EDMUNDSTON, N.B. – The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals put forth a valiant effort against the top team in the MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) on Friday night.
Despite facing a two-goal deficit three times, the Caps closed the gap to within one on all three occasions, only to drop a 4-3 road decision to the Edmundston Blizzard.
The win improved Edmundston’s record to 21-4-3-0 (won-lost-overtime losses-shootout losses), good enough for 45 points and four more than the Eastlink South Division-leading Yarmouth Mariners (20-6-1-0). The Caps dropped to 14-11-1-0.
At the Jean Daigle Centre, the teams played a scoreless first period, and the Blizzard took a 1-0 advantage into the second intermission.
Maxime Grandmaison (1-1), Gabriel Vanier (1-1), Alexandre Bernier and Vincent Rioux scored for the Blizzard.
Rookie Cameron Roberts scored a pair of power-play goals to lead the Capitals. TJ Shea had a goal and an assist to extend his point streak to 20 games. Shea has now accumulated 51 points during this stretch.
Jordan Spence (2) and Brodie MacArthur added assists for the Capitals.
Overall, the Blizzard outshot the Caps 35-26, including period advantages of 9-7, 14-8 and 12-11. Myles Hektor earned the goaltending win, and Rett Rook turned in a 31-save effort for the Caps, who will close out their pre-Christmas schedule at the Woodstock Slammers (7-16-3-1) on Saturday night.
Perry earns two assists
In other MHL action Friday night, two first-year players from the Summerside area who played with the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild of the New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Midget Hockey League last season recorded points for their respective teams.
In Campbellton, N.B., Coleton Perry of North Bedeque earned two assists to help the Campbellton Tigers to an 8-4 win over the Miramichi Timberwolves.
Perry now has eight points – two goals and six assists – in 26 regular-season games in his rookie season with the Tigers.
In Woodstock, N.B., Taylor Read of Wilmot Valley scored the lone goal for the Truro Bearcats, who lost 3-1 to the Woodstock Slammers.
Read has four goals and two assists for six points in 21 regular-season games.
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