No matter how hard you look, it's impossible to find a team that's hotter than the Cowichan Valley Capitals. After winning nine of ten games in December, the Caps are continuing their strong play in 2009.
On Saturday night, Cowichan Valley struck early and oftenin a 6-0 win in Surrey. Chris Zaires and Kevin Walrod combined for seven points for the Caps, while netminder Chris Rawlings turned aside 33 eagles shots for the shutout.
In other Coastal Conference action:
- Matthew Wong stopped 46 shots including seven in overtime to preserve a 3-3 tie for Alberni Valley on the road in Victoria. Evan Witt led the way offensively for the Bulldogs, picking up three assists while Dustin Mowrey, Cam Reid and Sam Higgins tallied for the Grizzlies.
- The Burnaby Express jumped back into the win column with a 3-2 home ice victory over Nanaimo. Netminder Mike Chan played hero for the Express, turning aside 39 Clippers shots, while Dylan Herold scored twice including the third period power-play winner.
Meanwhile, Penticton Vees blueliner Zack Jospeher capped a hat-trick performance with the overtime winner in a 5-4 thriller over the Prince George Spruce Kings. Denver Manderson scored once and added three assists for the Vees, while Prince George forward Alex Allan notched three points.
Elsewhere around the Interior Conference:
- Braden Pimm and Chris Crowell each tallied a pair of points in Vernon's 4-1 win over Trail. Pimm, Crowell, Kellen Jones and Mike Collins scored for the Vipers while Steve Koshey replied for the Smoke Eaters.
- Matt Grassi's third period goal lifted Salmon Arm to a 3-2 victory in Westside. Silverbacks' forward Travis Statchuk and Warriors' counterpart Kyle Singleton traded pairs of first period goals while Westside netminder Kevin Jebson turned aside 40 shots in a losing cause.
- Trevor Hertz capped a 5-4 Quesnel Millionaires victory in Merritt with an overtime winner after earlier posting a pair of assists. Alex Goodship tallied replied with two goals for the Centnennials.
There are three games on tap around the BCHL on Sunday, including:
- Trail at Merritt, 2:00 PM
- Cowichan Valley at Powell River, 2:00 PM
- Westside at Salmon Arm, 4:00 PM
Catch all the action with BCHL Web TV or in streaming audio in the Fanzone.
