Caps back on home ice
Western Capitals host Amherst in first home game since Nov. 21
SUMMERSIDE – The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals are about to experience a first in the franchise’s 40-year history.
When the Capitals skate onto Eastlink Arena ice to face off with the Amherst Ramblers tonight, it will mark the first time there will be no fans in the stands for a home game.
“In keeping aligned with the Chief Public Health Office’s (CPHO) current guidelines, while also keeping the best interests of our players and their billet families in mind, there will be no tickets available for this game, and season-ticket holders will not be able to attend,” read an announcement released by the Caps on social media Monday night.
“We are working on a plan for our season-ticket holders and will share more information as soon as we know more.”
The Caps recently received permission to travel to Nova Scotia for Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) games. However, all team officials making those trips must adhere to work isolation rules that include being tested three times following each trip.
The Caps played in Truro and Amherst last weekend. It marked the team’s first games since Nov. 21.
Everyone on the weekend trip with the Caps had their first COVID-19 test on Monday morning, said head coach Billy McGuigan.
“It’s certainly nice to be back playing, but it’s not ideal circumstances with the whole work isolation and no fans,” said McGuigan.
McGuigan is currently the only staff member with the team. Along with coaching by himself, the veteran head coach is setting up the equipment and performing the training staff’s duties.
“You like to have full staff there and everyone doing their thing,” said McGuigan. “Reality is that’s not the way it can go right now.
“We want the players to be playing here. It’s not ideal for the organization financially; it’s not ideal for me to work isolate and coach on my own and it’s not ideal for the players. It is what it is, and we are taking it just as that. It’s great to be back on the ice; it’s great to be back playing.”
EMPTY BUILDING
The fact they will be playing in an empty building will be a different experience for the Capitals, one of the topdrawing teams in the 12-team league that has franchises from Campbellton, N.B., to Yarmouth, N.S.
“You don’t notice it as much in the other teams’ rinks because you don’t draw a whole lot of energy from them anyway,” said Caps forward and captain Josh MacDonald. “When you go out for warmups, you definitely notice it, but whenever the game gets going, it gets a little easier, and you don’t see them as much.”
SPLIT GAMES
The Capitals split two road games last weekend, defeating the Truro Bearcats 8-1 on Saturday night and losing 7-3 to the Amherst Ramblers on Sunday evening.
“(Sunday’s result) just reminded us we have some more work to do before we are back to the way we usually play,” said MacDonald.
McGuigan said there are parts of the team’s game he liked and other areas that need some work following last week's two games.
Considering the team had not played since November and last weekend marked the first games of six recent additions – forwards Luke Strickland, Mark Hillier, Cole Galata, Justin Ertel; defenceman Ed McNeill and goaltender Nathan Torchia – the head coach was not disappointed.
“We scored 11 goals and played pretty solid,” said McGuigan. “We are looking forward to moving forward.”
RECORDS
The Capitals are 4-2-1 (won-lost-overtime losses), and the Ramblers are 10-3-1. McGuigan felt the final score of Sunday’s game at the Amherst Stadium was not indicative of the play.
“I thought we carried parts of the game (early) against Amherst and even later in the game,” said McGuigan, who said two short-handed goals by Amherst late in the second period that turned a 2-1 lead into a 4-1 advantage was the turning point.
“They got two power-play goals, and then they got two short-handed goals.
Special teams were the difference.
“I take that on a little bit myself with the preparation. Going into the games and adding five new players (skaters), it’s been a juggling act trying to figure out who’s playing on the power play and who’s on the penalty kill and what guys are going to fit into what situations.”
One area of focus in practice this week has been the power play, which went 2-for-10 last weekend. McGuigan acknowledged the Caps have “not had a great opportunity” to work on the power play, and he’s confident it will improve.
“Everybody will get an opportunity the first few games, and then you set your power-play units up from performance,” said McGuigan.
ROSTER MOVES
With the influx of new players, the Caps have made some recent roster moves. Forward Austin Arsenault of Richmond has joined the Western Red Wings of the Island Junior Hockey League (IJHL). Goaltender Mavrick Goyer and forward Jake Kyle are now playing in the IJHL with the Kensington Vipers.