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Christmas break gives Cowichan Caps a chance to regroup

“We can play with all the teams, we just need consistency”
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In net for the Capitals, goalie McCoy Bidewell of 76 of 86 shots in his team’s two losses last week. (Todd Blumel photo)

The Cowichan Valley Capitals scored three goals in each of their last two games last week but neither was enough for the junior A hockey team to win.

Things were looking good early for Cowichan on Dec. 16 against the Powell River Kings at The Stick.

Luke Lavery, Logan Camp and Luke Strickland all scored in the first period for the home team to give them a 3-1 lead heading into the intermission.

The Caps ran out of gas in the second period though, giving way to three more Powell River goals and the eventual 4-3 loss.

“We just need to find that extra gear,” said Caps manager John Dewar. “It’s coming but it’s something that takes time for the team to get.”

Goalie McCoy Bidewell stopped 40 of 44 shots in the losing cause.

The following night in Nanaimo against the Clippers, Cowichan found themselves down 2-0 early until team captain Ian Kern netted his second of the year from Massimo Lombardi and Strickland to pull his team to within one goal.

The Capitals didn’t find the back of the net again until late in the second when Cole Melady scored unassisted. It brought the score to 5-2, which brought them closer, but not close enough.

Strickland scored in the third but by then Nanaimo had scored their sixth and the game ended 6-3.

Bidwell stopped 36 of 42 in the loss.

“We can play with all the teams, we just need consistency,” Dewar said. “That’s something [head coach] Mike [Vandekamp] is working on and hopefully we start to see in the new year.

The Caps now have a bit of a break for Christmas before matching up with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs at home on Dec. 30 for a 7 p.m. game.

“It should be a great opportunity to reset and come back fresh and hopefully have a good run the second half of the season,” Dewar said.