St. John’s Junior Caps In Great Position as Season Winds Down

The leadership of St.John's Junior Caps forward and Captain Jordan Winter has helped position his team to a first-place SJJHL standing with only five games remaining and playoffs on the horizon.

The St. John’s Junior Caps are riding a 17W—6L record and are 4-1 since January, heading into their five remaining games of the season. They are scheduled to wrap up their season on February 14th against the Jr. Breakers.

Jordan Winter and Andy Knight are tied for team scoring with 30 points each. Winter has 16G and 14A, Knight 14G and 16 assists, and Andrew Veitch rounds out the top three, respectively, with 11G and 11A. Those stats also don't include the more than 12 players who reached the double-digit mark in points this season.

Steve Callahan, the head coach of the St.John’s Junior Caps, said he feels good about how his team is playing. 

“We concentrated coming out of the second half trying to raise our power play numbers to where we felt they should be this time of year. We are currently at over 25% and hope to raise that number. Last year, we had the top power play in Atlantic Canada, so we wanted to get that number up again.”

Callahan said the team's depth in scoring has been the story behind the Junior Cap's success all season, and that’s comforting with the playoffs around the corner. 

“You always want scoring depth at this time of the year. I always said that there are three seasons in this league. One in September, the second after the Christmas break and the third when the playoffs start, and these games get more challenging the further you go.”

It is also hard not to mention the play of the Junior Caps' stellar goaltending duo of Nathan Hurley and Jack Barrington, who have held down the fort this season.  Scott Kirby will be the third goaltender added to the rotation. Kirby returned to the Junior Caps after playing the first half of the season with the Amherst Ramblers of the MHL.

Like most hockey teams, the Junior Caps have their share of ups and downs with injuries during the season. Unfortunately, the team won’t be seeing the return of defenceman Declan Barron, who broke his tibia and fibula in his right leg on November 15th when he fell awkwardly during a fight with the Junior Renegades forward Ethan Sampson.

“He has suited up for a couple of practices, but in all likelihood, he may not return to action this year. Sometimes, it's about healing the right way. You have to look at the big picture when playing this game at this age and level. We would love to have him, but you can't replace him.”

The Junior Caps have used Charles Walsh to fill in, but Callahan is not shy about juggling line combinations. There have been many additions and subtractions this season.

“We always want to identify what players work best with each other. In the last game, we put Seamus Best together with Andy Knight and Nolan Avery, and they seemed to complement each other well. We liked the physical play of Zach Hawco, who we have juggled between the top and third lines. With his experience, we thought he would be better utilized on the top line with Andrew Veitch and Jordan Winter.

Callahan felt those line combinations would be effective for the Junior Cap's remaining games and heading into the playoffs. He also felt the team could count on other slotted roles.  

“Our third line is gonna look more like Owen Wright, Justin Hepditch and Auston Bryan, and those guys can play hard whether it's a physical game, hard four check or playing that shutdown role. They have embraced those roles and look forward to future assignments.”

Callahan said the team's affiliate call-ups were equally impressive. 

“We've had the Barrington cousins, Owen and Gavin, play for us. Gavin plays defence. He played one game for us recently against the Junior Blades, who are consistently tough opponents. He was incredibly composed, especially for somebody playing high school hockey. Owen Barrington played two games and had two goals in each. Then there is Landon Halbot. His physical play and speed were incredible. He threw massive hits and had players chase him all over the ice.”

Like most coaches who take each challenge game by game, there is no favourite team Callahan would rather face in the playoffs. All teams in this league are dangerous, no matter what their end-of-year stats tell you.

“Some of the teams that struggled to get out of the gate are the ones that are turning it on now. All teams are gonna be good heading down the stretch. Every team has one guy who could steal a game or even two and has great goaltending. So it's pick your poison as to what team I would rather face first in the playoffs.”

The Junior Caps will play the Junior Celtics at DF Barnes Arena on January 31st at 8:30 p.m.