Skip to content

Cowichan Caps top Eagles in high-scoring affair

More roster changes for Cowichan as team’s Luke collection continues
31037874_web1_copy_221117-CCI-Caps-caps_1
Massimo Sarantos Lombardi was named an honourable mention as a BCHL Player of the week for his work over the last three games. (Todd Blumel photo)

Add another Luke to the lineup!

The Cowichan Valley Capitals have added forward Luke Lavery to the roster, along with forward Kobe Verbicky and future considerations from the Vernon Vipers in exchange for defenceman Connor Elliott earlier this month.

This brings the number of Lukes on the Capitals to four (plus one Lukas).

“We are sad to see stalwart defencemen Connor Elliot be traded to the Vernon Vipers. Connor is a grade A player and teammate,” said head coach and general manager Brian Passmore. “But with the sadness we would like to announce a positive, bringing in another NCAA committed player in Luke Lavery, the playing rights to Kobe Verbicky who has played here in the past and future considerations.”

Lavery hails from Nanaimo and played for the Clippers before being traded to Vernon last season. The 2004-born player has committed to Providence College in Rhode Island.

A Victoria product, Verbicky spent the last two seasons playing in the Western Hockey League with the Edmonton Oil Kings and Kamloops Blazers. He started the 2019/20 season in Cowichan scoring one goal in 14 games as a 16 year old.

He returns to the Caps with 62 career WHL games’ worth of experience.

The Capitals were a scoring machine on Nov. 12 at the Cowichan Community Centre when they beat the Surrey Eagles 7-5 in front of 453 fans.

It was a big win for Cowichan as Surrey is among the best of the best of the BC Hockey League’s teams.

Cole Melady, Lavery (2), Luke Strickland, Oliver Salo, and Massimo Sarantos Lombardi (2) all potted pucks in a contest that saw nine different players hit the score sheet.

McCoy Bidewell got the win, casting aside 37 of 42 shots on net.

It was a bit of payback for the Caps as the night before Surrey had bested them 4-3 in overtime.

Lavery, Strickland and Andrew Haxton had the goals for Cowichan in that game and despite taking the loss, Bidwell was the game’s second star.

Earlier that week Cowichan fell 3-1 to Nanaimo at Frank Crane Arena in Nanaimo. Strickland was the only goal scorer for Cowichan.

Lombardi was given an honourable mention as a BCHL Player of the week for his work over the last three games.

Up next for the Capitals is a trip to the Chilliwack Coliseum on Friday Nov. 18 to face off against the Chiefs. The puck drops at 7 p.m.



Sarah Simpson

About the Author: Sarah Simpson

I started my time with Black Press Media as an intern, before joining the Citizen in the summer of 2004.
Read more