Unhappy ending for season
By Don Bodger The Pictorial
February 27, 2008
Fairly or unfairly, the Cowichan Valley Capitals’ 2007-08 season in the B.C. Hockey League will always be characterized by The Trade.
When the Caps sent Clinton Pettapiece to the Westside Warriors at the Jan. 10 trade deadline, they were in a prime playoff position.
After dispensing with their only 20-year-old player, the Caps subsequently went 5-11-2 during the last 18 games without Pettapiece and dropped out of a playoff spot to seventh place in the eight-team Coastal Conference.
The team gambled it could still make the playoffs while building for the future at the same time. The Caps received Alex Gellert for Pettapiece and will get one player currently on the Warriors’ roster at the end of the season plus another player.
Caps’ president Dr. Ron Smith said there was considerable discussion before the organization decided to make the deal for Pettapiece.
“There’s a hockey operations committee that makes these decisions combined with the coaching staff. We try to put our best hockey brains together.
“Once they make that decision, you stand with them. They made the best decision they could at the time.
“We still thought we could make it (the playoffs).’’
The lost revenue from missed home playoff dates will indeed be costly for a franchise that realized a big decline in attendance this season.
The Caps made it to the Coastal Conference finals against Nanaimo last season and had nine playoff home games along the way.
“It’s a big factor,’’ said Smith.
“Generally, we need those gates to break even. Our whole objective is to, No. 1, break even. No. 2, if we generate extra funds, we reinvest it in the team.
“Last year was a bonus. It certainly shows you how important it was to be in the playoffs.’’
The playoff format of the past virtually guaranteed every team except Quesnel would make the playoffs. That was revamped this season to exclude the bottom two finishers in each conference and the Caps got caught in the crossfire, outgunned by more experienced opponents.
“The reality is it’s a very young team,’’ said Smith. “There was a lot of talented young kids, but you need some experience on the team as well.’’
Injuries at inopportune times didn’t help the Caps, either. Marco Raimondo’s season-ending injury left the No. 1 goaltending duties to Kiefer Smiley and he performed admirably for a 17-year-old.
“That is a lot of freight to carry,’’ Smith said of Smiley.
The Caps’ brass wasted no time dissecting the season, holding a two-hour meeting Sunday morning. The coaches will also be interviewed to get feedback while setting the tone and direction for next season.
“You can only lick your wounds for so long,’’ said Smith.
Coach and general manager Scott Robinson is under contract for two more seasons.
The Caps have all players eligible to return next season except Bryce Reddick and Corbin McPherson, who are heading to the U.S. college ranks.
The Caps will use the proceeds from the Pettapiece trade to build an immediate contender next season, not unlike they did during the Cam MacIntyre deal with Salmon Arm two years ago.
The Caps received dependable Luke Cain and Travis Holloway in that deal, although getting players of the same quality is never guaranteed to pan out. Holloway was actually eligible to return again this season, but showed up to camp in poor shape and wound up not playing at all.
Smith said it’s been a long time since the Caps haven’t qualified for the playoffs and he doesn’t want to experience the feeling again anytime soon.
“We can’t dwell on it, other than learn from it,’’ he said. “We’re setting the bar high next year. We want to be in the BCHL finals next year.’’
The Caps’ frustrating season ended in typical fashion Friday night with a 3-2 loss at Cowichan Arena to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, their non-playoff cousins.
The Caps owned the first period, outshooting the Bulldogs 17-6 and opening up a 2-0 lead in the first five minutes on goals by Nick Anderson and Gellert.
Miraculously, the Caps found a way to lose the game despite a final shots-on-goal advantage of 46-22.
The Bulldogs’ Warren Muir tallied on the power play late in the first period and scored the game-winner with a great shot into a narrow space over Smiley’s shoulder with 9:05 remaining.
Jordan Principalli scored the Bulldogs’ other goal on a power play midway through the third period.
Loyal fans are not happy about the way the season turned out.
“Every year in the BCHL is a rebuilding year,’’ said one fan, questioning the Pettapiece trade.
“They have to make changes,’’ conceded Larry Kristofferson, who added Pettapiece “was fun to watch.’’
trade backfires: A sure playoff spot squandered after Pettapiece dealt to the Westside Warriors
