SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Forward Brodie MacArthur has an opportunity every junior hockey player dreams of.
He's been named the team captain of his hometown team – Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals – for the 2019-20 MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) season.
“I was pretty happy (to be named captain),” said MacArthur. “There have been a lot of good players who have worn the C for Summerside.
“It’s always a dream to be a leader here in Summerside and it’s time to get going again.”
MacArthur has become the face of the Capitals – and the chance to play just minutes from his home is not lost on the third-year business student at UPEI.
“It’s obviously cool and this is my fourth year in Summerside,” said MacArthur. “The goal has always been to bring the trophy to Summerside and we get one more chance at that.”
Capitals head coach Billy McGuigan described MacArthur as “the perfect guy to lead” the Caps.
“Brodie MacArthur has been an outstanding citizen in Summerside since he was a child,” said McGuigan, who noted the Caps will name assistant captains down the road. “He’s a great kid, he’s a great Summerside Capitals’ ambassador within the community, he’s had tremendous seasons here, his development since the first day he walked in the Caps’ dressing room until the end of last season has been exceptional.”
McGuigan said selecting a captain is a process the organization takes seriously.
“Being a captain is a big role,” said McGuigan. “It takes maturity, the coaches lean on you for a lot of things – obviously, leadership in the dressing room, being a go-between the players and coaches, working with the coaches to better the hockey club and with management to do a lot of community events.
“As a coach I put a lot of weight on the captain’s shoulders because I expect him to do a lot of community events.
“We are out with minor hockey as much as we can, we are in the schools talking to young students and there are a number of things that come with being captain.”
Parallels to father’s career
What makes MacArthur’s appointment extra special for the 20-year-old son of Rodney and Kim MacArthur are the parallels to his father’s junior career.
Rodney was captain of the Charlottetown Abbies in the late 1980s and was a finalist for Canadian junior A hockey player of the year in 1989. For the 2018-19 season, Brodie was named the MHL’s (Maritime Junior Hockey League) player of the year and a finalist for the national player-of-the-year and forward award.
“It’s pretty cool in that we have both had pretty much similar junior careers to this point,” said the younger MacArthur.
Ironically, McGuigan was the stick boy for the Abbies and sees a lot of leadership similarities between father and son.
“I remember being a real young guy and Rodney being an excellent leader and captain,” said McGuigan. “Rodney was a quiet leader but always defended his teammates and was a great player on the ice.
“Brodie comes from an exceptional family, they are all great people and that’s what makes him an exceptional leader.”
MacArthur has previous experience as a team captain with the Summerside bantam AAA team during the 2013-14 captain.
“I like to make sure everyone is in a good mood at the rink, stay positive and I also try to lead by example and hopefully other people will follow,” he said. “Being captain you obviously have to be in the community a little more, you are leaned on to talk to the referees more, you are talking more to the coaches making sure everyone is in a good mood, everyone is on the same page and I’m ready for that.”
Asked if there has been any particular captain who has influenced him, MacArthur immediately referred to his time with the Kensington Wild major midget team.
“I would probably go way back to my first year of midget when Parker Ronahan was our captain,” he continued. “It was kind of the first year where you are playing more against men and he always had a good attitude, kept everyone on the same page and being positive. That’s what I’m going to try to do as captain.”
Extra motivation
MacArthur, who ran away with the MHL scoring title and tied Darcy Tuplin’s franchise record for 110 regular-season points, admits he is entering his final year of junior A eligibility with extra motivation after last season’s disappointing playoff exit. The Caps, who entered the post-season as the No. 1 seed, were eliminated in six games by the Campbellton Tigers in the Eastlink North Division final.
“Everyone who was a part of the team last year felt the disappointment and has been working hard all summer to get ready,” said MacArthur. “Everyone is ready to get redemption for last year.”
McGuigan said MacArthur’s focus for the upcoming season has been evident.
“He’s working harder than he’s ever worked before,” said McGuigan. “He has a sour taste in his mouth and fire in his belly after last season.”
Statistics
Recent statistics for Brodie MacArthur:
2018-19
Summerside Western Capitals
(Junior A)
Regular Season – 50 games, 43 goals, 67, assists, 110 points, 24 penalty minutes.
Playoffs – 10 games, 2 goals, 6 assists, 8 points, 2 penalty minutes.
2017-18
Summerside Western Capitals
Regular season – 45 games, 29 goals, 60 assists, 89 points, 20 penalty minutes.
Playoffs – 12 games, 4 goals, 17 assists, 21 points, 4 penalty minutes.
2016-17
Summerside Western Capitals
Regular season – 50 games, 15 goals, 35 assists, 50 points, 16 penalty minutes.
Playoffs – 10 games, 1 goal, 5 assists, 6 points, 4 penalty minutes.
2015-16
Kensington Wild
(Major Midget)
Regular season – 35 games, 20 goals, 40 assists, 60 points, 36 penalty minutes.
Playoffs – 4 games, 0 goals, 5 assists, 5 points.
2014-15
Kensington Wild
Regular season – 35 games, 9 goals, 13 assists, 22 points, 18 penalty minutes.
Playoffs – 6 games, 2 goals, 2 assists, 4 points, 2 assists.
2013-14
Summerside Capitals
(Bantam AAA)
Regular season – 30 games, 34 goals, 49 assists, 83 points, 8 penalty minutes.
Playoffs – 6 games, 2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points, 4 penalty minutes.
2012-13
Summerside Capitals
Regular season – 30 games, 23 goals, 15 assists, 38 points.
Playoffs – 12 games, 4 goals, 7 assists, 11 points, 4 penalty minutes.
