Capitals sign 20 year old goalie Emerik Despatie for 2023/24

DUNCAN, BC – The Cowichan Capitals are excited to announce the signing of 2003 born goaltender Emerik Despatie for the 2023/24 season. Despatie has spent the last 3 seasons playing for his hometown major junior team, the Gatineau Olympiques, including a 16-6-3 record last season. Hailing from Gatineau, Quebec, Despatie stands 6’2″ and weighs 190lbs. His junior career started, being a 2nd round pick in the 2019 QMJHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Remparts, before then being traded to Gatineau after one season. Over 4 seasons he played in 87 games, amassing a 38-25-13 record.

Although he went unselected in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, he was a development camp invitee of the Columbus Blue Jackets to their Traverse City Camp. In his lone start he stopped 17/20 shots for the Jackets in a 7-3 win over Detroit, he then received a full training camp invitation, along with the rest of the CBJ Traverse City roster after a 4-0 tournament record.

In 2019 Despatie was one of twelve Canadian, 2003 born goaltenders to be invited to the Hockey Canada World U17 Hockey Challenge training camp, while also competing and winning the QGC U16 tournament in 2019 with a 0.50 GAA and .970 SV%.

Welcome to Cowichan Emerik!