The Cowichan Valley Capitals Junior Hockey Club will be hosting tryouts for the opportunity to play in the BCHL’s Spring Hockey League. The league will provide players an excellent opportunity to learn and develop with Capitals staff and some of BC’s top development coaches, as well as showcase their abilities and talent to our organization and the other BCHL teams.
The Capitals will host three teams:
- U15 – Players born 2008-2010
- U18 – Players born 2005-2007
Sign up for the Spring teams here
This Spring League runs from the first week of April – June 25th, 2023. This League will see competition from other BCHL teams in showcase style format and will conclude with a playoff weekend. This league provides phenomenal opportunity to play with and against some of the top prospects in BC, as well as sharpen your skills, and train with some of the best hockey developers in BC including Jason Krog, Clayton Stoner, Mike Stutzel, Mike Vandekamp and Darcy Zajac.
Coaches will put an emphasis on individual skills and team tactics, while focusing on the mental side of the game and preparation for Junior A and WHL camps.
The U17 and U18 teams will compete in two 3-day showcases and compete in the Capitals Spring ID camp April 21-23 in the Cowichan Valley. The U15 team will compete in three 3-day showcases. Top players from the U15 team may be invited to the Spring ID camp this spring. We are pleased to announce that at least one of the showcases for each age group will be a traveling showcase and players will travel on the Capitals NEW team bus and experience what a typical Jr. A weekend looks like.
The Capitals U18 Spring League program includes the following (ISLAND PLAYERS ONLY)
- Tryout Camp to make Spring Team: April 1-2 at The Big Stick (4 hours of Ice)
- The selected team with have 25 hours of development ice.
- Junior A training Camp in Cowichan Valley April 21-23
- Showcase 1 – May 5-7th Port Alberni (Travel, Food, Hotel included)
- Showcase 2 – June 23-25 Chilliwack (Travel, Food, Hotel included)
- Exhibition games vs Island based teams.
- Elite instruction and development for on ice training with our coaches (bios below)
- Head Coach is Capitals Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development – Mike Stutzel
- Uniforms and apparel
- Practice times will be twice a week on Monday and Sunday’s at Shawnigan Lake School.
- This league’s philosophy is to serve as a fast track for talented hockey players from the early years of training and thereafter, are prepared to advance through the junior, college, pro, and/or international levels.
The Capitals U15 Spring League program includes the following: (ISLAND PLAYERS ONLY)
- Tryout Camp to make Spring Team: April 1-2 at The Big Stick (4 hours of Ice)
- The selected team with have 25 hours of development ice.
- Showcase 1 – TBA (Travel, Food, Hotel included)
- Showcase 2 – TBA (Travel, Food, Hotel included)
- Showcase 3 – TBA (Travel, Food, Hotel included)
- Exhibition Games vs Island based teams.
- Elite instruction and development for on ice training with our coaches (bios below)
- Head Coach is Capitals Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development – Mike Stutzel
- Uniforms and apparel
- Practice times will be twice a week on Monday and Sundays at Shawinigan Lake School and,
- This league’s philosophy is to serve as a fast track for talented hockey players from the early years of training, thereafter, are prepared to advance through the junior, college, pro, and/or international levels.
Tryout Dates:
U15 & U18 Tryout Dates: VANCOUVER ISLAND
U15
Wednesday March 29th – The Q Centre in Victoria from 6-8PM
Saturday April 1st – Cowichan Community Centre from 8:30-10:30AM
- Tryout Cost: $80 pp
- League Cost: $2,500 pp
→ U15: PURCHASE ONLINE NOW: HERE!
U18
Saturday April 1 – Cowichan Community Centre 11AM-1PM
Monday April 3 – Shawnigan Lake School Arena 7-9PM
- Tryout Cost: $80 pp
- League Cost: $2,500 pp
→ U18: PURCHASE ONLINE NOW: HERE!
Spring Team Coaches
MIKE STUTZEL
Mike Stutzel will serve as both the Capitals assistant coach for the 2023-2024 season and the Director of Player Development. Mike played 4 seasons in the BCHL before playing Div. 1 NCAA hockey at Northern Michigan University. Mike went on to play several years of professional hockey in the NHL, AHL, ECHL and Europe.
He rounded out his North American pro career with the Victoria Salmon Kings notching 52 points in 61 games before one season in the EIHL with the Edinburgh Capitals.
Mike has recently Coached the U15 – U18 levels at PCHA, South Island and Island Wild.
JASON KROG
Jason Krog began his 25-year professional hockey career at the University of New Hampshire in 1995. Krog had tallied 85 points in 41 games for the University of New Hampshire and was recognized as the best player in the NCAA that season: winning the Hobey Baker Award. After four years, the center immediately made the jump into the NHL and signed with the New York Islanders from 1999-2002. After back-to-back seasons with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, the 2005-05 NHL lockout sent Krog on his first tour Europe. He spent a season each in the EBEL, NLA, and SHL before returning to North America, rejoining the NHL with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2005-06. Krog then had stints with the New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks through 2009.
He rounded out his North American playing career by donning the “C” for the AHL’s Chicago Wolves from 2009-2011. Upon his return to European hockey, Krog spent three consecutive seasons with the SHL’s HV71 from 2011-2014. The following season, he saw time in the KHL and EBEL before signing with France’s Rouen for 2015-16. Krog retired from playing at the age of 41, after spending the 2016-17 season with Lørenskog in Norway.
DARCY ZAJAC
Darcy Zajac, a NCAA Scholarship recipient and graduate in 2006-2010 from The University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux, played alongside some of the NHL’s most talented players today.
He grew up playing his minor hockey in Winnipeg and joined the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the BCHL from 2004-2006, where he received the most Dedicated Player Award for both years. Zajac’s pro career started in 2010 with the Albany Devils (the affiliate of the New Jersey Devils). After two years of hard work, he earned himself his first NHL contract. In 2015 he left to play in Europe and has continued to play in various leagues overseas.
Has spent over 15 years working with young hockey players, helping them grow and reach their full potential, on and off the ice. He now resides in Vancouver, BC and coaches in the new Elite Junior pacific Hockey League.
Darcy has spent the last two years coaching academy hockey with the Burnaby Winter Club. Prior to that, he coached the West Van Academy U15 team, where they won the CSSHL League and Playoff Championships.
During the summer he runs a summer development program working with athletes in their pursuit of junior and college hockey.
Has worked with the following:
- Glenn Carnegie – Vancouver Canucks, Skill/Player Development Coach
- Diane Ness – Minnesota Wild Skating Coach
- Skating Coach for the U.S. Olympic Women’s 2010 Team
- Former Skating Coach for the Minnesota Gophers Men’s and Women’s Teams and,
- Former Skating Instructor for the New Jersey Devils
“Hockey is a simple game, but the dedication is what separates the players. Patience and commitment to details will help each individual achieve their dreams.”
CLAYTON STONER
The Vancouver Island native Clayton Stoner enjoyed a 10-year NHL career with the Minnesota Wild, Anaheim Ducks and, the Vegas Golden Knights.
Drafted in the 3rd round by Minnesota Wild in 2004, he then went to play in the AHL to further develop his skills to prepare him for the NHL.
As a defenseman, Stoner learned all aspects of the game throughout his 17-year Pro career and has now enjoyed coaching for the past 5-years to pass his knowledge along.
Recently, he has joined the Cowichan Capitals as a skills coach and a Partner with the team. He is excited to keep developing players at the Junior A level.
