The newest additions to the Cowichan Valley Capitals roster made their first appearances in their new threads during a three-game road trip last weekend, but they weren’t able to push their new team into the win column.
Forward Lach Hadley, acquired from the Victoria Grizzlies at the B.C. Hockey League trade deadline, made his Cowichan debut in Prince George on Friday as the Caps lost 3-0 to the Spruce Kings.
Forward Cruz Cote, who came over from the Grande Prairie Storm in a four-team deal, scored for the Caps in his first game on Saturday, a 3-2 loss to the Langley Rivermen.
And goalie Pierce Diamond, formerly of the Flin Flon Bombers, made 21 saves as the Caps were felled 4-3 by the Surrey Eagles in the battle between the bottom two teams in the league standings on Sunday afternoon.
The game in Prince George was a rematch of one at the Island Savings Centre six days earlier, in which the Caps knocked off the Spruce Kings, who are among a handful of teams battling for first place in the league.
Prince George scored two powerplay goals in the first period, then added another at even strength in the second. Logan Neaton made 22 saves for the shutout, while Cowichan’s Jack Grant stopped 35 of the 38 shots he faced.
Prince George scored on two of their eight powerplay opportunities, while Cowichan was blanked on their four chances.
In Langley the next day, the host Rivermen scored the lone goal of the first period. David Melaragni answered back for the Caps midway through the second, but Langley reclaimed the lead before the end of the period, then added a powerplay goal midway through the third. Cowichan defender Dimitri Mikrogiannakis scored a late powerplay goal from Melaragni and Niko Esposito-Selivanov, but the Caps weren’t able to close the gap. Grant and Langley goalie Shayne Battler both made 23 saves, and both teams went 1-for-6 on the powerplay.
The Caps outshot the Eagles 42-25 on Sunday and led 2-0 halfway through the second period, but were stymied by Surrey netminder Cale Dolan, who made 39 saves to Diamond’s 21. Cowichan captain Vincent Millette opened the scoring with a first-period powerplay goal, and Cote’s first BCHL goal, also on the powerplay, made it 2-0 midway through the second. The Eagles scored the next three goals, one shorthanded and two on the powerplay, before Melaragni tied it up with the only even-strength goal of the afternoon. Surrey mustered one more powerplay marker with less than a minute left to play.
The Caps went 2-for-7 on the powerplay, while the Eagles were 3-for-6.
The Caps have now lost four in a row, and their 11-28-4-1 record remains last in the Island Division, four points back of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, who have a game in hand. Cowichan is also five points ahead of Surrey, who have a game in hand, for last in the league.
The Caps play their next three games at home, hosting the Nanaimo Clippers on Friday at 7 p.m., the Salmon Arm Silverbacks on Sunday at 2 p.m., and Alberni Valley next Wednesday at 7 p.m.