Hockey season feels like a distant memory as temperatures start to rise in July, but it’s never too late to acknowledge the accomplishments of the Cowichan Valley peewee female hockey program.
The peewee female Capitals had a fantastic 2019-20 season, claiming their Island league and playoff banners, as well as winning two tournaments and coming within a single shot of winning another.
Cowichan won their own tournament in October, then went on to win Wickfest in February. Run by Hockey Hall of Famer Hayley Wickenheiser, Wickfest celebrated its 10th anniversary this past season, and has become a world-class event for girls of all ages.
“The Wickfest tournament is the largest tournament our girls have ever been a part of, so to win our division was very special for them as well as our coaching staff,” head coach Brad Scafe said.
The Capitals won the gold medal game 1-0 over a Penticton team that hadn’t lost a game all season up to that point.
“As a group, it was the best team game we played all year,” Scafe said. “Each and every girl did something during the game to help the team win. As a coach it was a great moment to be a part of that experience.”
The team was scheduled to play one last tournament in Port Coquitlam in mid-March, and was headed to the Mainland on the ferry when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
“We were turned around back to the Island,” Scafe said. “So the team was very disappointed in how the season ended so abruptly.”
The unfortunate end to the season didn’t take away from the overall success.
“Overall, it was a great season with a great group of hockey players who compete and strive to get better every ice session,” Scafe said. “As Coaches we could not have asked for a better group to be a part of.”