The Cowichan Valley Capitals have a new goaltending tandem as 2004-born Alexei Noskov and 2005-born Dylan Krick have joined them for the 2024-25 season.
Noskov, who’s from Russia, comes from Taifun Primorsky Krai in the Junior Hockey League, which is the major junior league in his home country. Krick spent last season with the New Jersey Jr. Titans of the North American Hockey League. Both goalies join a new Capitals team under general manager and head coach Cam Keith.
This article is an examination of both goalies’ paths to Cowichan Valley. Before that, I will mention a trade the Capitals made with the Nanaimo Clippers.
Swapping player rights
Before the regular season started, the Capitals traded 2005-born goaltender Aidan Fischer to the Clippers for 2005-born goaltender Thomas Kiesewetter.
Neither goaltender is currently in the BCHL. Kiesewetter has rejoined the NAHL’s Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks while Fischer signed with the Olds Grizzlys of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. In Nanaimo, 2007-born goaltender Kyan Labbé backed up 2004-born Chazz Nixon before the Clippers brought in 2006-born import netminder Otto Nuto.
Both Kiesewetter and Fischer had limited playing time in the BCHL. Kiesewetter played six games for Nanaimo before heading back to the Jr. Hat Tricks. Meanwhile, Fischer played six games for Cowichan Valley, splitting time with Cody Butikis and Ethan Morrow. Neither Butikis nor Morrow is with the Capitals this season.
Krick’s way to Cowichan Valley
Krick played his minor hockey of note in the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers Association. From 2018 to 2022, Krick split time between the Jr. Flyers and Henderson High School in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
For the 2022-23 season, Krick joined the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite hockey program. While playing for the Penguins Elite U18 team, Krick finished the regular season with a record of 20-12-12 and posted an impressive five shutouts in 34 games with a .923 save percentage. He had an even better .931 save percentage in seven games at the Northeast Pack Hockey League U18 level.
Last season with the New Jersey Jr. Titans, Krick put up a 13-9-2 record, a 2.43 goals-against average, and a .916 save percentage in 28 NAHL games. His partner in the Titans’ crease in 2023-24 was former Powell River Kings netminder Zak Brice.
Noskov’s path to Cowichan Valley
Noskov’s minor hockey roots are with the Rus Moskva hockey program. From 2019 to 2021, he spent time playing for the U16, U17, and U18 teams.
In the 2020-21 season, the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia product had a brief stint with Sakhalinskiye Akuly in the MHL, only getting into five games. The following year, Noskov split time between Taifun Primorsky Krai and the Admiral Vladivostok U18 team in Russia’s Under-18 league.
Taifun Primorsky Krai is part of a league called the MHL. In Russian, it’s the Molodyozhnaya Hokkeinaya Liga. Translated to English, it means Youth Hockey League. Officially, there are 33 teams across three countries in the MHL. Each team is a feeder to a Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) or All-Russian Hockey League (VHL) team. Taifun Primorsky Krai acts as a feeder to the KHL’s Admiral Vladivostok club.
Over the last two seasons, Noskov played 76 games for Taifun Primorsky Krai as its number-one goaltender. In 124 career MHL games, he had a 27-78-5 record, a 3.81 goals-against average, a .900 save percentage, and two shutouts.
Goaltending stability
Cowichan Valley’s goaltending situation hasn’t always been stable. In the last five seasons, the Capitals have only had one goaltender play more than one season — it was McCoy Bidewell, who was their starter during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. Every other goaltender played one season or less in Cowichan Valley.
The Capitals have sorely needed goaltending stability. Last season, they iced four separate goaltenders. The year before, it was three, and in 2021-22, four goalies saw time in the Caps’ crease. With the team hovering around .500 this season, Noskov and Krick have proved a capable pair in goal for Cowichan Valley, although, like all BCHL clubs — there’s no doubt that Keith is always on the lookout for an opportunity to improve his roster.
