EDMUNDSTON, N.B. – The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals were part of history on Saturday night.
The Caps and host Edmundston Blizzard met in the first-ever game in the Centre Jean-Daigle before a soldout crowd of 2,641 fans.
The Blizzard, after spotting the Caps a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes, answered back with three unanswered second-period goals en route to a 3-2 victory in the MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) game. The short-staffed Caps, who played both games with 16 skaters, gave the Blizzard everything they could handle again on Sunday afternoon.
Edmundston needed two late goals to turn a 5-4 deficit into a 6-5 win.
“It was two games we were in and could have won them with a break here or there,” said Caps head coach Billy McGuigan, who was proud of the fact his team did not quit at any time in both games. “We had the lead and gave it up both days, but sometimes when you lose you win. We really came together with effort and compete level this weekend.”
McGuigan confirmed that third-year Caps forward Hunter McIntyre has left the team. McIntyre had seven points in 12 regular-season games this year.
Blizzard 6 Capitals 5
Alexandre Bernier’s power-play goal at 13:07 of the third period tied the game 5-5, and Alexandre Jacob (1-1) scored the winning goal 52 seconds later.
Kyle Ward (2), Jeffrey Akerley and Liam Conrad also scored for the Eastlink North Division-leading Blizzard, who sits at 11-3-0-0 (won-lost-overtime losses-shootout loses).
Jesse Annear (2), Brodie MacArthur (1-1), Josh MacDonald (1-1) and Austin Taylor countered for the Caps (6-8-1-0). TJ Shea, who was injured in the third period of Sunday’s game, recorded three assists to retake the lead atop the league scoring race with 28 points in 15 games. Shea is two points in front of South Shore’s Logan O’Neil.
The Blizzard led 3-2 after the first period, and the Caps took a 5-4 cushion into the final frame.
Overall, the Blizzard held a slim 31-29 shots-on-goal advantage. Greg Moon and Francis Asselin shared the goaltending duties for Edmundston. Rett Rook went the distance in goal for the Caps.
Blizzard 3 Capitals 2
Logan Johnston (2) Akerley scored for Edmundston on Saturday.
Shea had a goal and an assist for the Capitals. Jordan Spence, who is tied for the league lead in rookie scoring with 13 points in 14 games, also scored for the Caps.
Taylor, Zach Thususka and Cameron Roberts chipped in with assists for the Caps.
Asselin stopped 19 of 21 shots. Brayden Lachance turned aside 35 of 38 shots in his Capitals’ debut.
