Archive

Cowichan Valley Capitals: Graduating players and eligible returnees

Brian Wiebe

The Cowichan Valley Capitals finished last in the BC Hockey League this season with a 10-38-4-2 record and are the only team other than the Merritt Centennials to not qualify for the Fred Page Cup playoffs. It’s the first time since 2017-18 that the Caps have missed the post-season dance.

The Capitals have three players in Quinn Disher, William Elias, and Luke Lavery committed to NCAA Division I schools for this September and three aging out in McCoy Bidewell, Logan Camp, and Ian Kern.

Cowichan Valley’s general manager and head coach Mike Vandekamp has 11 forwards, four defenders, and a goalie eligible to return.

These numbers will likely change as players move to other leagues like the Western Hockey League, US Hockey League, or North American Hockey League. They may drop down to junior B, be sent away in trades, retire, or wind up committing to college before September and don’t return to their BCHL clubs.

The depth chart is based on the league going with a 24-player roster next season and coaches going with 14 forwards, eight defenders, and two goaltenders.

Graduating players

Quinn Disher (Michigan Tech University)
William Elias (College of the Holy Cross)
Luke Lavery (Providence College)
McCoy Bidewell (aged out)
Logan Camp (aged out)
Ian Kern (aged out)

Eligible returnees (* indicates an open spot – assuming the team goes with 14 forwards and eight defenders)

Forwards
Oliver Salo (03)
Andrew Haxton (03)
Cole Melady (03)
Luke Eurig (03)
Ethan Dekay (04)
Kai Dunits (04)
Anton Yatsyshin (04)
Darius Bachler (05)
Matthew Biros (05)
Dryden Kuramoto (06)
Tyler Wood (06)
*
*
*

Defenders
Ethan O’Halloran (03)
Luke Santilli (04)
Adam Leitch (04)
Pier Olivier-Allard (04)
*
*
*
*

Goaltenders
Lukas Renaud (04)
*

Brian Wiebe

Brian's been involved in the BCHL in a variety of capacities for 17 years. From 2002 to 2012, he served in several roles around the Merritt Centennials organization, including as team president, board member, beat writer, colour commentator, webmaster, media and communications coordinator and marketing assistant. He's been writing about the BCHL since 2008 and served as colour commentator on the TSN 1040 broadcasts in 2012-13. BCHLNetwork is one of Brian's many passion projects that he balances around his full-time job as an instructor in the Radio Arts and Entertainment Program at BCIT in Burnaby.