Special Team Made a Difference in Chiefs 3-1 Family Day Win

By Shaelee Dombrowski

Chilliwack, B.C. – Family Day at the Chilliwack Coliseum saw the Chilliwack Chiefs face the Alberni Valley Bulldogs for just the second time this season. Going into the game, the teams were just one point apart in the standings, with the Chiefs ahead with forty-four. Through the last ten games, Chilliwack has had more success with seven wins, while Alberni Valley has had just four. To add to the fun of the Chiefs Family Day game, the Cheam Mountain Golf Course Kids Club helped around the rink in various positions from the penalty boxes all the way up to the broadcast booth. 

Chilliwack got on the board first in the opening frame at 17:21 with a power play goal from Reese Shaw, marking his nineteenth of the season. Boris Borin and Jack Plandowski picked up the assists on the goal. With Shaw’s goal, he extended his home game point streak to fifteen games, dating back to his first game in the Coliseum on October 18th. Shots in the first period were 11-6 Chilliwack.

Wasting no time in the second frame, Chiefs’ Dominic Grieco increased their lead to 2-0 just 41 seconds into the period with a dominant solo effort. Chilliwack and Alberni Valley exchanged grade A chances, a little over halfway through the 2nd period, as the Chiefs’ Reese Shaw sent the puck through the crease at one end and Chilliwack goaltender David Di Girolamo made an amazing toe save at the other end after a Bulldogs player picked up the puck from Shaw’s shot and had a breakaway chance. Alberni Valley led the shot count in the second period, 13-7.

The Bulldogs cut the lead in half with a power play goal by Teague McAllister at 3:37. The special teams continued to make a difference as Nico Grabas increased the Chiefs’ lead to 3-1 at 12:32. Markuss Sieradzkis and Boris Borin assisted Grabas’ team-leading twenty-fifth goal of the season. Shots were 9-6 Chilliwack in the final frame. 

The Chiefs earned two points in what was an aggressive, well-played game. Thank you to CUPE Local 458 for presenting the exciting Family Day game. The Chilliwack Chiefs will be back at the Coliseum on Friday, March 6th, for a 7 PM puck drop as they face off against the Surrey Eagles for their Grad Night game.

Photo Credit: Jackson Ferguson