Tanner Sidaway exploded for a pair of two-goal games in the span of a week as the Cowichan Valley Capitals won two of the last three games of their season-long six-game home stand.
Sidaway scored both Cowichan goals in a dramatic 2-1 win over the Victoria Grizzlies last Wednesday, then added another two on Sunday afternoon as the Caps defeated the West Kelowna Warriors 6-2. In between, neither Sidaway nor any of his teammates were able to score as Cowichan was shut out 5-0 by the B.C. Hockey League-leading Coquitlam Express
A 20-year-old forward from Victoria playing his first season in the BCHL after three years in the Western Hockey League with the Kootenay Ice, Regina Pats and Victoria Royals, Sidaway now has seven goals in 18 games this season, matching his total from 68 games with the Royals last year. Only four Cowichan players have more goals than Sidaway so far.
Wednesday’s game was scoreless until the last four minutes of the third period when Sidaway beat Victoria goalie Joe Howe with a shot from the circle. The Grizzlies came back and tied the game a minute and 43 seconds later, but Sidaway potted the winner with nine seconds left in regulation. Both teams finished the night with 29 shots, but Cowichan goalie Ben Howard’s 28 saves were enough for the win.
Sidaway’s two goals on Sunday also included the eventual game-winner when he put the Caps up 3-0 at 4:45 of the second period. Cowichan went up 4-0 before West Kelowna got on the board, and eventually made it 4-2 in the third period before Sidaway’s second of the afternoon made it 5-2.
Sidaway added an assist to his total for the day, while the Caps also got a goal and an assist each from Luc Wilson and Matt Crasa, three helpers from Dimitri Mikrogiannakis, and one goal each from Cullen Ferguson and Olivier Gauthier. The Capitals’ newest acquisition, defenceman Cody Stockton, made his debut in a Cowichan jersey on Sunday and assisted on Sidaway’s second goal. Howard made 34 saves for the Caps, while West Kelowna starter Johnny Derrick allowed four goals on 17 shots in 27 minutes before he was replaced by Brock Baier, who stopped 19 of 21 shots.
On Saturday, the Caps were shut out by Coquitlam goalie Clay Stevenson, who was coming off being named BCHL Player of the Week. Stevenson made 34 saves for the shutout, and Zach Borgiel — himself a two-time Player of the Week this season — allowed five goals on 28 shots.
The Caps will take a trip to the Mainland this coming weekend, visiting Prince George on Friday, Chilliwack on Saturday and Langley on Sunday.
