After four years, Howell savouring finale with Caps
Nick Howell is wrapping up his final games with the Extreme Hockey Regina Capitals with a smile.
Howell is a fourth-year forward with the Capitals, who are playing host to the Keystone Cup at the Cooperators Centre. He was at a loss for words Friday when asked about playing in the western Canadian junior B championship in his final weekend with the Capitals.
“It’s the last weekend that (hockey) is very competitive,’’ said Howell, who joins defenceman, Dillon Frater, as the Capitals’ overage players. “It’s very sad and I’m going to play as hard as I can until the very last game.’’
That last game may be closer than Howell would like. The Capitals’ record fell to 1-2 after Friday’s 8-5 loss to the 100 Mile House Wranglers. The Capitals were to play the Thunder Bay Northern Hawks on Friday night. Result of the game was not available at press time.
Regina concludes its round-robin portion of the championship on Saturday against the North Peace Navigators at 2:30 p.m. The Capitals will need some help if they are to advance to Sunday’s medal games.
Regardless of what happens, Howell has enjoyed his four seasons with the Capitals.
“It’s just the team environment and all of the boys that we’ve had over the years,” Howell said. “I know that if I see them in the mall when I’m older and I’m sure that we will say ‘Hi.’ Then we will catch up on the old times and stories about how we matched up and what happened in the games. It’s something that you will have for your whole life.’’
It’s not easy combining life and playing junior hockey at a competitive level. Howell learned to manage his time while studying geology at the University of Regina and working as a personal trainer at Trench Fitness.
“You don’t get a lot of sleep at times,’’ said the 22-year-old Howell. “It’s worth it because it’s a game that you love. You can put time away from work or from homework and find a couple of hours to just get out here and play.’’
The Capitals do what they can to accommodate the players’ schedules. One way is holding practices at 10 p.m.
“It’s for people who want to work and get on with the rest of their life,” Howell said. “It’s a just a league where you can work, go to school and enjoy the competitiveness.’’
Eric Duran, who scored three of the Capitals’ five goals on Friday, balances working full time as a milkman with Dairyland and hockey.
“Guys can work full time and still play this level of hockey so it’s nice,’’ said Duran, who’s in his third season with the Capitals.
On Thursday, the Capitals posted a 9-5 win over the Peguis Juniors. Cody Hegion paced the Capitals with three goals. Earlier Thursday, the Capitals were beaten 5-3 by the AGI Insurance Saskatoon Quakers.
On Friday, the Wranglers scored five power-play goals while improving to 1-1. Tyler Povelofskie, Justin Bond, Ryan Friessen and Nick McCabe scored two goals each for the Wranglers. Braydon Delorme and Landon Walters scored for the Capitals.
Four of the six teams in the championship advance to Sunday’s medal games after the round robin. The bronze-medal game is at 10 a.m., followed by the gold-medal match at 1:30 p.m.