After a thrilling opening round of the Rogers BCHL Playoffs that saw massive upsets, plenty of overtime games and two Game 7s, we are now set for Round 2, starting this Friday night. Today, we will break down each of the four matchups.
Coastal West Division
#1 Cowichan Valley Capitals vs. #2 Nanaimo Clippers
Head-to-Head:
Cowichan Valley won the season series 4-3-0.
Previous Round:
Cowichan Valley defeated the Victoria Grizzlies in seven games.
Nanaimo defeated the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in five games.
Top Playoff Performers:
Cowichan Valley – F Jack McAra (11 points), D Michael Ryan (7 points), D Ryan Harvey (6 points), G Rhett Stoesser (2.10 GAA)
Nanaimo – F Hayden Fechner (10 points), F Jack Rimmer (7 points), F Charles Béland (5 points), G Eliot Séguin-Lescarbeau (.904 SV%)
Fast Facts:
- The teams played seven times in the regular season, but all of those took place between October and December
- Four of the seven regular season matchups were decided by one goal
- Through one round of the postseason, the Capitals have the best power play in the league, operating at 38.9 per cent
- Cowichan Valley forward Jack McAra is second in playoff scoring with 11 points
- Clippers forward Hayden Fechner is third in postseason scoring with 10 points
- Nanaimo finished the first round with the second best goal differential at plus-nine
Coastal East Division
#1 Prince George Spruce Kings vs. #2 Chilliwack Chiefs
Head-to-Head:
Prince George won the season series 4-2-1.
Previous Round:
Prince George defeated the Langley Rivermen in seven games.
Chilliwack defeated the Coquitlam Express in five games.
Top Playoff Performers:
Prince George – F Tai Ushio (6 points), F River Arnason (5 points), D Trent LeDrew (5 points), G Colin Reay (2.01GAA)
Chilliwack – F Boris Borin (7 points), F Nico Grabas (6 points), F Dustin Renas (5 points), G Vladislav Bryzgalov (.949 SV%)
Fast Facts:
- After going down 3-2 in their first round series against Langley, Prince George won two straight to advance
- Tai Ushio, the team’s leading scorer in the regular season, as well as their playoff leading scorer, was injured and unable to play Game 7
- Spruce Kings netminder Colin Reay started five of the team’s seven games in Round 1 and went 4-1 with a .922 save percentage and a 2.01 goals-against average
- The Chiefs lost the opening game of their first round series with Coquitlam before rattling off four straight wins
- Game 2 of Chilliwack’s first round series went deep into the fourth overtime period before Drew DellaSalla won the game, marking the longest game recorded in the modern era of the BCHL (2003-04 to present) at 136:26
- BCHL Rookie of the Year finalist Boris Borin had points in four of five games, including a hat trick in Game 1
Interior West Division
#3 Salmon Arm Silverbacks vs. #4 Cranbrook Bucks
Head-to-Head:
Cranbrook won the season series 4-2-1.
Previous Round:
Salmon Arm defeated the Trail Smoke Eaters in four games.
Cranbrook defeated the West Kelowna Warriors in five games.
Top Playoff Performers:
Salmon Arm – F Landon Mackie (5 points), F Keifer Miller (4 points), F Anthony Cardilli (4 points), G Daniel Dirracolo (.935 SV%)
Cranbrook – F Adam Csabi (4 points), F Konstantin Hutzinger (4 points), D Camden Charron (4 points), G Jason Tremblay (.972 SV%)
Fast Facts:
- Salmon Arm was a perfect 13-for-13 on the penalty kill in Round 1
- Dirracolo played all four games for Salmon Arm in the opening round and posted a 1.43 goals-against average (second in the postseason) and a .935 save percentage (tied for fourth)
- The Silverbacks allowed the fewest goals against in the first round (six)
- Cranbrook’s penalty kill also operated at 100 per cent, killing off all 11 opportunities
- Tremblay, who started three of five games in Round 1, leads all goaltenders in the postseason with a .972 save percentage and 1.02 goals-against average
- The Bucks allowed the fewest goals per game in the first round with a 1.4 average
Interior East Division
#1 Brooks Bandits vs. #3 Sherwood Park Crusaders
Head-to-Head:
Brooks won the season series 5-2-0.
Previous Round:
Brooks defeated the Spruce Grove Saints in four games.
Sherwood Park defeated the Blackfalds Bulldogs in six games.
Top Playoff Performers:
Brooks – F Dmitrijs Dilevka (15 points), F Isaac Johnson (9 points), F Jack Rosensteel (8 points), G Zach Zahara (2.00 GAA)
Sherwood Park – F Braeden O’Keefe (8 points), F Quincy Supprien (4 points), F Michael Mikan (4 points), G Filip Vavro (.913 SV%)
Fast Facts:
- Dilevka is the playoff leading scorer and is averaging 3.75 points per game through one round
- Despite playing the minimum four games in Round 1, the Bandits lead the league in goals scored with 25
- Brooks’ power play is currently second in the postseason at 38.1 per cent
- O’Keefe is tied for fifth in playoff scoring
- Vavro started all six games for Sherwood Park in the first round and earned a shutout in his first ever BCHL postseason game
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Click here to view the Round 2 schedule.
