Estevan, Sask. – The Summerside Western Capitals have advanced out of the preliminary round at the 2022 Centennial Cup with a 4-3 overtime win against the CCHL’s Ottawa Jr. Senators. The result moves Summerside into 1st place in Group B, pending the result of the game between the Dauphin Kings and Soo Thunderbirds. Dauphin needs one point to retake 1st place, due to their earlier win over the Western Capitals. If the Kings get that point, Summerside would drop to 2nd place and face the LHJQ’s Collège Français de Longueuil, the 3rd seed in Group A, in Friday’s quarterfinal.
The Western Capitals struck first against the Jr. Senators as Aaron Brown scored at 12:59. Ottawa answered quickly, with a goal at 14:07 of the 1st period. The Jr. Senators took a 2-1 lead at 2:45 of the 2nd period. That score would hold until midway through the 3rd period when William Irvine scored on the powerplay off a deflection in front at 10:32 to even things at 2-2.
Needing a regulation win, Ottawa poured on the pressure and were finally rewarded at 14:45 to take a 3-2 lead. Summerside, needing just one point to avoid elimination, got the goal they needed with just 21 seconds left in regulation. Brendan McCarthy flew down the wing and placed a perfect shot over Ottawa goaltender William Desmarais to tie the game 3-3. In overtime, Colby MacArthur scored at 1:47 to seal the victory.
