Jason La Rose
The Summerside Western Capitals are atop the MHL for the first time in four years on the back of one of the best regular seasons in franchise history. The Capitals were actually under .500 in late September, but didn’t lose back-to-back games the rest of the way en route to 40 wins in 50 tries. Summerside posted a +127 goal differential (247-120) that was far and away the best in the league, and the individual stats reflected that; Brodie MacArthur (43-67—110) won the MHL scoring title – the first of five Capitals in the top 20, while Dominik Tmej led all goaltenders in GAA for second season in a row (2.24) while also posting league-best marks in wins (26), shutouts (7) and save percentage (.929).
PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS North Division 1) Summerside Western Capitals vs. 4) St. Stephen Aces 2) Campbellton Tigers vs. 3) Edmundston Blizzard
South Division 1) Yarmouth Mariners vs. 4) Truro Bearcats 2) Amherst Ramblers vs. 3) South Shore Lumberjacks
FINAL STANDINGS (W-L-OTL) North Division Summerside – 82 points (40-8-2) Campbellton – 68 points (31-13-6) Edmundston – 59 points (26-17-7) St. Stephen – 43 points (20-27-3) Miramichi – 41 points (19-28-3) Grand Falls – 33 points (13-30-7)
South Division Yarmouth – 77 points (36-9-5) Amherst – 75 points (36-11-3) South Shore – 57 points (27-30-3) Truro – 53 points (24-21-5) Pictou County – 51 points (22-21-7) Valley – 16 points (6-40-4)
LEADING SCORERS Brodie MacArthur (Summerside) – 43G 67A 110P Jean-Simon Belanger (Grand Falls) – 36G 40A 76P Matt Barron (Yarmouth) – 31G 41A 72P Logan Johnston (Edmundston) – 27G 43A 70P Kallum Muirhead (Summerside) – 35G 34A 69P
LEADING GOALTENDERS Dominik Tmej (Summerside) – 26-4-2, 2.24 GAA, .929 SV%, 7 SO Tristan Gray (Campbellton) – 16-8-3, 2.35 GAA, .924 SV%, 3 SO Daniel Thompson (Summerside) – 14-4-0, 2.42 GAA, .921 SV%, 1 SO Matt Williams (Amherst) – 24-7-3, 2.51 GAA, .924 SV%, 4 SO Tyler Caseley (Yarmouth) – 25-7-2, 2.55 GAA, .911 SV%, 2 SO
LAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCE 2013 (Summerside Western Capitals – runners-up; Truro Bearcats – fifth place)
TOTAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES 27 (2013, 2013 (host), 2012, 2009, 2008, 2003 (host), 2002 (host), 1999, 1997 (host), 1996, 1994, 1993, 1993 (host), 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1989 (host), 1988, 1987, 1986, 1986 (host), 1985, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1971)
LAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2002 (Halifax Oland Exports)
TOTAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2 (2002, Halifax Oland Exports; 1997, Summerside Western Capitals)