The Cowichan Valley Capitals kept the pedal to the metal this past weekend when the Prince George Spruce Kings came to down for two games in two nights.
It was First Responders Night at Cowichan Arena on Nov. 21 and 102-year-old veteran George Brewster dropped the ceremonial puck before the game.
The Capitals thanked the RCMP, firefighters, paramedics, Legion members, and active and retired members of the Canadian Armed Forces the best way they knew how, by scoring goals.
The first came just over seven minutes into the first period when Ryder Dembo notched his fourth of the season.
The Spruce Kings struck first in the second period but Trace Frieden put Cowichan up once more not long there after and the home team was on top 2-1 headed into the second intermission.
Prince George tied it up just past the midway point of the third period but Cowichan pushed back.
Tyler Rowland scored at the 18:21 mark, followed by Gavin Rocha at 19:01. An empty-net goal from Hunter Yanick iced the 5-2 Cowichan victory and more than 1,400 fans went home happy.
So, too, did Jack Hirshorn, who stopped 27 of 29 shots on goal for Cowichan to earn the 'W'.
The following night in the second of back-to-back games against the Spruce Kings, Cowichan scored the first goal once again.
Prince George battled back and at the end of one period, the score was tied at 1-1.
The teams traded goals in the second period as well, with Massimo Fazio scoring both goals for the Capitals.
With no scoring in the third period, the nearly 1,400 fans who took in the game were treated to overtime.
Gavin Nemis scored 2:47 into the extra frame to lift Cowichan up to a 3-2 victory.
"Gavin Nemis and Trace Frieden have really found their games of late," said head coach Cam Keith about two players who have stood out to him.
"Nemis had no points in his first nine games and now 10 in his last seven games with two OT winners."
Rhett Stoesser earned the win in net.
Cowichan has home games against the Powell River Kings (Nov. 28, 7 p.m.), and Alberni Valley Bulldogs (Nov. 29, 7 p.m.) to wrap up their November schedule before seven games before the Christmas break. They'll see Nanaimo three times in December, Powell River twice and Prince George for another pair.
Keith said playing multiple games against the same handful of teams comes with costs and benefits.
"It's easier to prepare for one team but harder to be successful in back to back games," he explained. "Nanaimo has our number this year winning three out of four and they're the only team to beat us at home. We are currently 9-1 at home this year. We have 3 games against Nanaimo in December so it's very important to build confidence against a likely playoff opponent."