Each week during the BCHL season, local hockey guru Jacob Bestebroer writes a column in the Chilliwack Progress with his thoughts on the Chiefs and goings on around the league.
Two scenarios thought to be very unlikely prior to the season came to fruition when the Chilliwack Chiefs beat Vernon 4-2 on Tuesday. The Chiefs are going to the playoffs and the three time defending league champion Vipers are not.
The Chiefs sit fourth in the Interior conference, but with three games left, they can still finish as high as second. For them to move up, they will need help from other teams.
Merritt currently holds second place at 72 points, with two games left. They play Friday versus Trail (road) and Saturday versus Trail (home). Prince George is third with 70 points and they play their last two games at home this weekend against Penticton.
Chilliwack is fourth with 66 points, visiting Coquitlam Friday before wrapping up the regular season with home games against Westside (Saturday) and Trail (Sunday).
Tie games and games ending in regulation result in teams getting a combined two points. But games ending in overtime see three points awarded, which complicates matters when looking at all the ways things could play out this weekend.
The most unlikely result is that the Chiefs move up to second place. For that to happen they would need to win their three games and have the following happen; Merritt would need to lose both of their games in regulation and Prince George would need to earn less than two points versus Penticton. Adding to the complication, if Chilliwack wins all three, Merritt gets no points versus Trail and Prince George gets two points versus Penticton, there would be a three way tie in the standings.
Nobody seems to know what happens then, but if wins is the tie breaker, the Chiefs would finish second.
Not as unlikely are the Chiefs chances to move up to third place. For this to happen we need to assume Merritt gets at least one point versus Trail.
If the Chiefs win all three of their games and Prince George gets less than three points versus Penticton, the Chiefs would finish third by tying in points with Prince George and winning the tie breaker on wins.
If Chilliwack gets five points this weekend, PG would need to get less than two points for the Chiefs to finish third. If the Chiefs earn four points either with two wins or a win and two ties or overtime losses, they would need PG to lose both of their games in regulation time.
There you go. Clear as mud.
Sunday’s game versus Trail is fan appreciation night, where all youth members of Chilliwack minor sports organizations can get in free with the purchase of an adult or senior ticket.
The tickets are available at the Chiefs office, or at the box office the day of the game. Dozens of prizes will be handed out, and all details can be found on the Chiefs website.
Feedback can be sent to jb@chilliwackchiefs.net.
