. Brandon Costa (2), Everett Hicks, Kaden Moravek and Evan White were credited with helpers.

The Capitals built a 4-0 lead just past the 13-minute mark of the opening period, and went on to lead 4-2 after the first and second periods.

The final shots-on-goal totals were 38-26 in favour of the Caps. Dominik Tmej earned the win over Joey May.