Capitals defeat Bearcats to capture league crown

SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. – The Summerside Western Capitals entered the 2021-22 season with championship aspirations and met those expectations on home ice Monday.

The Capitals won the franchise’s fifth Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) title, defeating the Truro Bearcats 4-1 to win the best-of-seven final series in five games.

“It’s tough to put it into words,” said forward and team captain Josh Macdonald, the longest-tenured Capital in his fifth and final season. “It’s been a long time coming.

“We could have (potentially) had it a couple of years (if not for COVID). It feels great to lift (the Canadian Tire Cup) up for the guys who couldn’t be here. Five years in the making, it feels pretty good right now.”

Fourth-year forward Marc Richard scored two goals to spark the Capitals, who move on to represent the MHL at the Centennial Cup national championship in Estevan, Sask., May 19-29. Luke Munroe netted the Truro goal.

The City of Summerside was scheduled to host the Fred Page Cup Eastern Canadian junior A hockey championship in mid-may, but that event, along with all other Centennial Cup-qualifying tournaments, were cancelled. Instead, the Centennial Cup will proceed with 10 teams – champions of the nine leagues under the CJHL umbrella and a host team.

“At the end of the day, the goal is to win and keep winning and win as much as you can,” said Caps head coach Billy Mcguigan. “We are heading to nationals now, and the Fred Page Cup, not hosting it, is a tough pill to swallow for the community and the town here, but going straight to nationals is a pretty good accomplishment. We are happy to be going.”

Caps forward Colby Macarthur was named the most valuable player of the playoffs.

Macarthur, the league’s top point-getter in the regular season, scored eight goals and recorded 11 assists for 19 points in 14 post-season games.