# Summerside Western Capitals

The Summerside Western Capitals are a Junior "A" hockey team based in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. They are members of the Maritime Junior Hockey League, and they play their home games at the Consolidated Credit Union Place. Until 2007 the team played at the former Cahill Stadium.

## History

The Hemphill Pontiac Western Capitals began in the Island Junior Hockey League. Summerside is in the Western end of the province, & sometimes referred to as 'The Western Capital', thus the reference to 'western' in the original team name. The Capitals joined the MJAHL in 1991. They hosted the Centennial Cup 1989 on behalf of the IJHL. This team was coached by former NHL coach, General Manager, & Team President of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Doug MacLean, a Summerside native.
The 1996–97 Western Capitals created a come from behind, story book tale during the year. They were coached by current NHL coach and former Detroit Red Wings player, Gerard Gallant, and they dominated the MJAHL Roger Meek Division during the regular season. In the first round of the playoffs they routed the Restigouche River Rats in five games. They beat out the Charlottetown Abbies in the second round before going on to win the Callaghan Cup by clinching a seven-game league final in Dartmouth. Following the tough playoffs came a long bus trip to Brockville, Ont for the 1997 Fred Page Cup. The winner of that tournament advanced to the Royal Bank Cup, which the Capitals were hosting that year. They lost all 3 games in the round robin and were eliminated.
At the 1997 Royal Bank Cup in Summerside, the Western Capitals won the first game, 5–1 over the Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats. They then hit a stumbling block, losing their second and third games 7–5 and 8–2 to the Kanata Valley Lasers and the Weyburn Red Wings. They finished the round robin by losing 3–2 to the South Surrey Eagles in overtime. Because the Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats had already lost 4 games, the overtime loss game, the Capitals 3 points which was good enough for 4th place. After being shut out of the player awards, the Capitals had to come together as a team. In the regulation round, the Capitals did just that defeating the tournament's MVP and future NHLer, Mark Hartigan, and his Weyburn Red Wings 4–3 in a very exciting overtime. The Capitals used that win as a moral boost to defeat another Future NHLer, Scott Gomez, and his South Surrey Eagles by a very close score of 4–3. With that win the Summerside Western Capitals became the first team in Eastern Canada to win the national jr. A (Tier II) junior championship, Royal Bank Cup.
In 2001 the team made a run for the league championship. After sweeping the first two rounds without one of their top players, Denis White, the Antigonish Bulldogs took advantage of the Capitals beating them in five games to go on the Fred Page Cup. They did not make another significant run again until former Philadelphia Flyer, Forbes Kennedy, was hired as head coach in 2004–05. They were one of the leagues elite teams for the three years that he coached the team, going to the division final in 2005-06 but losing to the Woodstock Slammers in 7 games. In the 2006–07 season they won 15 games in a row to end the season and went on to win the Meek division title before losing in 6 games in the league final against the Truro Bearcats.
In the 2008–09 season, the Capitals finished first place in the Meek division, and later went on to defeat the Dieppe Commandos, and Miramichi Timberwolves in 4 game sweeps to advance to the league championship series, to take on the Truro Bearcats for the second time in 3 years. This time though, the Capitals defeated Truro in 5 games, and won their first league championship since 1997, on home ice. The Capitals entered the Fred Page Cup tournament, and after going 2–1 in the round robin portion, they defeated the Pembroke Lumber Kings 4–1 in the semifinal to move to the final against the Dieppe Commandos. The Caps won the game 3–2 in double overtime after Mike MacIsaac scored, to send the Caps to their first Royal Bank Cup since winning it in 1997 as the host team. The Capitals travelled to the Pacific coast to Victoria, BC to participate in their 2nd tournament. Summerside had a 0–4 record heading into their final game against the defending RBC champions Humboldt Broncos. Summerside won the game 5–0, but were already eliminated from the tournament and finished 5th. The players were angry and upset about the outcome and engaged in roughing up one of the hotel employees at the team's hotel. Their behaviour resulted in the Capitals losing the right to host the 2011 Royal Bank Cup. Summerside got their chance to host the tournament in 2014.
The Capitals named Gordie Dwyer as their Head Coach and Associate General Manager for the 2009–10 season. Dwyer led a rebuilding team to a regular-season record of 27–20–1–2 (won-lost-overtime losses-shootout losses). The Capitals finished third in the Roger Meek Division, and won a seven-game division semifinal series against second-place Miramichi. The Capitals were then eliminated by eventual league-champion Woodstock in a five-game division final. Dwyer returned for his second season in 2010–11 as head coach and Associate Director of Hockey Operations.
From 2001 to 2013, the Capitals were owned by a private ownership group consisting of local individuals. In 2013, the Caps were sold to a new private local group.

## Season-by-season record

| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs |
| 1971-72 | 27 | 21 | 3 | 3 | - | 170 | 82 | 50 | 1st IJBHL | |
| 1972-73 | 40 | 28 | 8 | 4 | - | 239 | 149 | 60 | 2nd IJBHL | |
| 1973-74 | 28 | 10 | 15 | 3 | - | 123 | 154 | 23 | 4th IJHL | |
| 1974-75 | 40 | 21 | 18 | 1 | - | 208 | 198 | 43 | 3rd IJHL | |
| 1975-76 | 39 | 13 | 19 | 7 | - | 199 | 247 | 33 | 4th IJHL | |
| 1976-77 | 40 | 12 | 25 | 3 | - | 186 | 276 | 27 | 5th IJHL | |
| 1977-78 | 40 | 31 | 5 | 4 | - | -- | -- | 66 | 1st IJHL | |
| 1978-79 | 39 | 20 | 14 | 5 | - | 206 | 181 | 45 | 3rd IJHL | |
| 1979-80 | 40 | 14 | 20 | 6 | - | 193 | 235 | 34 | 4th IJHL | |
| 1980-81 | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate |
| 1981-82 | 42 | 8 | 38 | 6 | - | 189 | 283 | 22 | 4th IJHL | |
| 1982-83 | 42 | 18 | 18 | 6 | - | 216 | 238 | 42 | 3rd IJHL | |
| 1983-84 | 40 | 25 | 12 | 3 | - | 244 | 201 | 53 | 1st IJHL | Won league |
| 1984-85 | 37 | 18 | 15 | 4 | - | 203 | 174 | 40 | 2nd IJHL | |
| 1985-86 | 36 | 15 | 9 | 12 | - | 231 | 204 | 42 | 2nd IJHL | Won league |
| 1986-87 | 42 | 19 | 20 | 3 | - | 232 | 216 | 41 | 3rd IJHL | |
| 1987-88 | 42 | 30 | 6 | 6 | - | 267 | 179 | 66 | 1st IJHL | |
| 1988-89 | 44 | 33 | 7 | 4 | - | 297 | 161 | 78 | 1st IJHL | |
| 1989-90 | 40 | 26 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 213 | 153 | 55 | 2nd IJHL | |
| 1990-91 | 42 | 15 | 20 | 5 | 2 | 211 | 247 | 37 | 3rd IJHL | |
| 1991-92 | 46 | 18 | 16 | 12 | - | 210 | 206 | 48 | 6th MJAHL | |
| 1992-93 | 48 | 21 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 226 | 244 | 48 | 5th MJAHL | |
| 1993-94 | 48 | 13 | 32 | 2 | 1 | 182 | 263 | 29 | 7th MJAHL | |
| 1994-95 | 48 | 24 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 221 | 206 | 51 | 3rd MJAHL | |
| 1995-96 | 54 | 28 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 252 | 232 | 58 | 5th MJAHL | |
| 1996-97 | 55 | 35 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 350 | 259 | 76 | 2nd MJAHL | Won league, won RBC Cup |
| 1997-98 | 52 | 12 | 33 | 3 | 4 | 207 | 307 | 31 | 9th MJAHL | |
| 1998-99 | 48 | 5 | 41 | 2 | - | 157 | 317 | 15 | 9th MJAHL | |
| 1999-00 | 52 | 24 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 198 | 229 | 52 | 5th MJAHL | |
| 2000-01 | 52 | 32 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 288 | 224 | 72 | 1st MJAHL | Lost in League Finals |
| 2001-02 | 52 | 21 | 26 | 3 | 2 | 209 | 225 | 47 | 8th MJAHL | |
| 2002-03 | 52 | 26 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 240 | 219 | 57 | 4th MJAHL | |
| 2003-04 | 52 | 19 | 28 | 2 | 3 | 201 | 225 | 43 | 9th MJAHL | |
| 2004-05 | 56 | 22 | 26 | 4 | 4 | 220 | 252 | 52 | 9th MJAHL | |
| 2005-06 | 56 | 36 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 274 | 197 | 79 | 2nd MJAHL | Lost semi-final |
| 2006-07 | 58 | 43 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 281 | 172 | 87 | 2nd MJAHL | Lost League Finals |
| 2007-08 | 58 | 24 | 30 | - | 4 | 185 | 219 | 52 | 9th MJAHL | Lost in Mini-Series |
| 2008-09 | 54 | 39 | 13 | - | 2 | 249 | 149 | 80 | 1st MJAHL | Won league, won Fred Page Cup |
| 2009-10 | 50 | 27 | 20 | - | 3 | 230 | 186 | 57 | 4th MJAHL | Lost semi-final |
| 2010-11 | 52 | 36 | 12 | - | 4 | 255 | 186 | 76 | 2nd MHL | Won league |
| 2011-12 | 52 | 26 | 21 | - | 5 | 192 | 200 | 57 | 7th MHL | Lost semi-final |
| 2012-13 | 52 | 43 | 7 | - | 2 | 222 | 119 | 88 | 1st MHL | Won league |
| 2013-14 | 52 | 24 | 23 | - | 5 | 178 | 187 | 53 | 8th MHL | Lost quarter-final |
| 2014-15 | 48 | 21 | 21 | - | 6 | 184 | 197 | 48 | 8th MHL | DNQ |
| 2015-16 | 48 | 34 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 207 | 150 | 70 | 1st of 6 North 1st of 12 MHL | Won Div. Semi-finals 4-3 (Tigers) Lost Div. Finals, 2-4 (Commandos) |
| 2016-17 | 50 | 25 | 22 | 0 | 3 | 169 | 184 | 53 | 3rd of 6 North 4th of 12 MHL | Won Div. Semi-finals 4-2) (Commandos) Lost Div. Finals 0-4 (Timberwolves) |
| 2017-18 | 50 | 33 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 180 | 137 | 67 | 2nd of 6 North 3rd of 12 MHL | Won Div. Semi-finals 4-1 (Tigers) Lost Div. Finals 3-4 (Blizzard) |
| 2018-19 | 50 | 40 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 247 | 120 | 82 | 1st of 6 North 1st of 12 MHL' | Won Div. Semi-finals 4-0 (Aces) Lost Div. Finals 3-4 (Tigers) |
| 2019-20 | 52 | 42 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 257 | 145 | 88 | 1st of 6 North 1st of 12 MHL' | Playoffs cancelled due to covid-19 |
| 2020-21 | 23 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 94 | 73 | 30 | 4th 4 North 4th of 12 MHL | Playoffs cancelled due to covid-19 |
| 2021-22 | 38 | 31 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 206 | 101 | 65 | 1st of 6 North 1st of 12 MHL' | Won Div. Semi-finals 4-1 (Blizzard) Won Div. Finals 4-0 (Red Wings) Won League Finals 4-1 (Bearcats) Advance to Centennial Cup |
| 2022-23 | 52 | 35 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 217 | 167 | 73 | 2nd of 6 North 3rd of 12 MHL | Won Div. Semi-finals 4-3 (Tigers) Lost Div. Finals 0-4 (Blizzard) |
| 2023-24 | 52 | 38 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 274 | 170 | 85 | 1st of 6 North 1st of 12 MHL' | Won Div. Semi-finals 4-1 (Mariners) Won Div. Finals 4-2 (Ramblers) Lost League Finals 2-4 (Timberwolves) |

## Centennial Cup - Revised format 2022

Canadian Jr. A National Championships Maritime Junior Hockey League, Quebec Junior Hockey League, Central Canada Hockey League, Ontario Junior Hockey League, Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, Superior International Junior Hockey League, Manitoba Junior Hockey League, Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, Alberta Junior Hockey League, and Host. The BCHL declared itself an independent league and there is no BC representative. Round-robin play in two 5-team pools with top three in pool advancing to determine a Champion.
| Year | Round-robin | Record | Standing | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Championship |
| 2022 | W, Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL), 4-1 L, Dauphin Kings (ManJHL), 1-7 W, Flin Flin Bombers (SJHL), 4-1 OTW, Ottawa Jr, Senators (CCHL), 4-3 | 2-1-1-0 | 2nd of 5 Pool B | Lost 3-4 Longueuil College Francais | did not qualified | did not qualified |

### Franchise records

These are franchise records held by previous team rosters. Figures are updated after each completed MHL regular season.
Team records for a single season :
| Statistic | Total | Season |
| Most Points | 88 | 2012–13 |
| Most Wins | 43 | 2012–13 |
| Most Goals For | 350 | 1996–97 |
| Fewest Goals For | 123 | 1973–74 |
| Fewest Goals Against | 82 | 1971–72 |
| Most Goals Against | 317 | 1998–99 |

## Notable alumni

* Darren Langdon
* Gerard Gallant
* Darryl Boyce
* Geoff Walker
* Kent Paynter
* Nathan McIver
* Brett Gallant
* Ross Johnston