The Chilliwack Chiefs beat each of their pod rivals once on the weekend, pushing their win streak to three games as they reach the midpoint of the shortened BCHL season.
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April 17 – Merritt 1 at Chilliwack 4
Liam Tanner had a two-point night at the Chilliwack Coliseum as his Chiefs beat the Centennials. Tanner opened the scoring as his team scored twice in a 29 second span midway through period two. Tanner’s goal at 9:54 was followed by a Dawson Good tally at 10:23.
Merritt’s Walker Erickson scored at the 15 minute mark to cut the lead in half and Chilliwack carried a 2-1 advantage into period three.
Ethan Bowen pushed the lead to 3-1 just 45 seconds into the final frame and defenceman Trevor Longo added a power play goal at 8:36 to wrap up the scoring.
Fresh off a shutout win over Prince George, Chilliwack goalie Mathieu Caron turned in a 32 save effort. Merritt keeper Colton Phillips-Watts faced 33 shots.
The three stars were Caron (first), Longo (second) and Cameron Johnson (Chilliwack, third).
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April 18 – Chilliwack 3 at Prince George 2 (SO)
The Chiefs needed the shootout to get past the Spruce Kings Sunday night at the Chilliwack Coliseum, and they had to rally from a 2-0 deficit to get there.
Prince George held a 1-0 lead through 20 minutes on a goal by Zach Gabruch and led 2-0 through 40 minutes after John Herrington lit the lamp.
Chilliwack still hadn’t beaten PG stopper Aaron Trotter with four minutes remaining in the final frame, but blueliner Trevor Longo finally put a puck past him at 16:18. When Spruce King Mason Waite was sent off for boarding at 17:07, the Chiefs made them pay on the power play.
Tanner Andrew, set up by Jackson Munro, scored at 18:10 to send the game to overtime and then on to the shootout.
Waite, Andrew Seaman and Christian Buono couldn’t beat Chilliwack goalie Mathieu Caron and Andrew and Cameron Johnson were thwarted by Trotter. Sasha Teleguine did beat Trotter, giving the Chiefs the win.
The three stars were Trotter (first), Longo (second) and Herrington (third).
Record don’t matter much in this pod season, but Chilliwack (7-3-0-0) currently sports the fourth best win percentage in the league at .700, trailing Penticton (9-1-0-0 record and .900 win percentage), Victoria (7-2-0-0 record and .778 win percentage) and Surrey (6-2-1 record and .722 win percentage).
Looking ahead this week, the Chiefs ‘visit’ Prince George Wednesday and Merritt Friday before hosting the Spruce Kings Saturday.
All games are 5 p.m. starts at the Chilliwack Coliseum.
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