Western Capitals sign forward Sahajpal

The Summerside Western Capitals have signed forward Kaidan Sahajpal, the team announced Monday afternoon via Facebook.

Sahajpal, 18, was drafted by the Western Capitals in the 10th round of the 2024 Maritime Hockey League Entry Draft.

The Mount Pearl, N.L., native scored 15 goals and 39 points in 28 games with The Winchendon School of the USHS-Prep in Massachusetts last season.

This season, Sahajpal has appeared in four games with the West Kelowna Warriors in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) and scored one goal.

Sahajpal should make his Capitals’ debut Friday Oct. 2 when they travel to Campbellton to take on the Tigers at 7 p.m. AST.

Full career stats here.

Western Capitals comeback in home opener to beat Crushers 4-3

SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. - The Summerside Western Capitals rallied back from a 3-1 second period deficit to beat the Pictou County Weeks Crushers 4-3 in a shootout Saturday night in the their home opener. 

Declan MacLauchlan scored the lone goal of the shootout to give the Western Capitals its third straight win of the season and improve to 3-2-0-0. The Crushers fall to 1-2-0-1 on the young season.

Matthew MacLean, Justin Ouellette and Lane Sim tallied goals in regulation time for the Capitals. Tanner Hayden scored twice for the Crushers as Ryan Walsh also tallied a goal for the visitors.

The Crushers opened the scoring at the 13:55 mark of the first period with Hayden’s first of the game and first of the season on a seeing eye wrist shot. Brennan O’Donnell and Rory Pilling drew assists. 

Summerside tied the game at 18:52 with MacLean’s second goal of the season. Maverick Hayes and Owen MacPherson drew assists. 

In the second period, Hayden added his second goal of the game at 11:23 on a (Caps goaltender) Max Picard and Hayes misplay in front of the Caps net. 

The Crushers took a 3-1 lead at 14:04 with Ryan Walsh scoring his third goal of the season. Quinn Price and Owen Bell drew assists. 

Summerside made it a 3-2 game at 17:22 with Ouellette’s fourth goal of the season. MacLauchlan drew the lone assist. 

In the third period, Sim tied the game at 10:53 with his third of the season after a little bit of chaos in front of the Crushers net. Ouellette and Lincoln Waugh drew assists. 

Regulation proved nothing and went into overtime. 

Picard made a big save on a penalty shot from Hayden with under a minute left in the extra frame to force the game to a shootout.

In the shootout, Crushers players Brody Ford, Hayden and Pilling were all stopped by Picard. Ouellette and Waugh couldn’t score before MacLauchlan shot last to seal the deal for the Western Capitals.

Picard made 24 saves in the win for Summerside. Jake Poirier made 43 saves in the loss for the Crushers but still earned third star honours.

Full game recap here.

The Western Capitals next game is Friday Oct. 2 in Campbellton against the Tigers for a 7 p.m. AST start.

Western Capitals take down Crushers 5-2

PICTOU COUNTY, N.S. - Declan MacLauchlan scored twice to help lead the Summerside Western Capitals to a 5-2 win over the Pictou County Weeks Crushers Thursday night at the Pictou County Wellness Centre. 

The Capitals win their second straight game and improve to 2-2-0-0 on the season, while the Crushers fall to 1-2-0-0. 

In additional to MacLauchlan’s two goals, Justin Ouellette (1-1), Owen MacPherson and Eli Swain tallied goals for the visiting Capitals. Brennan O’Donnell and Ryan Walsh scored for the Crushers. 

Summerside opened the scoring at 7:11 with Swain, who was called up for the game, scoring his first career MHL goal. Matthew MacLean drew the lone assist.  

Just 26 seconds later, the Crushers tied the game with O’Donnell’s second goal of the season. Rory Pilling drew the lone assist. 

MacLauchlan restored the lead for the Capitals at 17:40 with a power play goal for his second of the season. Aiden Diamond and Lane Sim drew assists. 

In the second period, MacPherson gave the Capitals a 3-1 lead with his third goal of the season at 1:06. Isaac Taweel drew the lone assist. 

Exactly 30 second later, MacLauchlan added his second of the contest to give the Western Capitals a 4-1 lead. Ouellette drew the lone assist. 

The Crushers cut the lead in half at 9:46 with Walsh scoring on the power play for his second goal of the season.  Braylan Fitzgerald and Owen Bell drew assists. 

Summerside took a 5-2 lead at 11:14 with Ouellette’s third goal of the season. Luke Inman and Sim drew assists. 

There was no scoring in the third period. 

Vincent Gladu made 19 saves to pick up his first win as a Western Capital. Former Capitals goaltender George Gallant made 26 saves in the loss for the Crushers. 

Full game recap can be found here. 

Both teams will battle again Saturday Sept. 26 in the Western Capitals' home opener at 7 p.m. AST.

MacLean handed suspension

Summerside Western Capitals forward Dylan MacLean has been handed a one-game suspension by the Maritime Hockey League (MHL) on Tuesday.

The suspension on the MHL website has been listed as a "blind side hit major" infraction. The incident occurred Sunday Sept. 21 in the Capitals' 7-2 win in Grand Falls against the Rapids.

MacLean, 18, was acquired by the Western Capitals earlier this month and has zero points in three games. He will miss the Capitals' game in Pictou County against the Crushers on Thursday Sept. 24. MacLean is eligible to return to the Capitals' line-up on Saturday Sept. 26 for its home opener against the Crushes at 7 p.m. AST.

In other Capitals' news, forward Justin Ouellette was named to the MHL Eastlink South Team of the Week for Week 2 after potting two goals and five points in two games.

Western Capitals dominate Rapids 7-2 for first win of season

GRAND FALLS, N.B. - Justin Ouellette picked up three points to lead the Summerside Western Capitals to its first win of the season Sunday afternoon at the E. & P. Senechal Centre.

The Western Capitals cruised to a 7-2 win over the Grand Falls Rapids to improve to 1-2-0-0 on the young season and wrap up its Northern New Brunswick road trip. The Rapids fall to 1-2-1-0 on the season.

Ouellette scored twice and added an assist as Owen MacPherson (1-1), Matthew MacLean, Declan MacLauchlan, Matthew Ferdinand and Isaac Taweel netted goals for the Western Capitals. Jordan Shaw and Maverick Hayes each chipped in with two assists.

The Capitals opened the scoring at the 7:23 mark of the first period with a power play goal from MacLean for his first goal of the season. Gavin Smith and MacPherson drew assists.

Just 2:10 later, the Capitals took a two-goal lead with MacLauchlan’s first career MHL goal. Shaw and Ouellette drew assists.

In the second period, the Capitals made it 3-0 at 7:37 with Ferdinand’s first goal as a Cap. Captain Hayes drew the lone assist.

Taweel made it 4-0 with his first goal of the season at 12:13 with an unassisted marker.

The Rapids got on the board at 17:12 with Jonah Leard’s second goal of the season. Zackarie Michaud and Kaden Bell drew assists. 

Grand Falls made it a 4-2 game just 1:42 later with Patrick Baxter netting his first goal of the season. Antoine L’Italien dew the lone assist.

In the third period, Ouellette restored the three-goal lead for the Capitals with his first goal of the season at 5:32 on the power play. Aiden Diamond and Cade Moser drew assists.

Exactly one minute later, MacPherson scored his second of the season to give the Capitals a 6-2 lead. Max Gamble and Hayes drew assists.

Summerside took a 7-2 lead at 12:24 with Ouellette’s second goal of the game. Shaw drew the lone assist. 

Maxence Picard earned the win in between the pipes for the Western Capitals with 22 saves. The win marks Picard's first career MHL win. For the Rapids, Dax Robichaud took the loss with 33 saves.

Full game recap can be found here.

Summerside returns to action Thursday Sept. 24 when they travel to Stellarton, N.S., for a road game against the Pictou County Crushers at 7 p.m. AST. The Capitals then finally return home for its home opener on Saturday Sept. 26, 2026 against the Crushers at 7 p.m. AST.

Other game notes:
-For the last two games, the Capitals dressed call-up player Dixon Beatty.
-Capitals forward Dylan MacLean was assessed a five-minute charging major followed by five-minute fighting major and a game misconduct. It will be interesting to see what type of suspension is handed down by the MHL.

Blizzard storms Capitals 7-2

EDMUNDSTON, N.B. - The Edmundston Blizzard scored early and never looked back in a 7-2 win over the Summerside Western Capitals Saturday night at Centre Jean Daigle. 

The Blizzard scored just 25 seconds into the contest and built an early 3-0 lead to take full control of the game.  

With the win, the Blizzard improves to 1-1-0-0 on the season.  Summerside drops to a 0-2-0-0 record to start the season. 

Michael Arsenault led the way for the Blizzard with four points (1-3), while

William Labranche (2-1), Justin Bouchard (1-1), Charles-Eric Tremblay (1-1), Noah Larochelle and François-Xavier Mercier netted goals for the Blizzard. 

Scoring for the Capitals were Lane Sim and Owen MacPherson. 

Labranche opened the scoring 25 seconds in with his first goal of the season. Alexis Chénard drew the lone assists. 

The Blizzard made it 2-0 at 2:54 with Tremblay’s first goal of the season. Arsenault and Labranche drew assists. 

At 14:59, Mercier gave the Blizzard a 3-0 lead with his first of the season. Darien Thomson drew the lone assist. 

The Capitals got on the board at 19:33 with a power play marker from Sim for his second of the season. Justin Ouellette and Jordan Shaw drew assists. 

In the second period, the Blizzard regained the three-goal lead at 11:08 with Bouchard’s first of the season. Arsenault drew the lone assist.

Edmundston made it 5-1 at 15:36 with Labranche’s second goal of the game. Bouchard and Arsenault drew assists.

In the third period, the Capitals cut the lead to 5-2 at 2:22 with MacPherson’s first goal of the season. Isaac Taweel drew the lone assist.

The Blizzard regained the four-goal lead at 9:13 with a power play goal from Larochelle for his second of the season. Tremblay and Chenard drew assists.

Arsenault capped off the scoring with a short-handed goal at 16:01 for his first of the season and fourth point of the night. Lucas Fortin drew the lone assist.

Former Capitals goaltender William Stonehouse made 15 saves in the win for the Blizzard.

Vincent Gladu took the loss for the Western Capitals stopping 15 of 20 shots faced through two periods of play. Maxence Picard made eight saves on 10 shots in relief in the third period.

Full game recap can be found here.
 

The Capitals are back in action Sunday afternoon in Grand Falls, N.B. against the Rapids at 3 p.m. AST.

Caps lose season opener to Bearcats

TRURO, N.S. - The Summerside Western Capitals fell 6-3 in its season opener to the Truro Bearcats Saturday night at Rath Eastlink Community Centre. 

With the loss, the Capitals start the young season with an 0-1-0-0 record while the Bearcats improve to 2-0-0-0. 

 

James Martin led the way for the Bearcats with a pair of goals including the eventual game winner in the second period. Callum Aucoin (1-1), Seth MacKenzie (1-1), Antoine Fontaine (1-1) and Ryan Sutherland also netted goals for the Bearcats. 

Lane Sim, Gavin Smith and Luke Inman scored goals for the Capitals as Cade Moser chipped in with two assists. 

The Capitals got on the board first at 5:09 of the first period with a power play goal from Sim. Moser and Aiden Diamond drew assists. 

Truro tied the game at 12:58 with Martin’s first of the game. Logan Quinn and MacKenzie drew assists. 

The Bearcats took a 2-1 lead at 14:28 with MacKenzie’s second goal of the season. Nathan Curson and Jace Evan’s drew assists. 

In the second period, the Bearcats took a 3-1 lead at 7:14 with Fontaine’s second goal of the season coming on the power play.  Aucoin and Caylen Blake drew assists. 

Truro made it 4-1 at the 8:00 mark of the second period with Martin’s second of the game. 

In the third period, the Bearcats took a 5-1 lead at 1:43 with a short-handed goal from Sutherland for his second of the season. Fontaine and Tristan St-Gelais drew assists. 

Just 1:14 later, the Capitals made it a 5-2 game with a power play goal from Smith for his first of the season and first as a Cap. Declan MacLauchlan and Matthew MacLean drew assists. 

Summerside got within two goals at 11:50 with Inman’s first career MHL goal. Moser and Isaac Taweel drew assists. 

The Bearcats wrapped up the scoring at 18:26 with an empty-net goal from Aucoin for his third of the season. Cedrik Laberge drew the lone assist. 

Louca Connolly made 25 saves to pick up the win for the Bearcats. As for the Capitals, Vincent Gladu recorded the loss with 15 saves. 

Full game summary can be found here. 

The Western Capitals’ next game is Saturday Sept. 19 in Edmundston against the Blizzard at 7:30 p.m. AST. 

Western Capitals name Hayes captain

 

 

The Summerside Western Capitals have named defenceman Maverick Hayes as its captain for the 2026-27 season. 

Hayes becomes the 41st captain in Capitals history. The Capitals announced the news via Facebook on Saturday ahead of its season opener in Truro. 

Hayes, 20, joined the Capitals last season in January after coming over from the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). In nine games with the Capitals last season, the Ottawa, Ont., native scored one goal and three points. In 14 playoff games, Hayes added a goal and three points. He also picked up three assists in seven game at the 2026 Centennial Cup in Summerside. 

Summerside also named five assistant captains for the upcoming season. 

Defenceman Andrew Thompson, 20, will be an assistant captain throughout the entire season. Thompson enters his fourth season with the Capitals. 

For games when the Capitals wear blue, forward Cade Moser, 20, and defenceman Aiden Diamond, 20, will join Thompson as assistant captains. 

For games when the Capitals wear white, overage defencemen Matthew MacLean and Lincoln Waugh will join Thompson as assistant captains. 

 

This is the second consecutive season that a defenceman will wear the 'C'. 

Western Capitals acquire forward MacLean

The Summerside Western Capitals have acquired forward Dylan MacLean from the Valley Wildcats.

In return, the Western Capitals send a player development fee (PDF) to Valley.

The trade became official on the Maritime Hockey League website as-of Thursday.

MacLean, 18, played 24 games with Valley last season and picked up four assists. The New Haven, P.E.I., native was originally a fourth round pick of the Wildcats in the 2025 MHL Entry Draft. 

From 2023-2025, MacLean played with the Under-18 Kensington Wild and scored eight goals and 19 points in 47 games. He also appeared in nine games with the Morell Lions of the P.E.I. Junior C Hockey League.

Summerside begins its 2026-27 regular season on the road in Truro on Saturday Sept. 12 to take on the Bearcats at 7 p.m. AST.

Former Capitals scorer Arsenault joins UPEI

Former Summerside Western Capitals forward Brett Arsenault will be playing for the University of Prince Edward Island this upcoming season.

Although never officially announced by the Capitals nor the Maritime Hockey League (MHL), Arsenault has committed to play for the U.P.E.I. Panthers of USports. Arsenault is listed on the Panthers 2026-27 roster, wearing No. 81.

Arsenault, 21, played two seasons with the Western Capitals from 2024 to 2026 scoring 94 goals and 109 points in 93 games while adding an additional seven goals and 13 assists in 19 playoff games. He also picked up four assists in seven games at the 2026 Centennial Cup in Summerside.

The native of Charlottetown, P.E.I., appeared in a combined 109 regular season games in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Charlottetown Islanders and Rimouski Oceanic and scored seven goals and 12 points while appearing in seven playoff games.

The Grand Falls Rapids originally drafted Arsenault in the fifth round of the 2021 MHL Entry Draft and played one game for the Rapids in the 2021-22 season. The Capitals acquired him in the Summer of 2024. He was also a fourth round pick of the Charlottetown Islanders in the 2021 QMJHL Entry Draft.

Arsenault represented Team Canada East at the 2024 Under-19 World Junior A Challenge in Camrose, Alta., and scored two goals and four points in five games

Arsenault joins fellow former Capitals players such as defencemen Simon Mullen, Antoine Michaud and Isaac Vos at U.P.E.I.

The Panthers being its 2026-27 regular season Friday Oct. 9 on the road against the Acadia Axemen.

Capitals acquire defenceman Andersen from Ontario

The Summerside Western Capitals have acquired defenceman Matthew Andersen from the King Rebellion of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), the team announced Tuesday.

The news was announced via Facebook.

In exchange, the Western Capitals send a player development fee (PDF) to King.

The Newmarket, Ont., native scored five goals and 13 points in 45 games with the Rebellion last season. The season prior, the soon-to-be 19-year-old, appeared in 13 games with the Rebellion (1-4-5), one game with the Sarnia Legionnaires of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL), and 22 games with the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

In two seasons with King Rebellion, the six-foot, 174-pound frame scored six goals and 18 points in 58 total games. 

Andersen was a ninth-round pick of the Sarnia Sting in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection and picked up two assists in 35 total games with the Sting over the course of two seasons.

To see Andersen's full career stats, click here.

Western Capitals sign Smith; acquire Ferdinand

The Summerside Western Capitals signed forward Gavin Smith and acquired Matthew Ferdinand in two separate transactions, the team announced on Sunday.

The news was announced via Facebook. 

Smith, who turns 18 later in the month, played 18 games with the Valley Wildcats last year and scored four goals and six points. The St. Andrews, N.B., native appeared in one game for the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in the 2024-25 season.  Smith attended the Cape Breton Eagles training camp this summer but was reassigned earlier this month. The Capitals acquired the playing rights to Smith via a trade with Valley in June. 

In the second transaction, the Capitals acquired Ferdinand from the Valley Wildcats. In exchange, the Capitals send a player development fee (PDF) to the Wildcats. 

Ferdinand, 19, was attending the Western Capitals’ training camp on a loan from the Wildcats. He appeared in two preseason games with Summerside, picking up one assist. 

The New Maryland, N.B., native played 13 games with the Wildcats with zero points. He has also spent time with Grand Falls Rapids and Fredericton Red Wings and has a total of four goals and 16 points in 73 games. He appeared in six games with the Hearst Lumberjacks of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) and had one goal. 

Ferdinand was a second round pick of Fredericton in the 2023 MHL Entry Draft and was also an eighth round pick of the Cape Breton Eagles in the 2023 QMJHL Entry Draft. 

Full career stats for Gavin Smith can be found here.  

Full career stats for Matthew Ferdinand can be found here.

Capitals blank Steamers again to wrap up preseason play

 

North Rustico, P.E.I. - The Summerside Western Capitals blanked the West Kent Steamers yet again with a 4-0 preseason win at the Eliyahu Wellness Centre Saturday night. 

Due to a power outage at the rink, the game was cancelled and called a win for Summerside with 9:51 remaining in the third period. 

Goaltender Maxence Picard stopped all 27 shots faced to help the Capitals wrap up their preseason with a 3-0-1-0 record. 

Matthew MacLean, Max Gamble (1-1), Jordan Shaw and Jett Mills (1-1) tallied goals for the Capitals. 

The Capitals opened the scoring at the 5:10 of the first period with an unassisted power play marker from MacLean. 

In the second period, Gamble’s second of the preseason gave the Capitals a 2-0 lead at 7:25. Mills drew the lone assist. Summerside took a 3-0 lead at 15:20 with Shaw’s second goal of the preseason. Luke Inman drew the lone assist. 

Mills had the lone goal of the third period, coming at 5:56. Gamble and Aiden Diamond picked up assists. 

Suffering the loss between the pipes for the Steamers was Samuel Pitcher who made 23 saves. 

Full game summary can be found here. 

The Capitals begin the 2026-27 regular season on the road in Truro against the Bearcats on Saturday Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. AST. 

Caps blank Steamers in preseason action

 

Bouctouche, N.B. - The Summerside Western Capitals skated to a 3-0 win over the West Kent Steamers in preseason play Friday night. 

The Capitals pick up their second win of the preseason while the Steamers lose their third of the preseason. 

Capitals goaltender Vincent Gladu made 26 saves in his debut to record the shutout. 

Jett Mills and Lincoln Waugh scored goals in the first period before Isaac Taweel capped off the scoring with an empty net goal in the third period. Aiden Diamond, Jordan Shaw and Matthew Ferdinand picked up assists in the contest.

Former Capitals goaltender Niko Boudreau made 24 saves on 26 shots in the loss for the Steamers. 

Full game recap can be found here. 

The Steamers and Capitals wrap up the preseason Saturday night in Rustico at 7 p.m. AST. 

 

Interesting note: listed in Capitals line-up was forward Matthew Ferdinand. The 19-year-old played with the Valley Wildcats and Grand Falls Rapids last season scoring one goals and three points in 24 games, while also spending time with the Hearst Lumberjacks of the NOJHL. The season prior, he had three goals and 12 points in 45 games. He also appeared in four games with the Fredericton Red Wings in 2023-24. Full career statistics can be found here. 

 

It is unclear if Ferdinand is a free agent invite, a loan or if he was acquired by the Capitals with no official announcement as of yet.

 

 

Caps make trade; release four more players from training camp

The Summerside Western Capitals had some more roster movement on Monday.

The Capitals traded forward Carson MacKenzie to the Pictou County Crushers in exchange for a player development fee (PDF). 

MacKenzie, 19, was acquired by Summerside last September and appeared in three games with the Capitals with zero points. The native of St. Peter's Bay, P.E.I., was originally drafted in the eighth round by the Campbellton Tigers in the 2023 MHL Entry Draft.

For a full list of trades made by the Western Capitals during the 2026-27 offseason, please click here.

The Western Capitals also announced it has released four players from training camp.

Goaltender Dylan Wile and forwards Ellis Callaghan, Logan Griffin and Harrison Hutt were reassigned to their respective clubs. The Capitals' training camp roster now stands at 25 players with three goaltenders, eight defencemen and 14 forwards. 

Summerside will wrap its preseason schedule this weekend with two games against the West Kent Steamers - Friday Sept. 4 on the road and then Saturday Sept. 5 in Rustico. Both games at 7 p.m. AST.