They've got a new name, but their mission remains the same.
Play winning hockey.
The Northern Capitals ended the B.C. Female Midget Triple-A Hockey League season with a victory and now have the banner to prove it. Eleven of the 17 players on the current squad celebrated the team's first league championship last March when they were known as the Cougars and they don't want to give it up.
Heading into the Northern Capitals' opening games of the season, a three-game set against the Kootenay Wild stating tonight at the league showcase in Surrey, Capitals head coach Mario Desjardins likes the makeup of his team.
He's coached many of the Capitals players for six seasons, dating back to his time as a bantam coach in Terrace, and together they've won three provincial championships.
"They're going to have a fantastic season - last year was special but I have a feeling this is going to be one of those special seasons you won't forget in a long time," said Desjardins.
"This is an eager group hungry to defend their championship. They're in their last season and they want to put everything on the table. They've done a lot of work since the end of the season to get their games to the next level, which is the most exciting part."
The carryover from last year's champions starts in goal with Kelsey Roberts of Kitimat, who carried the bulk of the load in net last season. The returnees on defence are Victoria Byer, Victoria Johnson, Casey Norris, Sydney Jordan, Kenna Lloyd and Grace Barlow, who moved up to forward last season. Up front, the top line will feature Sage Desjardins with wingers Marissa Nichol and impressive rookie Myah Bowal, who joined the midgets late last year. Centre Hunter Mosher, the Capitals' last hope of making the provincial under-18 team until she was cut last week, will be on the second line with Taylor Beck and first-year midget Jordan Shanks, while Caily Mellott is the third-line centre with rookies Katie Young and Mckenzie Muir.
Tamara William of Williams Lake will back up Roberts in goal.
"It's the oldest team I've coached since I've been in major midget (three seasons) and they've always been amongst the top in the league," said coach Desjardins, who will have help from his assistant, Brandon Nichol.
"At least 12 of them have won three provincial championships and we're definitely going to shoot for the fourth one. To have that group in their final year and have a younger core that's just excited as they are, the vibe is really positive right now. Just the buildup to this weekend has been exciting."
Next weekend the Capitals travel to Vernon for a three-game series against the Thompson-Okanagan Lakers. The Capitals home-opening weekend is set for Oct. 23-25 when they host the Greater Vancouver Comets.
