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.

Missed headlines: Caps acquire Madgett; Hendry leaves for BCHL; Sim to attend Regiment training camp

 

There has been some news that has been missed while I was on my honeymoon vacation, so here are the missed headlines.

Sim to attend Regiment training camp

Summerside Western Capitals forward Lane Sim has been invited to and will attend the training camp of the Newfoundland Regiment of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).

Sim, 19, scored three goals and 10 points in 16 games with the Capitals this past season while adding an additional two goals and four points in 14 playoff games. In seven games at the 2026 Centennial Cup, Sim added two goals for four points.

The New Glasgow, N.S., native also spent the 2025-26 season with the Vernon Vipers of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) where he scored three goals and five points in 26 games. He also also skated with the Charlottetown Islanders of the QMJHL as well as the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

The Newfoundland Regiment is holding its training camp at the Gerard ‘Turk’ Gallant Arena in Summerside from Aug. 19-23.

Hendry signs in B.C.

Defenceman Alex Hendry won’t be returning to the Summerside Western Capitals for the 2026-27 season as he has signed with the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL. 

The Victoria Grizzlies announced the news via Facebook on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old, Milton, Ont., native scored three goals and eight points in 43 games with the Capitals last season. Despite going pointless in 14 playoff games, Hendry added two assists in seven games at the 2026 Centennial Cup. Prior to joining the Capitals, Hendry skated with the Wellington Dukes of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) during the 2024-25 season and scored two goals and 14 points in 43 games.

Capitals trade Cam Griffin, acquire rights to goaltender Madgett

The Summerside Western Capitals have traded 2026 territorial pick Cam Griffin to the Miramichi Timberwolves, in exchange for the rights to goaltender Sam Madgett.

The Capitals announced the news Wednesday via Facebook. 

Griffin, who turns 18 in September, was selected by the Capitals with their second territorial pick in the 2026 MHL Entry Draft in June. The Summerside native played the last two seasons with the Kensington Wild Under-18 AAA where he scored 34 goals and 72 points in 73 games.

Griffin is the younger brother of Carson Griffin, who the Capitals traded to Miramichi back in June.

Madgett, 19, appeared in four games with the Lloydminster Bobcats of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) where he posted a 2-2 (won-lost) record with a 2.77 goals against average and a 0.822 save percentage. He then joined the Mooseheads as their third-strong goaltender but never played a game.

The Stillwater Lake, N.S., native was a 10th round pick of the Halifax Mooseheads in the 2023 QMJHL Entry Draft.

Former Captials forward Murphy commits to Maryville University

Former Summerside Western Capitals forward Brennan Murphy has committed to the Maryville University Saints for the upcoming season, the Capitals announced on Monday via Facebook.

Murphy, 20, spent the last three seasons with the Western Capitals and scored 51 goals and 103 points in 139 games, while adding 3 goals and 15 points in 36 career playoff games. Murphy also recorded two goals and four points in seven games at the 2026 Centennial Cup in Summerside.

The Maryville University Saints recently competed at the highest level of ACHA (American Collegiate Hockey Association) hockey, and will move to the NCAA Division 1 for the upcoming season. The school is located in St. Louis, MO. 

Jardine commits to Acadia University

Former Summerside Western Capitals defenceman Max Jardine has committed to play for Acadia University Axemen of USports next season.

Both the Western Capitals and Axemen confirmed the news via Facebook on Tuesday.

Jardine, 21, joined the Western Capitals in January 2026 after being released by the Charlottetown Islanders of the QMJHL and was immediately named an assistant captain. In 20 games with Capitals this past season, the Miramichi, N.B., native scored one goal and 13 points while adding a goal and three points in 14 playoff games. Jardine added two assists in seven games at the 2026 Centennial Cup helping lead the Capitals to a silver medal finish.

The six-foot-one, 205-pound frame spent time with the Charlottetown Islanders from the 2023-2024 season to the 2025-2026 season. In 104 total games, Jardine scored three goals and 12 points. Prior to joining the Islanders, Jardine spent two and a half seasons with the Miramichi Timberwolves from 2021-2024 scoring six goals and 46 games in 108 games.

Jardine is the fourth Western Capitals player from the 2025-26 roster to commit to a USports team for the 2026-27 season, joining Simon Mullen (UPEI), Elliot Robert (Concordia University) and Kolton Bourret (Lakehead University).

Bourret commits to Lakehead University

 

Summerside Western Capitals goaltender Kolton Bourret has committed to play for the Lakehead University Thunderwolves next season. 

Both teams announced the news on Thursday via socials. 

Bourret, 21, posted a 15-5-1 record record with a 2.71 goals against average and a 0.908 save percentage with one shutout in 22 appearances for the Western Capitals this past season. 

The Thunder Bay, Ont., native appeared in 13 playoff games posting a 7-4-2 record with a 1.85 goals against average and a 0.929 save percentage with two shutouts. In five games at the 2026 Centennial Cup, Bourret posted a 3-1-1 record with a 2.84 goals against average and a 0.856 save percentage, which helped the Capitals reach the championship game in which they lost 4-1 to the Niverville Nighthawks. 

The Capitals signed Bourret in November 2025. Prior to joining the Capitals, Bourret spent time with the Cranbrook Bucks of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), and the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL). 

Bourret joins former Western Capitals forward Trentyn Crane who enters his third season at Lakehead University. 

The Lakehead University Thunderwolves play in the Ontario University Association under the USports umbrella. 

Mullen to commit to UPEI

As per EliteProspects.com, Summerside Western Capitals defencemen Simon Mullen has committed to play for the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers next season.

Mullen, 20, will continue his hockey career on P.E.I., this time in the province capital. 

The native of Truro, N.S., scored 14 goals and 68 points in 52 games with Capitals this season, while adding seven assists in 14 playoff games. Mullen then added a goal and three assists in seven games during the 2026 Centennial Cup. Mullen was named both the MHL and CJHL Defenceman of the Year.

Mullen also spent time with the Truro Bearcats where he scored five goals and 41 points in 107 games through three seasons. He also spent the 2024-25 season with the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL where he scored three goals and 17 points in 50 games and won the Gilles-Courteau Trophy as league champions.

The Western Capitals acquired Mullen from the Bearcats during the 2023-24 trading period and he appeared in one game before missing the rest of the regular season with an injury. He returned for the playoffs where he scored two goals and nine points in 13 games.

Mullen joins a handful of former Western Capitals players on the Panthers like Isaac Vos, Antoine Michaud, Landon Clow and Marc Richard.