Skip to content

After 2 more defeats, Cowichan Capitals manager says change takes time

Teddy Bear Toss night coming up on Dec. 16
31207562_web1_221208-CCI-Capitals-melady_1
Cowichan’s Cole Melady (#20) had the hot hand over the weekend, scoring three goals in two losing efforts. (Todd Blumel photo)

Sunday afternoon, Dec. 4, the Cowichan Valley Capitals welcomed the Salmon Arm Silverbacks to the Cowichan Community Centre in their only matchup of the season. The Caps dropped the game 5-2.

Cole Melady scored the second period’s lone goal, unassisted, on the power play while Massio Sarantos Lombardi potted Cowichan’s second marker 1:10 into the third period to tie the game at two goals apiece. Luke Strickland and Logan Camp each earned assists on the play. It wasn’t to be, however, as the Silverbacks scored twice more before hitting an empty netter to finish the game 5-2.

Lombari was the game’s second star while Melady earned the Fortis BC Energy Player of the Game honours

The evening before, Cowichan had been in Powell River to face the Kings.

Cowichan was outshot 40-28 in the contest and was ultimately beaten 8-2.

Melady scored both Capitals goals on the man-advantage, the first from Andrew Haxton and Kai Dunits, and the second from Haxton again, and Owen Goodbrand.

Cowichan goalie Lukas Renaud started the game and was replaced by McCoy Bidewell 5:35 into the second period but each gave up four goals: Renaud on 18 shots and Bidewell on 22.

While not the results Cowichan, or their fans, were hoping for, Cowichan Valley Capitals new management leader John Dewar has hope for the future.

“When there’s new management and a new coaching staff and that, it’s not going to change overnight,” Dewar said. “There’s definitely going to be a new process and it’s going to take time to adjust to.”

Dewar said head coach Mike Vandekamp has been hard at work with the team but more time is needed to see change.

Despite that, Dewar noted that with the exception of the Powell River game, the Caps have been competitive in most games since all the organization’s changes.

“We’ve been in every game thus far and we’ve just got a find a way to break through and find that extra goal instead conceding that extra goal,” he said.

The Caps have two more road games on Dec. 9 and Dec. 10 against Prince George and Merritt respectively before a rematch against Powell River, this time at The Stick, on Dec. 16. The game features the team’s the annual Teddy Bear Toss event.

“We want to try and get as many people out there as we can,” Dewar said. “It’s a big one for the community for sure.”