The season that began with championship aspirations for the Capeside Loons ultimately ended in disappointment — but not without moments that suggest the foundation for future success is firmly in place.
After leading the Patrick Division for much of the regular season, Capeside saw its campaign end with a dramatic seven-game first-round loss to the Calgary Chinook in the CCHL playoffs. The defeat capped a turbulent second half of the season that saw the Loons slide to the sixth seed after a series of roster changes following the trade deadline.
Yet despite the early playoff exit, the season will be remembered for its standout performances, emotional moments, and the beginning of a new chapter for the franchise.
Eichel Delivers MVP Season
No player meant more to the Loons this year than Jack Eichel, who delivered a spectacular campaign and earned team MVP honors.
Eichel finished the season with:
- 47 goals
- 77 assists
- 124 points
His 124-point season placed him third in scoring across the entire CCHL, cementing his status as one of the league’s elite offensive forces. Night after night, Eichel drove the Loons’ offense, leading a team that finished among the league’s more productive attacks.
Supporting him offensively were several key contributors:
- Matt Boldy — 41 goals, 101 points
- Jason Robertson — 75 points overall, including 19 points in 21 games with Capeside after arriving mid-season
- Dylan Larkin — 72 points, including 25 in 26 games with the Loons
- Chris Kreider — 32 goals and 71 points while serving as team captain
On the blue line, Zach Werenski delivered an outstanding two-way season with 81 points, while John Carlson added 63 points from the back end.
For much of the season, that offensive firepower kept Capeside atop the Patrick Division standings.
Trade Deadline Changes Shift the Season
The Loons’ trajectory changed dramatically after the trade deadline.
A series of roster moves brought in new talent but also disrupted the chemistry that had carried the team through the first half of the season. While additions like Robertson and Larkin provided scoring punch, the lineup never fully settled into consistent combinations.
Capeside slid down the standings late in the year and ultimately entered the playoffs as the sixth seed.
That set up a difficult opening series against the Calgary Chinook, a team that had dominated the season series between the clubs.
Seven Games, but the Chinook Advance
The playoff matchup proved to be as dramatic as expected.
Despite entering the series as underdogs, the Loons pushed Calgary to the limit. The series went the full seven games before the Chinook finally advanced, ending Capeside’s postseason run in the opening round.
For a team that had once led its division, the early exit left a lingering feeling of what might have been.
Loss of an Owner, Loss for the Community
Beyond the wins and losses, the most emotional moment of the season came off the ice.
Late in the year, the Capeside community mourned the passing of team owner James Van Der Beek, who had become deeply tied to the identity of the franchise and the town.
Van Der Beek had brought the team to Capeside and built the culture that turned the Loons into one of the league’s most recognizable organizations. His death cast a shadow over the final weeks of the season.
Shortly after, fellow Katie Holmes stepped forward to purchase the franchise. Holmes has pledged to preserve the traditions Van Der Beek established while guiding the Loons into the future.
For the city of Capeside, it marked both a farewell and a new beginning.
An Uncertain Offseason
Now the focus shifts to the offseason — and several major questions facing the franchise.
The biggest revolves around captain Chris Kreider. The veteran forward will turn 35 next month and is set to become an unrestricted free agent. If Kreider moves on, the Loons may face the possibility of naming a new captain for the first time in years.
Roster construction will also be under the microscope as the organization looks to regain the chemistry it had earlier in the season.
And perhaps most intriguing is the youth movement that could be arriving.
Three highly regarded prospects are pushing for roster spots next year:
- Ryan Leonard
- James Hagens
- Ian Moore
If even one or two of them make the jump, the Loons could add speed, skill, and energy to a lineup already built around elite offensive talent.
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