Cam Keith, who has touched down a few times on the Island in his hockey career both in friendly and opposing roles on the ice and behind the bench, will return as the new head coach and GM of the Cowichan Valley Capitals of the B.C. Hockey League.
The 43-year-old Keith played junior in the BCHL for the Victoria Salsa (now Grizzlies), with future NHLers Matt Pettinger and Greg Zanon. Following an NCAA Div. 1 career at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Keith embarked on a long pro career in the AHL, ECHL and Germany, which included some spirited ECHL battles as a forward with the Alaska Aces against the rival Victoria Salmon Kings.
“I have great memories of playing with the Salsa and all those match-ups with the Aces against the Salmon Kings,” said Keith.
Keith, as head coach and GM of the Surrey Eagles, led the Eagles to the BCHL regular-season and playoff championships last season before losing to the Brooks Bandits in the cross-over series against the Alberta teams that have joined the BCHL. Keith’s Eagles made an Island march through the Capitals, Grizzlies and Alberni Valley Bulldogs in the Coastal Division playoffs before beating the Interior Conference-champion Penticton Vees in the BCHL final.
“The playoffs were a good test for me of the Island style,” said Keith, who described it as more physical.
Keith, however, believes the Eagles template will fit with the Capitals.
“We [Eagles] were just as effective on the road on smaller ice than we were on our Olympic-size home ice sheet in Surrey,” noted Keith, a native of Nelson, who takes over in Duncan from Mike Vandekamp.
“We are going to have to be physically bigger in the Island Division, but every player is going to have to be able to play with skill and make plays. I am still going to be offensive-minded and rely on speed and puck possession with a skilled group. But our [Surrey] teams also played with character and heart and I will expect that. too.”
The Capitals were 16-34-4 last season and are a rebuilding project for Keith: “When I was playing in the BCHL, Cowichan Valley was an attractive program, but there have been some ups and downs. Now there is ownership in place [the five-person Island Capitals Sports and Entertainment Group, headed by John Dewar and including former NHL defenceman Clayton Stoner from Port McNeill], that is both hockey and community oriented. I’m excited to be part of the process. The Island Division just got tougher, I hope.”
Taking over from Keith on the Surrey bench will be former Eagles assistant coach under Keith and Eagles alumnus Scott Gomez, two-time Stanley Cup champion, NHL rookie of the year with the Devils, ECHL MVP with Alaska and a career 1,000-game NHLer.
