Capitals’ rebuild on the right track
GAME DAY: VICTORIA AT COWICHAN VALLEY
7 p.m. at Island Savings Centre
Broadcast: mixlr.com
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 Canada’s 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.
“We remember and appreciate our alumni and take pride in them,” 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 B.C. Hockey League into the Island Savings Centre tonight in Duncan for its game against the Victoria Grizzlies.
“We’ve been struggling, and there have been a few ruts,” said Passmore.
“We’re playing hard at home. The road has been an issue.”
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’ power play is dead last in the league.
“It’s an odd statistic. Maybe it’s a mental thing. But what I know is that our players are working hard,” said Passmore.
“We’ve done a good job of sticking together all through this and are working to get better each day.”
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.
“We’re 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,” 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’s the long term to which Passmore looks with the Caps.
“We are in a rebuild with all our players returning next season,” 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.
“Simon has a lot to learn but he is a very focused and very smart kid,” said Passmore.
Meanwhile, goaltender Zach Rose of the Grizzlies has been named to Team Canada 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’s 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’s game.
In goaltender Rose’s 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.