Chiefs Celebrate Community Heroes with 7-3 Victory

By Shaelee Dombrowski

Saturday night saw the Chilliwack Chiefs take on the Coquitlam Express for the sixth time this season. In all five previous games, the home team came out victorious. Chilliwack looked to keep that trend going to complete one half of the necessary game outcomes on the night to clinch a playoff berth. It was a special night at the Coliseum as the Chiefs hosted their annual First Responders Night, honouring seven community heroes who have demonstrated excellence in their field and exceptional community service with the Matthew Hutchinson Memorial Award. 

Chilliwack, B.C. – The Chiefs started the game off with a strong first period. Markuss Sieradzkis got Chilliwack on the board first with his sixth goal of the season, assisted by Jack Plandowski at 6:04. Boris Borin struck next with a goal just twenty-six seconds into the Chiefs’ power play at 7:47. Jack Plandowski and Dustin Renas picked up the helpers on Borin’s ninth goal of the season. With two assists in the first period, Jack Plandowski increased his league-leading assists to 37 and claimed top spot in the league in points. At the end of the first period, shots were 11-4 Chilliwack. 

Coquitlam and Chilliwack traded a pair of goals in the middle frame. Cooper Wilson got the Express on the board at 2:46, assisted by Todd Kilpela and Tyler Chiovetti, to cut the Chiefs’ lead in half. At 9:59, Coquitlam tied the game up after a shot from the point was tipped into the back of the net by Brady Engelkes. A rebound goal from Chilliwack’s A.J. Schaaf at 15:35 regained the Chiefs’ lead. Koby Francis and Adam Boatter assisted on what was Schaaf’s tenth goal of the season. The Chiefs weren’t finished yet. With just twenty-two seconds left in the second period, Jack Plandowski regained the Chiefs’ two-goal lead with his twenty-second of the season, assisted by Nico Grabas.