HOT CORNER: All signs indicate a great year ahead for Western Capitals

It looks like a great year ahead for the Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals.
The Caps’ home opener in the MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) is Saturday at 7 p.m., and it comes at a great time as fans are anxious to get a look at what looks to be a solid and competitive team. Having their rivals and defending league-champion Edmundston Blizzard for the curtain-raiser adds to the excitement.

Click here for Western Capitals' team preview:

The Caps have a strong local content this year, with 16 P.E.I.-born players hailing from Tignish to Montague, including six from Summerside. The Caps have good size with eight of their 13 forwards, and seven of eight defencemen six feet tall or taller.
The Caps’ early-season 2-2 (won-lost) record indicates they are as good as any, and without doubt will be one of the better teams in the league. Local players, a good team and a well-balanced league will result in strong attendance for the Caps. If you are thinking about taking in Caps hockey this season, Saturday would be a great game to start with.

Click here for story on Western Capitals' home opener:

MHL notes   
Eastlink Community Television is a great supporter of junior hockey with their live broadcasts providing great exposure to both the MHL and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Eastlink will broadcast 10 MHL games this season, including two from Eastlink Arena in Summerside. Televised games take place Oct. 18 against St. Stephen, and Feb. 21 versus Grand Falls.
Speaking of Grand Falls, they had a crowd of 1,469 in their home opener last week. The Woodstock Slammers moved to Grand Falls for the 2018-19 season, and early indications are that it was a good decision to move the Slammers to the northern New Brunswick town of just over 5,300 people.
The Edmundston Blizzard had the best attendance numbers in the league last year, and look to be well on their way to doing the same this year. After three home games, the Blizzard is averaging 2,661 fans per game.

Work together
The Western Capitals and the Kensington Wild major midget program are two teams that draw good fan support. The Wild hosts the Moncton Flyers in Kensington on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., in what should be a great game.

Click here for story on Kensington Wild defenceman Zac Arsenault:

It is too bad that both the Caps and Wild play on the same night on a number of occasions. In fact, there are seven Saturdays this season when they both host games.
It hurts the attendance of both teams, and it is fair to note that Saturday was Wild night in Kensington before it was Capital night in Summerside. Sunday afternoon always worked so well for the Caps in the past.
Maybe, in the future, the two organizations could work together so that hockey fans can attend both, rather than have to choose.

Noah Dobson
It comes as no surprise that Noah Dobson was named captain of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. He is a leader on a rebuilding Titan team after winning a Memorial Cup last year.
It will be a real surprise if he finishes the year in Bathurst. Halifax hosts the Memorial Cup in May, and Dobson would be a great addition to the Mooseheads, or maybe even the Charlottetown Islanders?

Click here for story on Noah Dobson:

The Islanders are a contender to be the second Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team at the Memorial Cup, and having Dobson in their lineup may be enough to put them over the top. The Summerside native would certainly put some extra fans in the stands.
It would be a win-win situation for Charlottetown if they traded for Dobson as long as they didn't have to give the farm to get him, which likely will be the case.

MLB   
The Major League Baseball post-season gets underway on Tuesday with the National League wild-card game, followed by the American League wild-card game Wednesday.
The National League final standings are still undecided going into the last weekend of the regular season. Atlanta, Chicago and Milwaukee have clinched. Both Colorado and Los Angeles are in the driver’s seat to clinch, and St. Louis needs help.
The American League has been decided with Oakland and the New York Yankees in the wild-card game, with the winner meeting Boston. Cleveland and the defending World Series-champion Houston Astros open on Friday in Houston.
With the NHL about to start, the NFL in Week 4, the NBA about to start and MLB playoffs next week, what more could a sports fan ask for?
Have a great week!

Joe MacIntyre is a local life insurance broker. His column appears every Saturday. Comments and suggestions can be sent to joemacintyre18@gmail.com.