Caps keep Grizzlies at bay

The Victoria Grizzlies moved to address their crease quandary, only to have other problems amplified in the form of a BCHL losing streak that extended to five games.

The Cowichan Valley Capitals (4-22-5) won for only the fourth time, all at home, in downing the Grizzlies 5-3 on Wednesday at Island Savings Centre in Duncan for their second consecutive victory. That comes after Victoria (14-14-4) lost 6-2 to the equally lowly Coquitlam Express (5-22-3) on Sunday. The Capitals and Express bring up the rear in the BCHL, with just 13 points each, but have now both won two in a row.

The Grizzlies, meanwhile, acquired goaltender Kurtis Chapman from the Calgary Mustangs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Regular Grizzlies starter Zach Rose is with Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge in Truro, N.S., while Shawn Parkinson is on the injured reserve list. Grizzlies head coach and GM Craig Didmon said he needed to bring in “some stability” during this stretch.

Chapman got the start Wednesday at the Stick and made 24 saves but was upstaged by J.J. Pichette’s 43-save performance in the Cowichan net.

Victoria forward Alex Newhook, 16, showed why he is projected for the first round of the 2019 NHL draft by scoring twice while Shawn O’Malley got the other goal for the Grizzlies. Hugh Larkin, Azzaro Tinling, Ethan Scardina, Brendan Cherwalk and captain Troy MacTavish scored for Cowichan Valley.