The Maritime Hockey League schedule kicks off this week with three games on Thursday, which is also the trade deadline. General managers across the region are busy trying to make last minute adjustments to their rosters.
The Edmundston Blizzard (16-11-3-0) head to Nova Scotia for three games in three days, starting off Thursday in Bridgewater against South Shore (13-11-3-0). The Lumberjacks snapped a three-game losing streak last Saturday with a 5-4 overtime win against the division-leading Yarmouth Mariners (24-5-1-1). They remain two points ahead of Pictou County (11-13-3-2) for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Eastlink South. Edmundston split their games last weekend with a 6-5 win over Grand Falls (8-17-3-1) and a 6-3 loss to Campbellton (18-10-1-3) to sit five points back of the Tigers for second in the Eastlink North. The Blizzard and Lumberjacks met at the Showcase in New Glasgow in October, where Edmundston picked up a 5-4 win.
The Crushers hit the ice at home against Yarmouth, a team they’re 0-3-1-0 against this season. This is a different Pictou County team than the Mariners have faced before, however, The Crushers have won their last six games, the longest active streak in the MHL, and picked up a 7-4 win over Amherst (20-9-1-1) last Thursday. Yarmouth enter the week in 7th place in the first Canadian Junior Hockey League weekly rankings, with their only game last week being the previously mentioned overtime loss to South Shore. Finally, the Summerside Western Capitals (23-5-0-0), now ranked 4th in the nation and winners of their last four games, are home to St. Stephen (12-17-2-0). The Aces split a Nova Scotia road trip last weekend with a 3-2 loss to Truro (18-10-1-1) and a 3-1 win against Valley (5-23-3-0). Summerside are 5-1 against St. Stephen this season.
Four more games are on the schedule on Friday. The MHL Game of the Week, free to watch on HockeyTV, features Grand Falls home to Miramichi (12-17-2-0) at the E. & P. Sénéchal Centre. The Rapids picked up a 6-3 win over the Timberwolves at Miramichi Civic Centre last weekend after dropping the first three games between them, including a shootout loss on November 24th.
Elsewhere, the Truro Bearcats play Valley in the first of back to back home games this weekend. The Wildcats are 0-4 against the Bearcats this season, including a 3-1 loss in Truro to end both team’s pre-Christmas schedule on December 15th. Valley have lost five in a row overall, while the Bearcats are within four points of Amherst for second place in the South. Edmundston travel to Yarmouth for the rubber match of their season series. The home team have won each game thus far. Finally, Summerside hit the road to play Campbellton. The Tigers picked up three of a possible four points last weekend to sit six points back of the division leaders. Summerside have won both meetings so far, and these teams will go head to head a total of five times over the next two months.
All but two teams are on the ice in a jam-packed Saturday schedule. Edmundston wrap up their road trip in Valley, with the first of two games between these teams this season. Yarmouth head to Truro, having won all four meetings with the Bearcats thus far. The Amherst Ramblers hit the ice at home against South Shore after dropping two of three games last week. This is the first of back to back games between these clubs in Amherst, with the return date on Wednesday. Each team has a win in both regulation and overtime, so expect a close, exciting game at Amherst Stadium.
Shifting to the North, Summerside play their third game in three days as they travel to Miramichi. The Timberwolves picked up a 5-4 victory the last time these teams met after dropping the first two games. And the Aces are back on home ice to close things out as they take on Campbellton. The teams have split the first four meetings.
All games are available to watch on HockeyTV.
| Date | Visitor | Home | Venue | Time |
| Thu, Jan 10 | Edmundston | South Shore | Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre | 7:00 pm |
| Thu, Jan 10 | Yarmouth | Pictou County | Pictou County Wellness Centre | 7:00 pm |
| Thu, Jan 10 | St. Stephen | Summerside | Credit Union Place | 7:00 pm |
| Fri, Jan 11 | Valley | Truro | Rath Eastlink Community Centre | 7:00 pm |
| Fri, Jan 11 | Edmundston | Yarmouth | Mariners Centre | 7:30 pm |
| Fri, Jan 11 | Summerside | Campbellton | Campbellton Memorial Civic Centre | 7:30 pm |
| Fri, Jan 11 | Miramichi | Grand Falls | E. & P. Sénéchal Centre | 8:00 pm |
| Sat, Jan 12 | Edmundston | Valley | Kings Mutual Century Centre | 7:00 pm |
| Sat, Jan 12 | Yarmouth | Truro | Rath Eastlink Community Centre | 7:00 pm |
| Sat, Jan 12 | South Shore | Amherst | Amherst Stadium | 7:00 pm |
| Sat, Jan 12 | Campbellton | St. Stephen | Garcelon Civic Centre | 7:00 pm |
| Sat, Jan 12 | Summerside | Miramichi | Miramichi Civic Centre | 7:30 pm |