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Crunch time for the Capitals

Kevin Rothbauer - Cowichan Valley Citizen
September 11, 2009

Ready or not, here it comes.

The 2009/10 British Columbia Hockey League season is about to face off this weekend, with two games on the slate for the Cowichan Arena. The Cowichan Valley Capitals play host to the Burnaby Express in their season opener on Friday, followed by a date with the arch-rival Nanaimo Clippers on Saturday.

The last few weeks have seen the Caps holding auditions for the many openings on their roster, particularly in the forward ranks, where only two players returned from last year's group. Coach Scott Robinson sounds optimistic, if a little cautiously, as he prepares to go once more into the breach.

"Optimism is the only way you can operate in this environment," he said. "The players and the team feed off that. We have to believe in the guys. We like the new faces. Now they have to go out and prove themselves."

There is no shortage of fresh blood on this latest edition of the Caps, and the recent additions haven't had a lot of time to gel. Their trial by fire will begin on Friday.

"We like the group we have at the starting point," said Robinson. "We have to try to get them on the same page as quick and as early as we can."

While there has been plenty of turnover on the front lines, the Cowichan defence is as stable as ever, with four returning players, including Curtis Gedig, who was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the seventh round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Also back from last year are Nick Wong, Matt Johnston and Shayne Taker. All four can deliver big hits in their own end and can chip in offensively as well.

"Immediately, we've got a real good puck-moving defence," Robinson pointed out. "They'll help us get out of our own end, and you always want to spend more time in the other team's end. Then we have to get our forwards working together to get shots on goal."

Even with the presence of Gedig, no single defenceman is being looked at to provide the bulk of the points from the back end.

"Our whole group is kind of exciting," said Robinson. "If you look at our exhibition games, (newcomer) Alex Halloran had five goals in two games. We don't expect that to continue, because there hasn't been a defenceman who scored 150 goals in a given year. What we have to do now is teach our defencemen the right time to get involved in the offence."

One of the biggest surprises of the preseason, Halloran comes to the Caps from Salt Lake City, Utah, where he excelled while playing at the highest level the region has to offer.

"Kids in those leagues fly all over the country, going to big tournaments," said Robinson. "He's been in the top of the scoring for his team. We flew him up last winter to take a look at him, and we liked what we saw."

The two returning forwards are Joey Massingham, a Duncan product back for his fourth season with the Caps, and Nick Anderson, here for his third go-around. Both players are renowned for their leadership, two-way play and penalty-killing abilities, but neither has been known to put the puck in the net all that often. Massingham had nine goals and 12 assists in 60 games last year, while Anderson compiled six goals and 20 helpers in 60 contests. All numbers for both players were career highs.

Expected to help out significantly on offence are off-season acquisitions Ryan Green and Jackson Garrett -- the only two other forwards currently on the roster with BCHL experience. Green had 25 points in 51 games for Powell River last year, his rookie season, while Garrett notched 12 points, including eight goals in 33 matches.

"Those are the four forwards that have experience in the league," said Robinson. "But we really like all of our young guys."

Newcomers Shawn Mueller, Joel Kern and Chapen LeBlond -- who also turned heads in some preseason action last year -- are expected to contribute, as is Taylor Paziuk, who had 49 points in 42 games with the junior B Kerry Park Islanders last season and showed plenty of grit in four regular-season and four playoff appearances with the Caps. Paziuk is sidelined with an injury right now, but could be cleared to play by the weekend.

Another player to watch is Duncan's Chase Kaiser, who led the South Island Thunderbirds in the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League last season.

"Chase's speed, tenacity and work ethic make him noticeable out there," said Robinson.

In goal, the Caps will have familiar faces Kiefer Smiley and Taylor Pears handling the job. Both players were Capitals property last year, but spent time with other BCHL clubs as Chris Rawlings took care of the bulk of the team's netminding duties.

"Of course, a goalie is only as good as his last game," Robinson noted. "But we've had a couple of years with Kiefer and Taylor had some experience last year. I think they are both capable."

With all the concern about who would be suiting up for his team, Robinson hasn't had much time to worry about his opponents for this weekend.

"We saw Nanaimo twice in exhibition, but we only really saw their team once," he said. "We know very little about them. For us, we've got to keep it together as far as where we are and see where that gets us."