It’s opening night at the Cowichan Community Centre as the Cowichan Capitals host the Victoria Grizzlies for their home opener tonight. The Capitals enter in off a 2-0 win in Nanaimo over the Clippers last night, with goals coming from Josh Kagan and Andy Bridgewater. Fagan netted the game winner halfway through the 2nd on a cross-ice feed from Luc Wilson, and Bridgewater iced the game with an empty netter inside the final minute of the 3rd. Zach Borgiel stopped all 35 Clippers shots for his first BCHL win and shutout. Cowichan now returns home and has defence man Cullen Ferguson is eligible to return to the lineup after serving a 2 game suspension for a checking from behind major in the preseason.
Cowichan’s depth looks to be a strength for them this year will the possibility of all four lines putting the puck in the net. Victoria meanwhile will need to rely on players that played depth roles last season, as their top seven scorers from last season all moved on. That being Alex Newhook, Riley Hughes, Alex Campbell, Cam Thompson, Ryan Nolan, Carter Berger and Jeremie Bucheler. Marty Westhaver will be expected to carry some of the load along with Eddy Yan and Darwin Lakoduk. Liam Souliere enters as a 20 year old goalie looking to replicate what Kurtis Chapman was for the last two seasons.
Cowichan and Victoria met twice in the preseason with the road team winning each time. Victoria beat Cowichan 3-2 at the Cowichan Community Centre 8 days ago, and the Capitals took down Victoria 5-2 in Sooke exactly a week ago.
The Capitals look to go 2-0 on opening weekend tonight at 6:00 PM in the home opener, doors open at 5:00PM and adult tickets are just 14$. For full ticket information or two purchase your tickets contact the Capitals office.
If you can’t make it to the game, every Capitals game home and away is broadcast live on 89.7 Juice FM on the FM dial, or you can listen live online on mycowichanvalleynow.com, or watch live on Hockey TV pay-per-view.
