BY DUCK PATERSON
A hockey player from the east coast of the United States is getting his first chance to play in Canada – and his first chance to play on traditional territory of the Coast Salish peoples.
Cowichan Valley Capitals goalie Cody Butikis earned his first B.C. Hockey League shutout last week, and did it sporting a new custom goalie mask created by Stz’uminus artist Luke Marston.
The 18-year-old netminder from Sewell, N.J., who is being billeted in Ladysmith this season, made 23 saves in a 5-0 win against the Victoria Grizzlies on Friday, Dec. 15, at the Cowichan Community Centre.
“My hockey family told me they knew a local artist that had done a mask for a professional hockey player asked if it was possible for me to get one, would I like it,” he said. “I had heard about the mask Luke Marston did for Vancouver goalie Braden Holtby and I said yes, that would be amazing.”
The artist said he liked the idea of his art contributing to the community and the young goalie.
“The mask is beautiful and it is really important to me,” said Butikis. “It has the C for the Capitals and the eagle that is the team’s emblem and my number 29, but the rest of the art is all Luke’s, he is the most amazing artist.”
When asked what brought him to playing in Canada and the Cowichan Valley, Butikis said it was a chance for him to grow in the sport and be part of a more competitive environment after playing academy hockey in Rhode Island last season.
He said everyone smiles in the Cowichan Valley.
“Very little of that where I come from,” he said. “The landscape is different, the scenery is really beautiful and there is lots of space, but the people really stand out.”
That includes his billet family, Steve and Sam Elkiw and their children. Butikis and teammate Matteo Lamoureux, from Montreal, are both being billeted there.
“My hockey family are really super … We are treated like family and that makes it comfortable,” Butikis said.
The temporary Ladysmith resident also had a chance to experience his first Light Up night at the end of November, and praised the family atmosphere and community spirit.
“I haven’t seen that kind of stuff since I was a little kid…” he said. “It was great spirit, the families and the smiles, the smiles are huge.”
Butikis has had some interest from scouts, but said he still needs to work on his game and his education, and the rest will “happen in time.” He’s also got a goal, first, to try to win a Fred Page Cup championship with the Caps.