For a second straight season, the Cowichan Capitals were victorious in Salmon Arm, they now look to match that little run in Vernon tonight after a 4-1 win over the Vipers last year, and a win by that same score last night in Salmon Arm. Dan McIntyre missed 4 games, but returned last night and potted 2 goals, one just over a minute into the hockey game, and the other, a shorthanded goal in the 2nd period. Luc Wilson and Dimitri Mikrogiannakis had the other Cowichan markers, both of which came on the power play, while Zach Borgiel picked up his 6th win in goal stopping 32/33 including all 18 in the 3rd period. Primo Self and Matt Crasa made their Capitals debuts and both recorded an assist as well. With the win, Cowichan moved to 6-2, while also handing Salmon Arm their first loss of the season, and sit at 6-1.
Now the road trip continues against a Vernon club that sits at 3-2, having played just 5 games so far. They started off with a win in Kelowna, before getting a split in 2 games in Wenatchee. Then returned home and fell to Victoria 5-1, before shutting out Powell River 3-0 the next night. Vernon has scored 12 goals in 5 games (2.4 per game) and given up just 11 (2.2 per game). On other other side, Cowichan has 28 tallies in 8 games (3.5 per) and have given up 22 (2.7 per).
Who’s hot: Dan McIntyre had a 3 point night in his return to the lineup including a pair of goals, while Luc Wilson had a pair of assists last night. The Capitals bounced back tremendously after getting some rest from the busy schedule last week, and the team played well as a whole. In the postgame show assistant coach Dan Whiteford said the start of the game was a focal point, and the Capitals put forward their best 20 minutes of the season. Zach Borgiel continued to shine in the game last night, picking up his league leading 6th win of the season, no other goalie even has 5. Vernon is lead by 20 year old captain Connor Marritt’s 2 goals and 2 assists for 4 points, but 17 year old rookie Cameron MacDonald has had a hot start to the season as well, leading the team with 3 goals so far. Max Palaga, a 19 year old that’s spent time in the Western Hockey League has played all 5 games in goal for the Vipers, and has a 2.17 goals against and .917 save percentage.
How to follow: 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, and watch live on Hockey TV pay-per-view.
Including tonight, the Capitals are playing 5 straight games on the road beginning with this Interior Division road trip at Salmon Arm on Friday, in Vernon Saturday and in Surrey on Sunday. Then the BCHL will host it’s annual showcase in Chilliwack and Penticton, the Capitals will play both of their games in Chilliwack, as they’ll face Langley and Surrey at the Chilliwack Coliseum. One final road game will be back on the Island and in Alberni Valley on October 5th before the Caps next home game October 11th against Trail.
