Players continue to move on and off of the Cowichan Valley Capitals roster as the B.C. Hockey League’s extended training camp rolls along.
The Caps picked up a pair of veteran forwards in two separate deals last week, adding Max Bulawka from the Vernon Vipers and Jackson Alexeev from the Toronto Patriots of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.
Bulawka came to the Caps on Tuesday, in exchange for future considerations. The 2001-born forward played most of his career with the West Kelowna Warriors from 2017-18 until he went to Vernon at the trade deadline in January 2020.
He played 37 games for the Warriors last season, tallying 15 goals and nine assists, and 18 games for the Vipers, posting five goals and six helpers. In 162 career games, Bulawka has compiled 87 points 37 goals and 50 assists.
The six-foot, 170-pound Bulawka is already familiar with several of his Cowichan teammates, having played with Austin Chorney and Jacob Brockman in West Kelowna, and with Brett Fudger and Colby Feist in Vernon.
“Max is entering his fourth BCHL season,” Caps head coach and GM Brian Passmore commented. “He has really good playing experience both regular season and playoffs; he is an offensive player who will be able to play an offensive role with our club. Max was a 20-goal scorer last season and he hopes to build on that total this season in Cowichan.”
On Friday, the Caps completed a trade with the Toronto Patriots to acquire Alexeev for defenceman Declan Fogarty and future considerations. A six-foot, 190-pound product of Richmond Hill, Ont., Alexeev posted 43 points (14 goals and 29 assists) in 39 games for the Patriots last season, and was selected for the OJHL All-Star Game.
Over three years with the Pats, he totalled 36 goals and 60 assists in 132 games. Prior to that, he spent one season with the Ottawa Junior Senators of the junior A Central Canadian Hockey League.
“Jackson is a skilled, experienced player, leader, has great vision and play making abilities,” Passmore said. “He will help us in both ends of the ice, on special teams, provides leadership as well as wearing a letter with the Patriots. He competes hard and we think he can be a big player for us.”
Originally from St. Catharines, Ont., Fogarty appeared in six training-camp games for the Caps, accumulating four penalty minutes.
