It may take a little getting used to, but from this day on, the Northern Cougars will now be known as the Northern Capitals.
The new name is thanks to B.C. Hockey revamping its female midget triple-A program for the 2015-16 season. The six-team league is also receiving a makeover due to an agreement with Easton.
"Technically it doesn't affect us too much," said Capitals head coach Mario Desjardins, who helped guide the team to the league championship title last season. "With the new look we're getting away from the Cougars. Everybody knows the Cougars. With the changes, B.C. Hockey is doing their best to improve the league, giving it a new identity. They're changing the website and trying to give it a lot more high profile."
The teams are still zone-based, and the new team names and logos are meant to represent the specific region of each team.
According to B.C. Hockey, the Capitals name is inspired by Prince George's nickname as the northern capital of B.C. The team will continue to wear red, black and white, continuing a long tradition of teams in the region wearing the colours.
The Fraser Valley Phantom are now known as the Fraser Valley Rush; the West Coast Avalanche are now known as the Greater Vancouver Comets; the Vancouver Island Hurricanes are now known as the Vancouver Island Seals; and the Kootenay Wildcats are now known as the Kootenay Wild.
The Thompson-Okanagan Lakers will maintain the same name.
Easton will provide the gloves, helmets and jerseys, which the girls get to keep at the end of the season.
B.C. Hockey will now oversee team registration and player try-outs, something the minor hockey associations used to take care of.
"There has been no stability within some of the (minor hockey) associations," said Desjardins. "Every year the minor hockey association will say if that city would like a team. Kelowna declined to have a team last year and Vernon was good enough to take them (the Lakers) in. This way there are guaranteed teams. Some teams have struggled with their associations."
Desjardins said that's not the case in Prince George.
"For us, with P.G. Minor Hockey, it has been fantastic. We have a great relationship."
The Capitals held their spring identification camp on the weekend. It featured 30 players from as far away as Williams Lake to the south, to Clearview (near Fort St. John) to the north and Burns Lake to the west.
The Capitals lost six players to graduation and college scholarships at the end of the season so they have some spots to fill.
"There was some good talent and a good group (at the camp)," said Desjardins, who has returned as the team's head coach. "Some girls aren't eligible to play this year, but they got a taste of what it's like. The future of the major midget female league looks good. It's going to be a really good team (next year) and we'll be contending to defend our championship and make the Esso Cup."
After winning the league title, the team lost to Edmonton in the Pacific regional championship and did not qualify for the national Esso Cup.
Next season, the regionals will be hosted by the B.C. champion.
The Capitals will reconvene at their main selection camp from Aug. 7-9.
Capitals forward Hunter Mosher and goaltender Kelsey Roberts will be at the B.C. female under-18 provincial camp this weekend in Salmon Arm. They're among 40 players vying for 25 invites to the U18 Team B.C. Summer Camp and Team B.C.'s U18 team that will compete at the national women's U18 championship. Capitals forward Sage Desjardins also made the cut from the original 80 in the first selection camp, but cannot attend this weekend due to an injury.
