Every Island team intends to give itself a chance to win this season.
All five of the B.C. Hockey League’s Island Division clubs made moves leading up to last Tuesday’s trade deadline.
The surging Powell River Kings strengthened their blueline corps, bringing back 19-year-old defenceman Carmine Buono from the college ranks and also acquiring 18-year-old D-man Matthew Cairns, a third-round NHL draft pick who had been playing with the USHL’s Fargo Force.
The first-place Victoria Grizzlies also made a move, acquiring 19-year-old forward Shawn O'Malley, who scored the game-winning goal in his first game with the Grizz, a 4-1 victory Thursday over the Nanaimo Clippers. O’Malley had been playing with the Shreveport Mudbugs of the North American Hockey League.
The Cowichan Valley Capitals made a major deal, too, adding a pair of veteran forwards from the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, Mitch Skapski and Haydn Hopkins, in exchange for forwards Ryan Hogg and Trevor Ayre.
“We were looking to get more experienced up front,” said Bob Beatty, Capitals coach. “We didn’t make that a secret, since last deadline even. We made it work for both teams.”
The 20-year-old Skapski and 19-year-old Hopkins both come to Cowichan with major junior experience. Mitch Skapski, who was the Silverbacks’ captain, joins his younger brother, defenceman Marshall, who was acquired by the Caps earlier this season.
The Clippers added 20-year-old forward Josh Blanchard from the Silverbacks in exchange for future considerations. Nanaimo had also made two transactions the week before.
Also, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs picked up 20-year-old forward Nicholas Rasovic from the Vernon Vipers, also in exchange for futures. Rasovic came to the Bulldogs with 128 games of junior A experience and will add much-needed depth to the forward group, according to assistant coach Alex Evin.
GAME ON … The Caps visit the Grizz on Thursday (Jan. 19) at 7 p.m. at the Q Centre. The next night, the Bulldogs visit the Clippers at 7 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena while the Kings are on the road at Salmon Arm.