So far, so good.
Two come-from-behind victories to start the 2003-2004 British Columbia Hockey League season spelled a perfect opening weekend for the Chilliwack Chiefs.
With more than half his team new to the BCHL, head coach Harvey Smyl had expected a slow start.
But the Chiefs, defending Mainland Division champs, showed flashes of brilliance this past weekend, overcoming a two-goal deficit Friday in Surrey to beat the Eagles 4-2, then thrilling 2,074 home fans Saturday with a 5-3 triumph over the Eagles.
“It was good for us to get off to a good start,” says Curtis Darling, who was in net for both victories. “We had to come back in both games, which was good for character. We played as a team, and that’s the most important thing right now.”
The Chiefs were outshot 9-6 in the opening period Friday, and left the ice trailing 2-0 on goals by Surrey’s Jordan Courtepatte and TJ Mulock.
Chilliwack turned things around in the middle frame.
Blake Cosgrove scored the teams’ first goal of the season on the power play at 11:18.
Tyler Burton evened the score a minute later, then scored the winning goal 4:25 into the third period. Linemate Adam Powell put the game away with an empty net-marker.
Despite the fact Cosgrove and Sheldon Lee are the only returning vets on the blue line, Darling didn’t feel any added pressure playing in front of a rookie-laden defensive corps.
“They played well. I know it’s a big jump for those guys,” says Darling, who made 11 third-period saves, and 28 in the game. “I heard a few guys in the locker room saying “This is a lot faster than exhibition.” I think we’ve got good players who just need to get in the hang of it, and they’ll be real good.”
Both teams struggled on the power play, going one-for-nine.
Referee Mike Hicketts dished out a ton of penalties when the clubs finished their home-and-home series Saturday at the Coliseum. The Chiefs scored twice on 10 opportunities, while the Eagles were one-for-10.
Surrey’s Mike Moore roofed the puck over Darling to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead at 11:37 of the opening period.
Chilliwack’s power play struck for a goal late in the period. Sheldon Lee brought the puck out of his zone, and passed to Burton, who avoided a check by slipping the puck to Powell. A centering pass found Peter Bogdanich alone in front of Surrey goaltender Mark Kehrig, and the game was tied.
Newcomer Troy Duncan scored the first of what could be many goals 8:04 into the second period. His slapshot beat Kehrig high to the glove side, and had fans on their feet and cheering.
“It was unbelievable. I haven’t played in front of a crowd like that in a few years,” said Duncan, who spent the past two seasons with the Ottawa Junior Senators. “They supported us 100 per cent. Every time you touched the puck, they were cheering for you. On big hits, the crowd goes nuts. This building shakes.”
The Chiefs outshot Surrey 14-11 in the middle frame. Eagles netminder Kehrig robbed Chris Churchill-Smith, and Burton during a second period dominated by the Chiefs.
Chilliwack held the lead until Korey Diehl tied the game with 1:12 to go in the second period.
Rookie Trevor Hunt’s wrist shot eluded Kehrig at 8:06 of the third to regain the Chiefs’ lead. Bogdanich’s second of the game at 9:38 put the Chiefs ahead to stay.
Courtepatte’s power play goal at 15:36 cut Chilliwack’s lead to one, forcing the defence to steady itself, and Darling to make key saves.
Surrey’s Mark Kitts had a couple of wacks at the puck from the slot with just 67 seconds remaining in regulation, but couldn’t beat Darling.
“Our defence was a really big help there at the end,” said the Chiefs netminder, who stopped 15 Eagles’ shots in the third period. “They did a good job making sure there were no rebounds. We have kind-of a deal. I make the first save, and they make sure there’s nothing after that. As long as I’m doing my job, and they’re doing their job, it should work out for us.”
Jeff Royston’s empty-net goal sealed Surrey’s fate.
Duncan, who played on a line with Royston and Matt Butcher, was impressed with the calibre of the BCHL.
“Here it’s a lot more tougher, chippier hockey,” says Duncan, who totalled 89 points last year with Ottawa, and faced the Chiefs during the 2002 Royal Bank Cup
in Halifax. “It’s a lot older and a more-developed league.”
The Chiefs will be in Langley Friday. The Hornets opened the season with losses to Coquitlam and Surrey.
Chilliwack will be home to Cowichan Valley Sept. 26, and Coquitlam Sept. 27.
Chiefs’ notes…Chilliwack’s opening night crowd of 2,074 was the largest in many years. A total of 1,860 fans attended the first game of last season, 1,587 in 2001, and 1,467 were at opening night in 2000.
2003-2004 firsts…First Chiefs goal of the season – Blake Cosgrove. First Chiefs penalty – Adam Powell, for slashing. First chant of “We want a ref,” at Chilliwack Coliseum – 13:23 of the second period. First attempt at the wave at the Coliseum – 11:01 of the third period.
Around the BCHL…After winning just 14 times in 60 tries last year, Williams Lake is the hottest team out-of-the-gate in 2003-2004. The Mustangs beat Victoria 6-5 Friday, and slipped past Trail 4-3 Sunday, improving to a perfect 5-0 on the season. Salmon Arm is 3-0 after knocking off Vernon 4-3 Friday, and Merritt 7-3 Saturday. The defending champion Vipers have a win and three overtime losses in four games. Quesnel has a single point, after an overtime loss, to show for five games.
c Copyright 2003 Chilliwack Progress
