NEW GLASGOW, N.S. – The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals moved into first-place overall in the MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) on Thursday night.
Third-year forward and assistant captain Brodie MacArthur of Summerside scored a hat trick to provide the offensive spark in a 5-2 come-from-behind win over the Pictou County Crushers.
The win improved the Eastlink North Division-leading Caps’ record to 13-3-0 (won-lost-overtime losses), one point ahead of the South Division-leading Yarmouth Mariners (12-3-1). Yarmouth visits the Valley Wildcats (3-8-4) on Friday while the Caps’ next game is against the St. Stephen Aces (7-8-2) at Eastlink Arena on Saturday at 7 p.m.
The Caps were ranked 11th in this week’s Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings.
Click here for story on Caps breaking into CJHL rankings:
Four-goal third period
Before 580 fans at the Pictou County Wellness Centre, the Crushers led 2-1 after the first and second periods, but the Caps struck for four unanswered goals in the final 20 minutes.
MacArthur tied the game 5:54 into the final frame, and then netted what proved to be the game-winning goal on the power play less than two minutes later at 7:37. Former Charlottetown Islanders Noah Massie (1-2) and Sullivan Sparkes (1-1), who was making his Caps’ debut, contributed single goals while other assists were credited to TJ Shea (2), Cam Roberts, Sam Meisenheimer and Josh MacDonald.
Evan MacLennan and Dylan Riley replied for the Crushers (2-10-2).
Overall, the Capitals outshot the Crushers 36-32. Dominik Tmej earned the goaltending win over Matthew Normore.
The game’s three stars were:
1. Brodie MacArthur (Capitals), 2. Dominik Tmej (Capitals), 3. Evan MacLellan (Crushers).
