By Shaelee Dombrowski
Chilliwack, B.C. – The Chiefs’ Retro Night, presented by Mark’s Chilliwack, on Saturday night saw the Chilliwack Chiefs and Langley Rivermen face off for the third time this month. Going into the game, the season series was tied 1-1, with the away team winning each time. Both teams played on Friday night, Chilliwack gained a point in a shootout loss in Coquitlam, while Langley came off a 5-3 win against Nanaimo at home. With the teams just four points apart from each other in the standings, and the frequency of recent meetings, the game was sure to be a good one.
Chilliwack got on the board first, just 2:53 into the first period, with a power play goal by Nico Grabas. The opening goal, assisted by Jack Plandowski and Boris Borin, marked Grabas’ 20th of the season. Langley’s Makaio Van Tassel tied the game up 1-1 at 15:53. Less than two minutes later, at 17:43, the Chiefs regained the lead with a nifty breakaway goal by Nico Grabas. Assisted by Jack Plandowski and Luke Pilkington, Grabas’ goal marked his 21st of the season and 2nd of the game. Chilliwack ended the period with a 2-1 lead after dominating the first frame. Shots were 18-7 for Chilliwack.
The second period started almost identically to the first, with a Nico Grabas goal 2:41 into the period, sealing his 2nd career BCHL hat trick. Jack Plandowski and Gabriel Anctil picked up the helpers on Grabas’ third goal of the game, and 22nd of the season, tying him for second in the league for goals. Anctil’s assist marked his 1st career BCHL point. Jack Plandowski took a turn in the goal column and netted the Chiefs’ fourth of the game at 12:06, putting the Chiefs up 4-1. Nico Grabas grabbed the assist on Plandowski’s 19th goal of the season. Chilliwack’s goalie, David Di Girolamo, made a great toe save in the final few minutes of the 2nd period to help keep the Chiefs in a three-goal lead. Just 10 seconds into the power play, Reese Shaw, assisted by Boris Borin, scored his 12th goal of the season, increasing the Chiefs’ lead to four goals at 18:09. Shaw’s goal marked his 3rd in as many games after returning to the lineup from injury three games ago. Chilliwack entered the second intermission right where they wanted to be. Shots were 12-8 for Chilliwack.
The Rivermen started the third period by making a goalie change, subbing Maverick Avent in for Dylan Johnson. Langley got on the board first in the third at 7:43 with an unassisted goal by Christian Chouha. Langley’s Paul Wiczek scored the Rivermen’s 3rd of the game at 16:44, assisted by Tanner Winegard. Chilliwack regained its three-goal lead at 17:36 with an empty net goal by Markuss Sieradzkis, marking his first career BCHL goal in his first game on home ice. Jayden Veney picked up the helper on Sieradzkis’ goal. The Chiefs held onto their lead for the final minutes and earned two points. The teams will see each other again in three days, on January 27th in Langley.
It was a successful week for the Chilliwack Chiefs, who picked up 5 of 6 possible points. The Chiefs will be back in the Coliseum next month on Friday, February 6th, as they take on the Surrey Eagles for a 7 PM puck drop.
Photo Credit: Jackson Ferguson
