After a busy training camp and preseason the 2022 BCHL regular season begins tonight as the Cowichan Capitals open it up at home against the West Kelowna Warriors at 7PM. It’s the first of a four game home stand that will see the Caps host Alberni Valley Saturday night, then the Bulldogs again and Langley next weekend.
Cowichan finished 4-5 in preseason play, while West Kelowna played just 3 exhibition games, beating Chilliwack before falling in both ends of a home and home with Vernon. This year the Capitals return 4 players from their 2021/22 team, as Massimo Lombardi returns after a 40 point campaign, and totalled 6 points in 4 playoff games. Ian Kern and Connor Elliott are back on the blue line and last year’s starting net-minder McCoy Bidewell returns and starts tonight.
The Warriors were led by Luke Devlin’s 5 points in 3 preseason contests, and while only playing 3 exhibition games the Warriors scored 13 goals, including 9 in the win in Chilliwack. The Warriors graduated their top 6 scorers from last year but Alexi Van Houtte-Cachero totalled 37 points last season, and Ben McDonald who last season played alongside Capitals rookie Andrew Haxton led Noble & Greenough School in scoring and was selected 91st overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
The Capitals will look to Lombardi to lead the offence this season, skating on the top line with Long Island University Commit Luke Strickland and former Quebec Major Junior Hockey Leaguer Logan Camp. Jackson Morehouse, the newest Capital acquired from Victoria this week skates on the second line with Oliver Salo, the son of former NHLer Sami Salo, and Turner Richards.
Doors open at 6PM tonight, tickets are available online here or at the Capitals and CCC box office. Every Capitals game is also streamed online PPV with Hockey TV, and on the radio on 89.7 Juice FM in the Cowichan Valley, or online at mycowichanvalleynow.com
