The second month of the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) regular season begins on Thursday. Three teams, South Shore, Edmundston, and Summerside, sit with 5-1-0-0 records. Not coincidentally, those three teams were featured in this week’s CJHL Top 20 rankings, with the Lumberjacks 17th, Summerside 19th, and Edmundston named as an Honourable Mention despite a win over the Western Capitals this season. Yarmouth also have 10 points with a 4-1-2-0 record, coming off a pair of overtime losses last weekend.
There also talk of parity across the MHL, and when looking at the results from the first month of the season, it’s not hard to see why. With 33 games in the books, 14 (or 42.4%) have been decided by one goal, four have been decided by two goals, six have been decided by three goals, six more by four goals, and just three by five goals. The standings may not show it, but every team has had their chances early in the season.
The Truro Bearcats (1-3-0-1) have three road games in three days, starting their zig-zagging journey with a trip to Bridgewater to face the Lumberjacks. Truro picked up three of a possible six points last week, having played three games in four days. South Shore continued to roll with home wins over Amherst (2-4-0-0) and Pictou County (2-2-0-0). Speaking of the Crushers, they dropped a couple of close games last week to Truro and South Shore and look to get back above .500 as they host Valley (1-4-0-0). The Wildcats got their first win of the season in Truro last Saturday in a shootout after a loss at home to Edmundston.
Three games are scheduled for Friday with Truro heading to Fredericton (4-2-0-0) to face a Red Wings team which won back to back overtime games last week over Yarmouth and Miramichi (1-4-1-0). Valley make their first trip to Bridgewater, looking to avenge a 6-1 loss to the Lumberjacks earlier this season. Then an Eastlink North matchup hits the ice in Grand Falls (1-3-1-0) as the Rapids take on the Western Capitals. Grand Falls picked up a 4-3 overtime win against Campbellton (2-1-1-0) last week before losing 4-3 in overtime to Miramichi, both at home.
Saturday’s schedule has four games. The Campbellton road show continues as the Tigers head to Miramichi before they are finally able to play at home next weekend in the league’s final home opener. Pictou County makes the trip across the Confederation Bridge to take on Summerside, Truro wrap up their road trip with a rematch in Amherst. The Ramblers beat Truro 2-1 at home last week. Finally, Yarmouth makes the long trip to Edmundston to face the Blizzard.
The Mariners will wrap up their weekend Sunday afternoon in Grand Falls. The MHL Game of the Week, free to watch on HockeyTV, features the Blizzard home to the Timberwolves. Edmundston picked up a 4-2 win over the Timberwolves in Miramichi on September 21st.
All games are available to watch on HockeyTV.
| Date | Visitor | Home | Venue | Time |
| Thu, Oct 3 | Truro | South Shore | Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre | 7:00 pm AT |
| Thu, Oct 3 | Valley | Pictou County | Pictou County Wellness Centre | 7:00 pm AT |
| Fri, Oct 4 | Truro | Fredericton | Grant Harvey Centre | 7:00 pm AT |
| Fri, Oct 4 | Valley | South Shore | Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre | 7:00 pm AT |
| Fri, Oct 4 | Summerside | Grand Falls | E. & P. Sénéchal Centre | 7:30 pm AT |
| Sat, Oct 5 | Campbellton | Miramichi | Miramichi Civic Centre | 7:00 pm AT |
| Sat, Oct 5 | Pictou County | Summerside | Credit Union Place | 7:00 pm AT |
| Sat, Oct 5 | Truro | Amherst | Amherst Stadium | 7:00 pm AT |
| Sat, Oct 5 | Yarmouth | Edmundston | Centre Jean Daigle | 7:30 pm AT |
| Sun, Oct 6 | Miramichi | Edmundston | Centre Jean Daigle | 3:00 pm AT |
| Sun, Oct 6 | Yarmouth | Grand Falls | E. & P. Sénéchal Centre | 3:00 pm AT |