MIRAMICHI, N.B. – The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals are entering the MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) playoffs on a winning note.
The Capitals closed out the 2017-18 regular season with a 5-2 road win over the Miramichi Timberwolves to finish 33-16-1-0 (won-lost-overtime losses-shootout losses). The Caps finished with 67 points – good for third overall in the 10-team league.
“We are 27-6 in our last 33 games,” reflected Caps head coach Billy McGuigan. “Coming out of training camp we weren’t sure where we were going to fit into the league.
“We assumed we would be fighting for a playoff spot, looking forward to get into the fourth playoff spot. That was kind of the goal getting out of the gate.”
Before 847 fans at the Miramichi Civic Centre, Capitals’ first-year defenceman Jordan Spence of Cornwall earned four assists to finish the year with 52 points – 13 goals and 39 assists – in 50 games. Spence leads the league in rookie scoring, and teammate Cameron Roberts of Kensington is second in rookie scoring with 43 points – 18 goals and 25 assists – after contributing a goal and a helper against Miramichi.
“Spence was a kid who was very determined,” said McGuigan. “He had a good season last year with the (Charlottetown) Pride (major midget program), and developed there.
“He came to us and his comments to me throughout the summer were that he wasn’t going to play midget, and he was going to make our team. He would have said that to me in five different conversations.
“When you are talking to a 16-year-old kid that is that determined, you are kind of like, ‘OK, young fella, just have a good training camp and we’ll see how things go.’
“The kid made the team on his own. He worked, he was determined and even at the start of the season, even though I was trying to force my older guys into power-play situations, every time I put Jordan on the power play he would make something happen. It turned out at the end of the day he was our power-play quarterback, and was exceptional at both ends of the rink. His stats speak for themselves – 52 points as a 16-year-old kid in the Maritime Junior Hockey League. For me that’s unheard of.”
Here's a link to a feature story on Jordan Spence in November 2017:
Click here for story on Western Capitals starting playoffs Thursday:
Kallum Muirhead, who has five points in the last two games, scored a pair of goals for the Caps while Brodie MacArthur, who extended his point streak to 36 games, and TJ Shea chipped in with singles.
Shea and MacArthur, who are linemates with Roberts, sit first and second atop the league scoring race. Shea completed the regular season with 105 points in 48 regular-season games on the strength of 43 goals and 62 assists. In 45 games, MacArthur accumulated 89 points – 29 goals and 60 assists. McGuigan noted Roberts led the league in goals scored for rookies.
“This was a guy on Dec. 1 we weren’t really sure if we were going to keep him, send him back to midget or what our plans were,” admitted McGuigan. “The more he got in the lineup, and once that line came together with him playing with Brodie and TJ, Cam was the perfect fit.
“He has a very good hockey IQ, a good sense around the game, plays both ends of the rink and is very creative. Cam, TJ and Brodie became our best line, and I think the best line in the Maritime Hockey League.
“It was a special year for both TJ and Brodie. Brodie went to the Quebec league and played five games, but felt his development was better back with us playing more and in key situations, and we are ecstatic to have him. Once I put him and TJ back together they basically took over. They are sophomores, guys in their second seasons, and took really big steps.”
Brodie MacMillan (2), Chris Chaddock, Hunter McTague and Austin Taylor chipped in with assists for the Caps, who held period leads of 2-1 and 4-2.
Dylan Wheatley of Warren Grove and Matthew Kreis replied for the Timberwolves (23-21-3-3). Colby Tower, Walker Campbell, Jack DesRoches of Days Corner and Dillon Boucher earned assists.
Alex Bishop turned in a 38-save effort in earning the goaltending win. Tanner Somers allowed five goals on 33 shots for the Timberwolves.
The game’s three stars were:
1. Jordan Spence (Capitals), 2. Kallum Muirhead (Capitals), 3. Cameron Roberts (Capitals).
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