The Cowichan Valley Capitals have added two new players from Quebec for the upcoming B.C. Hockey League season.
Goalie Yann Déry, 19, and forward David Laroche, 18, have committed to play with the Caps this year after spending last season in the Quebec CEGEP Hockey League, a junior college league.
Déry spent the last two seasons with the Sorel-Tracy Rebelles. He was a QCHL all-star last season after going 15-12 with a 2.34 goals-against average, .912 save percentage and four shutouts.
“He’s as acrobatic and athletic as I’ve ever seen a goaltender, and he’s very good technically,” said Lou Gravel, the Caps’ director of scouting and recruiting. “And off the ice… the best type of character kid you want to have on a hockey club.”
Déry is expected to team with second-year Cowichan goalie Adam Marcoux to give the team an experienced tandem.
“That gives us a one-two punch,” Gravel said. “We’re going to have two guys that can play, which is a luxury.”
Laroche played for the Champlain-Lennoxville Cougars last season, posting 13 goals and 26 points in 23 games.
“We’re talking about a sniper here,” Gravel said. “He was on the top line with Champlain College; he’s a top-six guy for us in Cowichan. He’ll bring us some offence… he’s good all over the ice, but his main attributes are speed and offence.”
The Caps first spotted both players at the NHL pre-draft tournament in Boston.
“When [Déry] played at the pre-draft tournament, he stood on his head — against college guys and QMJHL guys,” Gravel said. “[Laroche] played with and against guys who are already in the BCHL, and he stood out.”