SUMMERSIDE – Young, fast and hard working.
Those are three words that come up when discussing the current edition of the Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals, members of the MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League).
“We are a pretty fast team,” said Caps assistant captain Brodie MacArthur of Summerside. “We are still pretty young, and have a lot of new guys.
“We are a hard-working team, very offensive and hopefully we can score some goals.”
Another third-year forward, Kallum Muirhead of Charlottetown, agreed.
“We are a very young team,” offered Muirhead. “We are fast, skilled and a very hard-working team that likes to grind it out and play tough.”
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The Caps’ roster includes six midget-aged players – Bennett MacArthur, Colby MacArthur, Josh MacDonald, Marc Richard, Ed McNeill and Hunter Bradley – and four players in their first year junior eligibility – Calum MacPherson, Chandler Wood, Kyle Nichol and Daniel Thompson. Returnees Zach Thususka and Cam Roberts are in their second year with the Caps.
“It’s very early in the season, and there are always bodies come through the door at certain points of the season, but right now I’m happy and optimistic with our team,” said Caps head coach Billy McGuigan. “We are a fast-paced team that can score goals.
“We are going to play with some pace, and I like that part of our game. We kind of have a little of everything in our lineup. We have scoring power, players who make great offensive plays and great goaltending.
“You’ll see a high offensive team that works hard. My motto has always been if you are the hardest-working team, everything else will fall into place.”
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Offence
The Caps’ offence is again led by the line of Roberts, MacArthur and team captain TJ Shea. The trio has collected 32 points in the team’s first four regular-season games.
“Our forward group, obviously getting the No. 1 line back and 240-odd points with Cam (Roberts), TJ and Brodie as the No. 1 line in the league again to start the season is huge,” said McGuigan. “Muirhead is chipping in with a few goals, Josh MacDonald, I think, is going to have a good season and Calum MacPherson is on that line.
“We have the line of Colby MacArthur, Bennett MacArthur and Kaden Peck, who had a couple of points on the weekend. Then we have Richard, (Austin) Taylor and Thususka, who played together up in Miramichi (in a 7-2 win on Sunday). Richard had two goals and an assist, Taylor brings his physical presence and Zach Thususka has really taken a step this year with his physical play.
“To fill out the forwards, our 13th forward is Chandler Wood, another guy who brings an extreme work ethic, talent, character every day, and as the season goes on I’m sure he will get in the lineup a little more.”
With veteran Jesse Annear recovering from off-season surgery, assistant captain Brodie MacMillan is the only returnee on the Caps’ blue-line, which includes newcomers McNeill, Bradley, Kyle Nichol, Michael Sivek and former Charlottetown Islander Noah Massie. McGuigan confirmed that 20-year-old defenceman Conor MacEachern of Charlottetown will be joining the Caps, and will be an assistant captain.
MacEachern, listed as six-foot-four and 198 pounds, played the three previous seasons with the Portland Winter Hawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He was scheduled to practise with the Caps on Friday.
Returnee Dominik Tmej and Thompson form the goaltending duo.
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Roster
Summerside Western Capitals’ current roster:
Goaltenders
Daniel Thompson, Riverview, N.B.
Dominik Tmej, Bradentown, Fla.
Defence
Ed McNeill, Summerside.
*Jesse Annear, Montague.
Hunter Bradley, Stratford.
Brodie MacMillan, Stratford.
Kyle Nichol, Hammonds Plains, N.S.
Michael Sivek, Staten Island, N.Y.
Noah Massie, St-Lazare, Que.
Conor MacEachern, Charlottetown.
Forwards
Austin Taylor, Summerside.
Kayden Peck, Victoria, B.C.
Kallum Muirhead, Charlottetown.
Bennett MacArthur, Summerside.
Colby MacArthur, Summerside.
Zach Thususka, Summerside.
Calum MacPherson, Antigonish, N.S.
Cam Roberts, Kensington.
Brodie MacArthur, Summerside.
Josh MacDonald, Cornwall.
Chandler Wood, O’Leary.
Marc Richard, Clinton.
TJ Shea, Tignish.
*: Denotes player injured.
