Cowichan Valley Capitals alumni have been on proud and ample display. Hometown Duncan product and former Capitals star forward Matt Ellison, now in the KHL, looks on form to becoming an Olympian and making sa国际传媒鈥檚 NHL-absent team to the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Former Caps defenceman Troy Paterson, meanwhile, made his AHL refereeing debut this week as he looks to eventually officiating in the NHL.
鈥淲e remember and appreciate our alumni and take pride in them,鈥� said Brian Passmore, in his first season as head coach and GM of the Capitals, as he looks to rebuild the program to match past glories.
But if the past is booming for the Caps, the present is not. Cowichan Valley (3-22-5) brings the lowest winning percentage in the sa国际传媒 Hockey League into the Island Savings Centre tonight in Duncan for its game against the Victoria Grizzlies.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been struggling, and there have been a few ruts,鈥� said Passmore.
鈥淲e鈥檙e playing hard at home. The road has been an issue.鈥�
Case in point is that, despite its record, Cowichan Valley leads the league in power-play goals at home. On the road, however, the Capitals鈥� power play is dead last in the league.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an odd statistic. Maybe it鈥檚 a mental thing. But what I know is that our players are working hard,鈥� said Passmore.
鈥淲e鈥檝e done a good job of sticking together all through this and are working to get better each day.鈥�
Toward that end, and because of their better play at the Stick, Passmore last week challenged his players to think of the seven remaining home games before the Christmas break as a playoff series.
鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at the period to Christmas at home as a best-of-seven and so far we are 1-1 with Game 3 [tonight] against Victoria,鈥� said Passmore, who coached at Shawnigan Lake School the past two years, and with the Peninsula Panthers and and Westshore Wolves of the VIJHL before that.
It鈥檚 the long term to which Passmore looks with the Caps.
鈥淲e are in a rebuild with all our players returning next season,鈥� he noted.
Toward that end, Passmore recently traded veteran goaltending stalwart Adam Marcoux to the Trail Smoke Eaters for a parcel of prospect players. Marcoux wanted to play for a contender, and the Capitals were looking to the future, so it was a deal that benefited both teams.
There have been other bright lights this season, as well, with forward Ty Pochipinski from Colorado Springs on 12 goals and playing well. Simon Chen, the son of Capitals owner Ray Zhang, is a blue-liner from Beijing and harbours dreams of playing for host China in his hometown 2022 Winter Olympics. Chen drew considerable media coverage when he was invited to the Vancouver Canucks development camp over the summer but Passmore believes Chen will prove himself as more than just a curiosity.
鈥淪imon has a lot to learn but he is a very focused and very smart kid,鈥� said Passmore.
Meanwhile, goaltender Zach Rose of the Grizzlies has been named to Team sa国际传媒 West for the World Junior A Challenge beginning this weekend in Nova Scotia. Also named were forwards Brett Stapley (Vernon Vipers) from Campbell River and Carter Turnbull (Powell River Kings) from Nanaimo. Grizzlies forwards Alex Newhook, committed to the NCAA鈥檚 Boston College in 2019, and Jamie Rome, off to Western Michigan next fall, were at the selection camp in Calgary but will be returned to the Grizzlies, but likely not in time for tonight鈥檚 game.
In goaltender Rose鈥檚 absence, and an injury to Shawn Parkinson, call-up Bryce Schiebel from the Peninsula Panthers of the VIJHL will continue his crease stint with the Grizzlies (14-13-4), who will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak tonight.
Twitter.com/tc_vicsports
