SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals have a simple formula for success, both on and off the ice: a team-first attitude.
It is this approach that helped the Caps earn the 2019-20 Roger Meek executive of the year award for the Maritime Junior Hockey League on Friday. The award honours the memory of Meek, a Kensington native who was a longtime executive at the junior A level.
“That was excellent to receive that award,” said Pat McIver, who reached the 300-win mark as Capitals' general manager during the past season. “We truly have a great team from the coaches to trainers to the executive to the off-ice people.
“I am not going to mention any names because I will always forget someone, but everybody in our whole organization pulls on the rope and that’s how we have a lot of success in Summerside. I am honoured for everybody in the organization.”
Caps' head coach Billy McGuigan agreed.
“Any time you receive a league award it is a testament to your organization and the group of people you work with,” said McGuigan, who was named the Maritime and Canadian junior A coach of the year in 2020. “We have great people here, we work hard and have a little bit of fun on the side, too.”
The Caps cruised to a league-best 42-7-3 (won-lost-overtime losses) record and were ranked as high as second in the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s top-20 rankings. The league's playoffs were cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19 strain) pandemic.
Mike James, a member of the Caps’ ownership group, praised the efforts of all involved with the organization.
“It’s a true testament to all the hard work by all our guys, all of the coaching staff and all the hard work that is put in by Pat and his staff.”
