CHILLIWACK, B.C. – The Cowichan Capitals made their first road game of the season count.
Four different Capitals found the back of the net in a dominant opening period Wednesday night, providing all the offence Cowichan would need in a 4-2 victory over the Chilliwack Chiefs at the Chilliwack Coliseum.
Looking to break into the win column after two close losses on opening weekend, the Capitals wasted no time setting the tone. Just 38 seconds after puck drop, Roan Burgess opened the scoring with his first of the season. Forcing a turnover in the offensive zone, the Capitals gained possession with Brendan Finley finding Carter Dekay in the slot. Burgess, sitting on the doorstep, cleaned up the Dekay rebound to open the scoring for the third straight game.
Before the Chiefs could settle in, Cowichan struck again just over a minute later. Bryce Bryant forced a turnover in his own defensive end and finished the play himself, scoring an unassisted marker with a farside snapshot off the rush to double the Capitals’ advantage in the opening minutes.
That early pressure continued throughout the period, and just before the midway point, Ludovik Gauvin pounced on a loose puck in the slot to slide his first BCHL goal past Chiefs netminder David Di Girolamo. Already holding a commanding lead, the Capitals added one more before the intermission. Directly off a clean offensive zone face-off win from Kayden Turner, defenceman John Lumsden found Carter Dekay, who blasted a one-timer toward the net. On the doorstep, Trace Frieden managed to get a stick on the puck for his second of the season and fourth goal of the period for the visiting Capitals.
Cowichan poured 17 shots on the Chilliwack net, enjoying a commanding 4-0 lead into the first intermission. From there, the task became protecting the lead. The Chiefs pushed back over the final 40 minutes, finding two power play tallies, but Evan Maillet and the Capitals held firm. Turning aside 27 of 29 shots, Maillet put together another strong performance to earn his first victory of the season.
Cowichan finished the night with a 38-29 advantage in shots, while Frieden led the way offensively with a goal and an assist. Turner chipped in two helpers, while Burgess, Bryant and Gauvin each found the back of the net for the first time this season.
With their first win in hand, the Capitals improve to 1-2-0 and continue their road swing Friday night when they visit the Coquitlam Express. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.
Final shots: CV 38, CHK 29
Final score: CV 4, CHK 2
