The trade deadline in the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) is on Friday. Teams have been busy since the calendar flipped to 2020, trying to prepare for the final two months of the season. The QMJHL’s trade deadline, which passed earlier this week, also impacted MHL clubs as a number of players have joined various teams at that level for the rest of the season.
On the ice, a number of interesting races continue to develop. The streaking Campbellton Tigers (15-10-3-2), 4-0-1-2 in their last seven games, are just three points back of Fredericton (18-13-2-0) for third place in the Eastlink North. Edmundston (21-7-1-4) are 6-1-0-3 in their past ten games and are just six points back of Summerside (26-5-0-1) for first place. The Red Wings and Blizzard also came together for maybe the biggest deal this week as Fredericton captain Evan White was sent to the Blizzard for forward Aaron Brown, defenceman Marc-Antoine Couture, a 3rd round draft pick in 2020, and future considerations.
Yarmouth (21-10-2-1) have opened up an eight point lead over Pictou County (18-11-1-0) and South Shore (17-13-2-1), but the Crushers have four games in hand over the Mariners. Truro (12-10-3-4) has won four straight and are 5-0-2-0 in their past seven, putting them right behind everyone else in the South.
This week’s action kicks off on Thursday with three games. Summerside hosts Grand Falls (12-18-2-1) before setting off for a road trip to southwestern Nova Scotia. The Rapids have one of five regulation wins over the Western Capitals this season and are coming off losses to Miramichi (9-20-3-1) and Edmundston where they scored five goals each night but didn’t register any points. Summerside had just one game last weekend, beating Valley (8-24-2-0) by a score of 7-3. Speaking of the Timberwolves, they play three games in four days this week, starting on the road against Fredericton. The Red Wings had two home games last week, beating Valley 5-2 before losing 8-1 to Campbellton. Finally, Pictou County hit the ice at home against the Tigers. The Crushers picked up a 4-0 win in Campbellton on November 8th, which kicked off a six-game win streak for the club.
On Friday, the Crushers and Mariners lock horns in another big tilt. The matchup in New Glasgow is the MHL Game of the Week, which is free to watch on HockeyTV. The Mariners beat the Crushers 4-3 last Friday on the strength of two powerplay goals in the final period. Yarmouth acquired 20-year-old defenceman Jake Jurgeneit from the CCHL’s Nepean Raiders before last weekend’s games, and picked up forward Carson Lanceleve from Truro for the rights to Jacob Christie and their 2021 1st round draft pick as the defending champions load up for another playoff run. Truro, meanwhile, host Campbellton on Friday at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre. The Bearcats’ 5-3 win in Campbellton on November 1st is really where their season turned around, and will be looking to continue their hot streak here. Another Eastlink South matchup has Valley in Amherst. After a loss to the Bearcats, the Ramblers beat Pictou County 6-0 and are 5-0 against the Wildcats this season. Valley is looking to snap a four-game losing streak. Finally, Summerside heads to South Shore. The Western Capitals beat the Lumberjacks 7-1 back in the middle of October. South Shore are back on home ice for the first time in a little over a month and dropped a tough 2-1 overtime decision to Yarmouth last weekend.
Four more games are on tap on Saturday, headlined by a huge game in Yarmouth as the Mariners host the Western Capitals. This will be the third game in three nights for Summerside, who beat Yarmouth 2-1 in overtime at home in September. Edmundston hit the ice for the first time this week as they travel to Miramichi. These teams will face off twice over the next five days and three times over the next two weeks, with the Blizzard having won all four games between them so far. South Shore heads to Amherst, looking to avenge a 5-11 loss to the Ramblers on December 7th. The Bearcats host Valley, with the teams having split their four games this season. The game will also be broadcast on Eastlink Community TV, channels 10 and 610. Join Kevin Northup, Paul MacDonald, and Mavs Gillis for all the action.
The weekend’s action wraps up on Sunday as Campbellton return home from Nova Scotia for a game against Miramichi. Their last meeting, on December 15th, was an 8-4 win for the Tigers.
All games can be viewed on HockeyTV.
| Date | Visitor | Home | Venue | Time |
| Thu, Jan 9 | Grand Falls | Summerside | Credit Union Place | 7:00 pm AST |
| Thu, Jan 9 | Miramichi | Fredericton | Grant Harvey Centre | 7:00 pm AST |
| Thu, Jan 9 | Campbellton | Pictou County | Pictou County Wellness Centre | 7:00 pm AST |
| Fri, Jan 10 | Summerside | South Shore | Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre | 5:00 pm AST |
| Fri, Jan 10 | Valley | Amherst | Amherst Stadium | 7:00 pm AST |
| Fri, Jan 10 | Campbellton | Truro | Rath Eastlink Community Centre | 7:00 pm AST |
| Fri, Jan 10 | Yarmouth | Pictou County | Pictou County Wellness Centre | 7:00 pm AST |
| Sat, Jan 11 | Edmundston | Miramichi | Miramichi Civic Centre | 7:00 pm AST |
| Sat, Jan 11 | South Shore | Amherst | Amherst Stadium | 7:00 pm AST |
| Sat, Jan 11 | Valley | Truro | Rath Eastlink Community Centre | 7:00 pm AST |
| Sat, Jan 11 | Summerside | Yarmouth | Mariners Centre | 7:30 pm AST |
| Sun, Jan 12 | Miramichi | Campbellton | Campbellton Memorial Civic Centre | 7:00 pm AST |