SUMMERSIDE – The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals are now a top-10 team in the Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings.
The Capitals were listed at No. 7 in the most recent rankings, which were released Monday. The Caps moved into the national rankings at No. 11 last week after receiving honourable mentions in back-to-back weeks.
Along with the Capitals, two other MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) teams received recognition. The Yarmouth Mariners jumped from 17th to No. 12 while the Truro Bearcats picked up an honourable mention.
The Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League are ranked No. 1. Brooks has compiled a record of 17-2-0 (won-lost-overtime losses).
The CJHL listings recognize 20 teams each week and are compiled by an independent scouting service, which uses a variety of factors to determine the rankings.
Click here for story on Western Capitals' game vs. St. Stephen Aces on Saturday night:
Red hot
The Capitals, who have won five games in a row and 13 of their last 14, sit atop the Eastlink North Division at 14-3-0. The Caps, who have played one fewer game, are one point behind the Eastlink South Division-leading Mariners (14-3-1) in the overall standings of the 12-team league.
The Bearcats are third in the South Division at 11-4-2.
The Capitals, who have scored a league-leading 83 goals in 17 regular-season games, have four players in the top 10 in league scoring. Team captain TJ Shea of Anglo Tignish leads the MHL with 42 points (18-24), linemate and assistant captain Brodie MacArthur of Summerside is second with 33 points (12-21) and Kallum Muirhead of Charlottetown sits third with 28 points (16-12).
Sophomore Cam Roberts of Kensington is ninth with 22 points (6-16).
Summerside rookie goaltender Daniel Thompson of Riverview, N.B., sports the second-best goals-against average in the MHL at 2.14. Thompson has a 7-1 record in nine games and a .927 save percentage.
The Capitals’ next game is on the road against the Miramichi Timberwolves (8-7-2) on Friday night.
