NISKU, AB. – The Cowichan Capitals opened the 2026 BCHL Showcase in dramatic fashion Tuesday evening, erasing a three-goal deficit and scoring six times over the final 40 minutes to defeat the Spruce Grove Saints 6-4.
After a difficult opening period that saw the Saints jump out to a commanding 3-0 lead, the Capitals flipped the script in the second, scoring three goals in just over four minutes to bring themselves right back into the contest. Spruce Grove’s Felix Haibock was the story of the opening frame, scoring three unanswered goals to complete a natural hat trick and put Cowichan in an early hole.
Despite the deficit, the Capitals came out with renewed energy in the middle frame, and it didn’t take long for the comeback to begin. Early in the period, Bryce Bryant sent a shot toward the net, where a crashing Trace Frieden was waiting on the doorstep to bury the rebound and get Cowichan on the board.
Less than three minutes later, Bryant continued the comeback on the power play. Capitals captain Slade Firkus delivered a cross-ice feed to Bryant, who quickly directed the puck toward the net. Catching the Saints’ netminder off guard, the shot snuck across the goal line to pull the Capitals within one.
The Capitals weren’t done there.
Just 92 seconds later, Havryil Simchuk struck for his first goal of the season. Setting up in front of the Spruce Grove net, the second-year forward redirected a point shot from Kenyon McIsaac, who collected his first point with the Capitals on the play. And just like that, Cowichan had erased a three-goal deficit in a span of just 4:20, bringing the game level at three heading into the final frame.
The Saints regained the advantage just before the midway point of the third period, but the Capitals had one more comeback in them. With under three minutes remaining in regulation, Raphael Messier snapped a perfectly placed shot into the top corner for his second goal of the season, bringing Cowichan even at four late in the game. With the primary assist, Gleb Semenko picked up his first point with the organization, while Simchuk collected his second point of the evening.
Just 52 seconds later, Brendan Finley completed the comeback in spectacular fashion, pulling off a beautiful toe-drag in the circles before snapping a shot far-side for his second goal of the season and Cowichan’s first lead of the night. Before the Saints could mount a response, Bryant struck with the empty net just 27 seconds later, adding his second goal of the game to cap a remarkable three-goal outburst in just 1:19 and seal the 6-4 victory.
Bryant led the way with two goals and an assist, earning first-star honours, while Simchuk collected a goal and an assist to take home third-star recognition. McIsaac chipped in three assists, while Firkus added two helpers. Between the pipes, Evan Maillet turned aside 19 of 23 shots as the Capitals finished with a 33-23 advantage in shots.
The victory gives Cowichan a strong start to its Alberta swing, with little time to celebrate before returning to action Wednesday afternoon against the Blackfalds Bulldogs.
Puck drop is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. MDT at the Silent Ice Center.
Fans can catch all the action live on FloHockey or tune in on 89.7 SUN FM.
