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)
*