The Cowichan Valley Capitals were the only team to miss the sa国际传媒 Hockey League playoffs last spring, not an easy feat in a 17-team league.
But it will be a rejuvenated Capitals team the Victoria Grizzlies (3-3) meet tonight at the Island Savings Centre in Duncan.
The Capitals are being retooled under veteran coach and GM Mike Vandekamp, who has landed in the valley after seven seasons at the helm of the Nanaimo Clippers and 23 in total in the BCHL, AJHL and WHL. Vandekamp inherited a team that went 10-41-5 last season. Although off to a 1-3-2 start, the Caps are winning admirers, with some tough-luck close misses in the young season. In their last two games, the Capitals gave up a late tying goal in an overtime loss to Chilliwack and then coughed up the winning goal to the Coquitlam Express with less than five seconds remaining in regulation time. These are the hard early lesson which could hold the Capitals in good stead later in the season.
鈥淢ike [Vandekamp] has the Capitals playing hard and nothing will be for free against them,鈥� said Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon.
鈥淭hey play a very physical game and are well structured. We have to be prepared.鈥�
The Grizzlies鈥� pace and tempo will come in handy at the Stick, as the Savings Centre is fondly tabbed.
鈥淲e have to play our speed game on offence and make them have to keep up with us,鈥� said Didmon.
Cowichan Valley鈥檚 list of players committed to NCAA Div. 1 schools 鈥� Adam Conquest to Bowling Green and Jordan Robert to Clarkson 鈥� is modest compared to the Penticton Vees鈥� 15, Vernon Vipers鈥� 14 and Victoria鈥檚 five commitments, including projected first-round 2019 NHL draft pick Alex Newhook who will likely be Boston College-bound next fall.
Although there鈥檚 a glimmer in the Cowichan Valley, turnarounds are never easy. Still, the Grizzlies are wary.
鈥淭he Capitals have undergone a lot of change in the off-season,鈥� noted returning Grizzlies blue-liner Carter Berger.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to have to be at our best [tonight] and ready to go because of their physicality. We can鈥檛 get drawn in.鈥�
The Grizzlies return to The Q Centre to play the Powell River Kings on Friday night and Chilliwack Chiefs on Sunday afternoon.
