Quick start key for Western Capitals
Summerside squad looks to get the momentum early tonight against Miramichi
It’s back to work for the Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals.
The squad will play its first game in 12 days tonight when it hosts the Miramichi Timberwolves in Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) action. Game time is 7 p.m. at Credit Union Place.
“Every point is big here now in our league,” Caps head coach Billy McGuigan said Wednesday. “We’re fighting for first overall and that elusive home-ice advantage in the playoffs.”
Summerside (16-3-0-0) leads the Eastlink North Division while Miramichi (9-8-2-0) is fourth. The Capitals are five points back of the Yarmouth Mariners for the league lead and have three games in hand.
Summerside has won both meetings with the Timberwolves this season, 7-2 on Sept. 23 and 8-3 on Nov. 9. In the last game, the Capitals trailed 2-1 after the first period.
“The big key for us is going to be to get a better start this time,” McGuigan said.
Daniel Thompson will start in goal for the healthy Capitals.
Six Capitals and two staff members were returning to the Island Wednesday after taking part in the Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge in Quinte West, Ont. Forwards Kallum Muirhead, Brodie MacArthur, Cam Roberts and T.J. Shea as well as defencemen Noah Massie and Brodie MacMillan were part of Team North. McGuigan coached the squad while Caps head trainer and equipment manager John Blanchard was one of the team’s athletic therapists.
The team played three games in about 28 hours and travelled 14 hours back to the Maritimes.
“I’m sure they’re tired,” McGuigan said while in Port Elgin, N.B., on his way home. “But when it comes game time, and the puck drops, I’m hoping we can muster up enough energy to get through a 60-minute game and then we’re off again for another little stretch.”
This will be the Capitals last game of November.
McGuigan said he was pleased with how his squad, including the guys from the Capitals, performed in Ontario, going 1-1-1. He said Team South also turned in a strong 1-1-1 record and it helped earned the Maritime league respect from their peers.