BCHL teams combined to attract 138,852 fans over the course of 73 Fred Page Cup playoff games, for an average of 1,902 per game.
That is an increase of 23.7 per cent from last season, when just 60 playoff games took place.
“Playoffs always bring out the best in our teams and players and this season, that carried over to our fans,” said BCHL commissioner John Grisdale. “With our champions from Penticton going to game seven in each round and the Fred Page Cup being decided on an overtime goal, there were plenty of highlights and I’m thrilled so many fans got out to watch.”
From the middle of the second round onwards, there were only two crowds that did not reach four figures in size and both those games were within a few bodies of reaching that mark.
The largest crowd of the entire postseason came opening night in round one in Wenatchee as 4,300 fans saw the Wild defeat the Prince George Spruce Kings 4-1 on Mar. 4.
There were 15 crowds of 3,000 fans or more, and seven of 3,500 or more. Even in some of the league’s smaller buildings, record crowds came to see the BCHL playoffs.
The Merritt Centennials drew a season-high 1,080 fans for a Mar. 24 game against Penticton and the Powell River Kings drew a season-high 1,461 in a Mar. 25 game against Victoria.
