The Victoria Grizzlies are set to begin Round 2 of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) playoffs on Friday night, facing a familiar foe in the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
The Grizzlies defeated the Coquitlam Express in six games, while the Capitals made quick work of the Nanaimo Clippers with a five-game series win.
Victoria went 3-2-2 against Cowichan Valley during the regular season in one of the league’s most evenly matched series. Across their seven meetings, the Grizzlies narrowly outscored the Capitals 22-19 – but perhaps the most eye-catching stat is the 220 combined penalty minutes.
“It’s going to be a really exciting series,” said Grizzlies president David Michaud. “We were only one point behind Cowichan when the season finished. These are two teams that don’t have a lot to give.”
This marks just the second playoff meeting between the Island rivals in the last 25 years – and the first since 2009, when the Grizzlies edged the Capitals in a seven-game thriller.
Victoria enters Round 2 leaning on depth scoring and resilience.
“There were a range of emotions in that first round,” Michaud said. “We jumped out to a 2-0 lead, then went to Coquitlam and suddenly it’s 2-2. I think it was a really good lesson for our guys – you can’t change the way you play just because things are going well.”
The Grizzlies responded with a composed Game 5 win and clinched the series on the road in Game 6 – marking their first victory in Coquitlam all season.
“As exciting as Game 7s are, you like to avoid them. I’m proud of our guys for the way they responded,” Michaud said.
Offensively, Chase Pirtle continued to show his knack for timely scoring, notching seven points in the series – including two goals in the deciding game.
Michaud also credited the supporting cast.
“Landon Mackie had four goals, Tobias Pitka had four, and Charles Cote had five assists,” Michaud said. “That speaks to the buy-in and the traffic we created in front.”
Goaltending duties were split in Round 1 between Oliver Auyeung-Ashton and Kyle Kelsey.
“Their numbers were almost identical,” Michaud noted. “We’re likely going back to Oliver for Game 1, but it’s a huge comfort knowing we have two guys who can carry the load.”
With Cowichan holding home-ice advantage, Games 1 and 2 will be played Friday and Saturday in Duncan at the Cowichan Community Centre. Games 3 and 4 are set for April 22 and 23 at The Q Centre in Colwood.
The Capitals leaned on 21-year-old Camden Bajzer throughout their opening-round series. The Cleveland, Ohio native posted five goals and four assists for nine points. He tallied 52 points in 52 games during the regular season – second most on the team. Veteran forward Gavin Giesbrecht added six points in Round 1, and Luca Primerano chipped in five.
Between the pipes, Dylan Krick carried the load for Cowichan, backstopping the Capitals with a 4-1-0 record, a 2.40 goals-against average, and a .912 save percentage.
With the close proximity of the two communities, attendance is expected to get a boost.
“We really expect to see a lot of fans make the trip either way,” Michaud said. “The travel’s not a factor for anyone, so hopefully we see a great turnout in both barns.”
For the first time in BCHL history, three Vancouver Island teams — Victoria, Cowichan Valley, and Alberni Valley – have advanced to the second round. It sets the stage for a playoff series steeped in rivalry, intensity, and Island pride.
