The Chilliwack Chiefs are 2-0 to start the BCHL pod season after a pair of weekend wins.
—————————
APRIL 2 - Chilliwack 5 at Merritt 2 - Chilliwack Coliseum
Chilliwack’s Ray Fust scored the season’s first goal just 38 seconds into the opening frame and the Chiefs cruised to victory. Chilliwack led 3-0 through 20 minutes after a pair of Ethan Bowen goals, one of them scored on the power play.
A Merritt PP goal by Matteo Pecchia briefly cut into the lead at 8:13 of period two, but Chilliwack responded at 12:35 with a pretty goal by rookie Dawson Good.
The teams traded third period goals. Centennials defenceman Trevor Isaksson made it 4-2 at 6:46 and Chilliwack captain Kyle Penney scored into an empty net with 21 seconds on the clock.
Sasha Teleguine and Connor Milburn each picked up a pair of assists and Mathieu Caron stopped 22 of 24 shots in the Chilliwack net to pick up the win.
Three stars were Bowen (first), Teleguine (second) and Jackson Munro (third) and the Fortis BC Energy Player of the Game was Merritt’s Ben Ward.
APRIL 3 - Prince George 1 at Chilliwack 4 - Chilliwack Coliseum
Chilliwack stayed unbeaten with a win over their former Mainland division rivals.
Defenceman Abram Wiebe scored his first BCHL goal at 3:42 of the first period and Penney’s power play goal at 9:06 doubled the lead. Another defender, Trevor Longo, scored his first BCHL goal in the early minutes of period two to give the Chiefs a 3-0 lead.
Prince George finally got on the board at the 16:02 mark of period three when Andrew Seaman scored on a Spruce Kings power play, but Chilliwack’s Ray Fust sealed the deal, scoring into an empty net at 18:59.
Mathieu Caron stopped 24 of 25 shots.
Three stars were Caron (first), Brett Rylance (sec0nd) and Xavier Henry (third) and Henry was also the Fortis BC Energy Player of the Game.
—————————
What’s next?
The Chiefs are one of four teams emerging from opening weekend with perfect records. The Penticton Vees, Vernon Vipers and Nanaimo Clippers are also unbeaten at 2-0.
Merritt joins the Trail Smoke Eaters (0-2), Salmon Arm Silverbacks (0-2) and Cowichan Capitals (0-1-1) as teams searching for their first wins.
A busy stretch now for the Chiefs, who host Merritt Thursday and Prince George Friday. Then, they’re the road team for games Sunday at Merritt and Monday at PG.
RELATED: Chilliwack Chiefs fans filling the Chilliwack Coliseum with cardboard cutouts
RELATED: Ethan Bowen sticking with Chilliwack Chiefs even as BCHL season gets pushed back