CAPITALS WIN KENT CUP

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Wednesday, April 15th 2009

SUMMERSIDE — One of the toughest challenges in sports is living up to expectations, especially when a team is supposed to win.
The Summerside Western Capitals fell just short of earning 100 per cent on that exam.
The Capitals beat the Truro Bearcats 4-3 in overtime before a full house at Credit Union Place on Tuesday night to capture the best-of-seven Kent Cup in five games. The Caps finished the Maritime Junior ‘A’ Hockey League playoffs with only one loss in 13 games.
“The boys fought hard and there were so many negative things (the Caps had to deal with during the season),” said Capitals forward Mike MacIsaac, who sent the 4,298 fans into a wild frenzy after he blasted the puck past Truro goaltender Richard Gagnon 1:53 into overtime.
“I saw where (defenceman) Spencer (Corcoran) picked off a pass and their D was caught in, so I just took off at the red-line,” explained MacIsaac. “Spencer has great vision, he saw me breaking and I was lucky to put it in on the blocker side.
“Not too often I shoot on the blocker side. It’s kind of a new thing and I may have to try it more.”
MacIsaac’s goal sent the Capitals to the Fred Page Cup Eastern Canadian junior ‘A’ championship at the J. Louis Levesque Arena in Moncton, N.B., from April 22-26.
But it wasn’t easy for the Capitals, who jumped out to a 2-0 lead on first-period goals by MacIsaac (7:31) and Trevor Carmichael (12:09).
Truro responded with two goals in the middle frame off the sticks of Jon Reid (1:03) and Travis Moore (9:39).
Brett Gallant’s power-play goal 3:56 into the third period gave the Caps a 3-2 lead, which stood up until the final minute of regulation time. With Gagnon on the bench for an extra attacker, Jonathan McArthur slid the puck under a diving Caps goaltender Alex Dupuis with 26 seconds remaining.
“It was my fault off the faceoff as I tried to go ahead with it whenever I should have came back,” said MacIsaac. “I went from being the goat to the hero in this game.”
After winning the regular-season championship on the strength of a 39-13-0-2 (won-lost-overtime losses-shootout losses) record and 80 points, two more than Truro (36-12-1-5), the Caps swept Dieppe and Miramichi en route to the Roger Meek Division title. This set up a rematch with Truro, which defeated the Caps in a six-game final in 2007.
“We ran the whole theatre of emotions for sure,” said Caps head coach Kenny MacDougall. “I’m just so proud of the guys. It was a goal they had all year long and to win a championship on home ice in such a fashion is outstanding.”

jpsports@journalpioneer.com Game 5 notes from Capitals and Bearcats:

The game was played before an announced crowd of 4,298. Overall, the Capitals attracted 20,044 spectators to seven home playoff games, an average of 2,863. The Caps averaged a league-high 981 fans a game during the regular season.

Along with his two goals, Mike MacIsaac also added an assist for a three-point game. Bradley Smith, Josh McKinnon, Nathan Snowie, Parker Deighan and Spencer Corcoran also added assists.

The Capitals led 2-0 after the first period and the teams entered the third period tied 2-2.

Overall, the Capitals outshot the Bearcats 51-31.

The Caps went 1-for-8 on the power play and Truro was 0-for-5. The Bearcats finished the series 1-for-36 with the man advantage while the Caps were 3-for-25.

Referee Thane Arsenault called eight minors, one high-sticking double minor, one fighting major and one checking-from-behind game misconduct against Truro. The Caps received six minors and one fighting major.

The game’s three stars were: 1. Mike MacIsaac (Caps), 2. Spencer Corcoran (Caps), 3. Alex Dupuis (Caps).

The winner’s share of the 50/50 draw was $16,144.
PHOTO- NANCY MACPHEE, THE JOURNAL PIONEER