MHL recognizes Caps’ Ed Mcneill

Summerside Western Capital named MHL’S defenceman of the year

SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — It’s been a year to remember for Ed Mcneill.

The 20-year-old from Summerside was named the Maritime Junior Hockey League’s (MHL) defenceman of the year for the 2022-23 campaign on March 23.

“It’s been a good season,” Mcneill, who plays for the Summerside D. Alex Macdonald Ford Western Capitals, told Saltwire Network in a recent interview. “I have to give all credit to my teammates for the success. They put me in great positions all year, and we have a great team here. That’s where the success comes from.”

In his final season of junior hockey, Mcneill understands there is no tomorrow at this level.

“It’s a little emotional,” said Mcneill. “It goes by so fast when you think about it. When you are 16, 17 and starting your junior career, it doesn’t seem like that long ago.”

STATISTICS

Mcneill set a franchise record for most points in a season – 77 – for a defenceman to finish with 146 points in 166 regular-season games over five years.

Mcneill, who scored 16 goals and had 61 assists, recorded the second-most power-play points – 44 – in the league, four behind teammate Trent Crane.

“He sees the ice as well as well as anyone,” said Caps head coach Billy Mcguigan. “He makes good passes, he finds those seams and if you get him a puck on the flank, or rolling off the top on the power play and he has a lane to shoot it, he’ll usually score. There are not many goalies who can stop him 1-on-1.”

Mcguigan also praised the defensive play of Mcneill, who stands five foot nine and weight 165 pounds.

Mcguigan said although Mcneill is an undersized defenceman, he is effective using his stick and body.

“He’s first to pucks now, where early in his career he might not have been,” said Mcneill. “He competes hard every night where, again, early in his career, he may not have had the same compete level…

“I think it’s evident he’s going to find something at U Sports and have a great career.”

Although Mcneill is known for his offence, he takes pride in his defensive play and welcomes the opportunity and challenge of shutting down the opposition’s top lines.

ADVERSITY

Mcneill’s junior hockey journey has not been without its challenges. Those include overcoming a mouth injury that resulted in a couple of root canals and two new teeth while with the Blainvilleboisbriand

Armada of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and going through work isolation because of COVID-19 when he rejoined the Caps as an 18-year-old during the 202021 season.

Mcguigan said to see Mcneill come through everything and put together a season is remarkable.

“It talks about his character, his perseverance,” said Mcguigan. “The way he has handled himself professionally has been outstanding. Ed is a kid who gives you no trouble whatsoever.

“You can rely on him every single game and he’s always produced for us.”

That effort extends to the

whole team, said Mcneill.

“It’s been a crazy couple of years of junior (hockey) with COVID,” said Mcneill. “There is a lot of resiliency in this group, and we saw it last year as we won the (MHL) championship.

“It would be nice to win another one this year.”

The Caps have their work cut out if the team is to repeat as MHL champions. That includes having to win three must-win games in a row to advance to Round 2.

Summerside trails the Campbellton Tigers 3-1 in the best-of-seven Eastlink North Division semifinal series heading into Game 5 at the Island Petroleum Energy Centre on March 27 at 7 p.m.