It’s an early start to the week in the Maritime Hockey league with a pair of rescheduled games.
Kicking things off on Tuesday is a matchup originally scheduled for November 16th as the St. Stephen Aces (12-18-3-0) are home to the Summerside Western Capitals (26-5-0-0). This is their eighth and final meeting of the season. Summerside has won the last six, including a 6-1 victory last Thursday. Despite winning seven games in a row, and three wins in three days last week, the Western Capitals slipped one spot in this week’s CJHL rankings to 5th. The Aces enter the week one point ahead of Miramichi (12-19-2-0) for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Eastlink North.
On Wednesday, Amherst (21-9-1-1) is home to South Shore (14-12-3-0) in a game that had originally been scheduled for November 17th. The two teams just faced off on Saturday in Amherst, with the Ramblers picking up a 4-1 victory for a 3-1-1-0 record over the Lumberjacks this season. The loss also snapped South Shore’s string of back to back overtime wins.
The action returns to the Pictou County Wellness Centre on Thursday night as the Crushers (12-13-3-2) are home to the Valley Wildcats (5-24-4-0). Pictou County enters the week just two points behind South Shore for the last playoff spot in the Eastlink South and are coming off a 3-2 overtime win against Yarmouth (25-5-3-1). Valley has dropped seven games in a row after losses to Truro (19-11-1-1) and Edmundston (18-11-4-0) last weekend. Speaking of the Bearcats, they head to Summerside for their first of two games this season against the Western Capitals. Truro split their games last weekend and sit four points back to Amherst for second place. The Bearcats, who are playing three games in three days, are 9-1 against North opponents this season but will be in tough against the Western Capitals.
Five games are scheduled for Friday, starting off in St. Stephen as the Aces and Blizzard square off. Edmundston has dropped three of four to the Aces, but won the most recent matchup 6-1 on December 16th. The Blizzard are closing in on second place in the North, now just three points behind Campbellton (19-10-2-3). Pictou County and South Shore continue their battle for the final playoff spot in the South as they meet in Bridgewater. Their first four meetings have all been decided with one goal, including two overtime games and a shootout.
The Grand Falls Rapids (9-17-3-1) have won two in a row and make their first trip to Truro, still in the hunt for that last playoff spot in the North. Grand Falls enter the week five points back of St. Stephen but have three games in hand on both the Timberwolves and Aces. Amherst and Yarmouth lock horns at Mariners Centre. The teams will face off three times over the next 16 days, which will go a long way to determine if the Ramblers can close ground on the division leaders. Finally, Miramichi hit the road to play Campbellton for the start of a quick weekend set as the teams will play twice in three days. The Tigers have won three of four this season, with the last game resulting in a 3-2 Timberwolves win in a shootout.
Saturday’s schedule will see ten teams in action. Truro and South Shore meet for the second time this month. Their previous three meetings have led to plenty of goals, at least 9 combined per outing. The Lumberjacks enter the week nine points back of Truro for third place in the South. This is also the MHL Game of the Week on HockeyTV and free to watch.
Summerside hit the road for a possible Fred Page Cup primer against Amherst. The Western Capitals took their previous game 6-1 on January 5th. Grand Falls continue their Nova Scotia road trip with a stop in Valley for their first meeting of the season. The Crushers hit the road for Yarmouth, with the Mariners looking for payback after last week’s overtime loss. The battle for 4th in the North continues as the Aces are on the road to play Miramichi, in the second of three games in a row for the Timberwolves. St. Stephen has won all three games between them so far, and three more matchups are on the schedule after this one.
Finally, on Sunday, the Tigers and Timberwolves will meet in Miramichi.
All games can be viewed on HockeyTV.
| Date | Visitor | Home | Venue | Time |
| Tue, Jan 15 | Summerside | St. Stephen | Garcelon Civic Centre | 7:00 pm |
| Wed, Jan 16 | South Shore | Amherst | Amherst Stadium | 7:30 pm |
| Thu, Jan 17 | Truro | Summerside | Credit Union Place | 7:00 pm |
| Thu, Jan 17 | Valley | Pictou County | Pictou County Wellness Centre | 7:00 pm |
| Fri, Jan 18 | Edmundston | St. Stephen | Garcelon Civic Centre | 7:00 pm |
| Fri, Jan 18 | Pictou County | South Shore | Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre | 7:00 pm |
| Fri, Jan 18 | Grand Falls | Truro | Rath Eastlink Community Centre | 7:00 pm |
| Fri, Jan 18 | Amherst | Yarmouth | Mariners Centre | 7:30 pm |
| Fri, Jan 18 | Miramichi | Campbellton | Campbellton Memorial Civic Centre | 7:30 pm |
| Sat, Jan 19 | South Shore | Truro | Rath Eastlink Community Centre | 7:00 pm |
| Sat, Jan 19 | Summerside | Amherst | Amherst Stadium | 7:00 pm |
| Sat, Jan 19 | Grand Falls | Valley | Kings Mutual Century Centre | 7:00 pm |
| Sat, Jan 19 | Pictou County | Yarmouth | Mariners Centre | 7:30 pm |
| Sat, Jan 19 | St. Stephen | Miramichi | Miramichi Civic Centre | 7:30 pm |
| Sun, Jan 20 | Campbellton | Miramichi | Miramichi Civic Centre | 3:00 pm |