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In the weeks leading up to the start of the 2024-25 season, we will go team-by-team to profile new players entering the league, as well as offseason acquisitions through trades. We speak with the coach/GM of each team to get their thoughts on the new crop of players.
Next up is the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
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The Cowichan Valley Capitals secured the final playoff spot in the Coastal Conference last year by finishing eighth, setting up a first-round matchup with the number-one overall seed in the BCHL, the Surrey Eagles. They would go on to lose the matchup in five games.
With a new head coach and general manager in Cam Keith, the Capitals have had a busy offseason adding new recruits and acquiring players via trade. We speak with the team’s new bench boss about all the new faces.
New recruits
Andoni Fimis (2006, D)
Hometown: Richmond Hill, Ont.- Previous team: Stouffville Spirit (OJHL)
- College commitment: University of Vermont
Fimis racked up 43 points in 55 games last year for Stouffville of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, which led all Spirit defencemen and ranked third overall in team scoring.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Andoni is a really well-regarded, elite talent. We expect him to make an immediate impact for us offensively.”
Brayden Krawczyk (2008, F)
Hometown: Etobicoke, Ont.- Previous team: Toronto Jr. Canadiens AAA (GTHL U16)
Krawczyk came up through the Jr. Canadiens system in Toronto. In 2023-24, he tied for the under-16 team lead in scoring with 43 points in 34 games. His 22 goals were also tied for the most on the team.
Keith’s scouting report:
“We’re expecting him to develop in our program and grow into an elite hockey player with NHL potential.”
Ben Portner (2004, F)
Hometown: Lakeville, Minn.- Previous team: Battlefords North Stars (SJHL)
Portner finished the 2023-24 campaign as the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s seventh-leading scorer with 69 points in 50 games, while his 28 goals were top-10 in the league.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Ben is a late-bloomer that went on an incredible tear offensively last year in the SJHL. We’re expecting him to be one of the better offensive players in the BCHL next season.”
Tommy Karmiris (2006, F)
Hometown: Brantford, Ont.- Previous team: Burlington Cougars (OJHL)
Karmiris joined the Cougars to start his second season in the Ontario Junior Hockey League and finished the year third in team scoring with 46 points in 44 games.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Tommy is kind of a Brad Marchand-type of hockey player who will get into the opposition’s head, but can also answer the bell offensively. He’s got elite offensive instincts and goal-scoring ability.”
Moritz Kukuk (2005, D)
Hometown: Herdecke, Germany- Previous team: Düsseldorfer EG (DNL U20)
Last year, Kukuk led all defencemen on his under-20 team in scoring with 37 points in 39 games. He has also represented Germany multiple times on the international stage.
Keith’s scouting report:
“His experience will be an asset, including his time with the German national team. We’re going to lose him for a few weeks for the World Juniors at Christmas time, but we’re expecting him to come in and adjust to North American hockey very quickly.”
Brayden Sinclair (2005, F)
Hometown: Coquitlam, B.C.- Previous team: Battlefords North Stars (SJHL)
Sinclair completed his 2023-24 campaign just shy of a point-per-game average, notching 40 in 41 games on 16 goals and 24 assists. Prior to his rookie year with Battelfords, he played Junior B in B.C. for the Delta Ice Hawks and was the league’s third-leading scorer with 84 points in 45 games.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Brayden is a local B.C. boy, even though he went to Saskatchewan for a season. We’re expecting him to come in and make an immediate impact offensively.”
Jordan Bax (2005, F)
Hometown: Parkhill, Ont.- Previous team: Dauphin Kings (MJHL)
Bax was Dauphin’s second-leading scorer last year, just one back of the team lead, with 47 points in 56 games. His 21 goals were also second most.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Jordan is a scrappy type offensive player who can change the game with his offensive instincts.”
Noah Grolnic (2005, F)
Hometown: Arvada, Colo.- Previous team: Colorado Grit (NAHL)
Grolnic played his second year in the North American Hockey League in 2023-24, split between the Chippewa Steel and Colorado Grit. He put up a combined 37 points in 60 games.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Noah brings us some junior experience from his time in the NAHL. He plays at a really high pace, does everything with a lot of speed and tries to drive the puck to the hard areas.”
Cam Charron (2005, D)
Hometown: Falmouth, Maine- Previous team: Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks (NAHL)
- College commitment: Army West Point
Charron started the 2023-24 season with the Maine Nordiques of the North American Hockey League, but was acquired by Danbury midseason. He totaled a combined 24 points in 51 games.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Cam is a hybrid defenceman who plays with a lot of heart. He has a gritty style that helps you win, but he can contribute offensively as well.”
Matthew Thomas (2005, D)
Hometown: Wheatley, Ont.- Previous team: Leamington Flyers (OJHL)
Thomas started his 2023-24 season with the Kemptville 73’s of the Central Canada Hockey League, but was acquired by Leamington midway through the year. He had 14 points in 32 games with Kemptville and 19 points in 20 games with Leamington.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Thomas is a bit of a Cale Makar-type of player. He’s got an incredible one-timer shot. He likes to activate offensively and has great offensive instincts for a defenceman”
Alexei Noskov (2004, G)
Hometown: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia- Previous team: Taifun Primorsky Krai (MHL)
Noskov brings plenty of experience, having played 121 games in Russia’s MHL junior league over the past three seasons.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Alexei is almost like an unknown hidden gem, in a sense, because he played on one of the worst teams in the Russian junior league. He’s 6-foot-3 and has an NHL-prospect type of ability and quickness. We’re expecting him to surprise everybody with his ability.”
Kole Keen (2006, F)
Hometown: White City, Sask.- Previous team: Melville Millionaires (SJHL)
Keen had 10 goals, 15 assists and 25 points in 52 games for Melville of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League last season.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Kole is another Marchand-type of player who has got a natural goal-scoring instinct. He’s really good on the penalty kill. He’s kind of an agitator who excelled last year for his team in the playoffs as a 17-year-old.”
Hayden Russell (2007, D)
Hometown: Huntington Beach, Calif.- Previous team: Los Angeles Jr. Kings (16U AAA)
- College commitment: College of the Holy Cross
Russell piled up the points in 2023-24 with the Los Angeles Jr. Kings under-16 program. He led his team with 121 points in 72 games across all competition.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Hayden is a two-way power forward who produces offence around the net and below the dots.”
James Russell (2007, D)
Hometown: Huntington Beach, Calif.- Previous team: Los Angeles Jr. Kings (16U AAA)
- College commitment: College of the Holy Cross
The twin brother of Hayden Russell, James also comes from the Jr. Kings program where he was his team’s top-scoring defenceman in 2023-24 with 56 points in 72 games across all competition.
Keith’s scouting report:
“James plays a 200-foot game. He’s got to grow his game into the BCHL and we expect that, by Christmas time, he’s going to be playing like a vet.”
Trace Frieden (2007, F)
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.- Previous team: Los Angeles Jr. Kings (16U AAA)
The third Jr. Kings recruit on the list, Frieden totaled 59 points in 50 games last year, across all competition.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Trace is going to be a good, young player for our core group. He brings a really hard-working mentality.”
Carter DeKay (2006, D)
Hometown: London, Ont.- Previous team: Island Wild (JPHL U18)
DeKay had the most points out of any Wild defenceman last season and finished just one back of the overall team scoring lead with 35 points in 26 games on 16 goals and 19 assists.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Carter is a younger kid on our defence corps. There may be a little bit of an adjustment period for him, but he’s got great hockey sense and he can play offensively.”
Acquired via trade
Luca Primerano (2005, F)
Hometown: North Vancouver, B.C.- Previous team: Prince George Spruce Kings (BCHL)
- College commitment: University of New Hampshire
Primerano brings 94 games of BCHL experience with him from his two years spent in Prince George where he totaled a combined 48 points. He was acquired by Cowichan Valley in a trade on June 27.
Keith’s scouting report:
“He made a big impact as a rookie at 17 and kind of struggled a little offensively in his second year. We’re expecting him to find his rhythm this season and be one of the high-end point producers in the BCHL. He’s going to be someone that leads us offensively.”
Camden Bajzer (2004, F)
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio- Previous team: El Paso Rhinos (NAHL)
Bajzer put up 44 points in 56 games last year in his second season in the North American Hockey League. He also brings some BCHL experience, having suited up for 15 games with the Langley Rivermen to start 2022-23. His rights were traded from the Rivermen to the Sherwood Park Crusaders and then to Cowichan on Aug. 8.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Camden’s game exemplifies a new-age, complete hockey player. He has the elite skill set, competitiveness and awareness to be a big-time, impactful offensive player in the BCHL this year.”
Linden Burrett (2006, D)
Hometown: Surrey, B.C.- Previous team: Vernon Vipers (BCHL)
Burrett was traded from Vernon to the Sherwood Park Crusaders June 24 and then to the Capitals the next day. Last year with the Vipers, he suited up for 36 games and registered one goal and five assists.
Keith’s scouting report:
“Linden is another Makar-type of hockey player who can use his edges to escape offensively. He’s a kid that also defends really well.”
Photo credits: Dan Hickling (Krawczyk, Hayden Russell, Frieden), Liz Wolter (Primerano, Burrett)
