Submitted by Ian Wilson
The Chilliwack Jets are in the midst of what it truly means to have success as a junior hockey team. Not only are they, at the time of writing, the best team at their level across B.C., they are authoring the best season in their franchise’s history and making a positive impact on the community.
Seventeen wins in a row — in and of itself is impressive. But it is how the team has achieved this franchise record win streak that tells a story of a special group.
“Our game is just hard to play against. These guys work their tails off every single night,” said Captain Kaelen Huibers. “Keep outworking our opponents and play every shift like it's your last and good things will happen.”
And indeed, those good things have come to fruition. The Jets have a 19-1-0 record to this point and have secured several key victories throughout this remarkable campaign. Comeback wins, dominant showcases, defensive strongholds, you name it, the Jets have done it all.
Especially impressive are the triumphs over the Tom Shaw Conference, often proclaimed to be the “superior” conference to the Harold Brittain, of which Chilliwack resides. Incumbent powerhouses like the Richmond Sockeyes and Delta Ice Hawks have tried, and failed, to slow the momentum of this group from Sardis Sports Complex. The lone blemish on Chilliwack’s record came at the hands of the defending league champions, the Ridge Meadows Flames. Circle your calendars as Dec. 1, the arch rival returns to the “Hangar” (Sardis Sports Complex) with a shot at redemption for your Jets.
The success of this team is multifaceted. At the end of the day the wins in the standings are one piece of proof, but even more special is the culture they have created.
“I knew as soon as I entered the room that the team culture was awesome” said one of the newest Jets, Lachlan Staniforth. “The highs can't get too high and the lows can't get too low. Our coaches keep saying we cannot get complacent because every team knows we are at the top and they’re coming for us, so we have to match that day in and day out.”
This group doesn’t just play to win, they play for each other.
“In the locker room and on the ice, we are “One team, one family”. We do it all together” remarked Ukrainian international player Nikita Kulikov. That family has been building this current success day in and day out. Whether it is the practices, the workouts, or the community service, every piece of the puzzle has gone together to create a season to remember.
It all comes down to a motivation to not just create better players, but better people. This is a group that radiates maturity and a willingness to work for their success. That kind of culture has even drawn interest from around the globe. There are currently three Ukrainians playing for the Jets this season: Danyil Denysenko, Nikita Kulikov and Mark Myrnov. The trio is one of, if not the most lethal line in the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) at present. A combination of size and skill that has been a key fixture of the win streak, and is incredibly exciting to see live.
“I love our teammates, the entire experience. And off the ice our billets are amazing, we have to thank them for everything” said Mark Myrnov. In talking to all three of them, it is easy to see that this community has welcomed them with open arms and is positively benefiting their development.
At the forefront of the coaching staff is Head Coach Chris Price. In his second year as bench boss, he attributes much of the spoils of victory to the group around him.
“We have a lot of people behind the scenes that do a great job setting the guys up for success,” said Price. “We’ve added to our staff this year and they do so much for these guys that often goes unnoticed.”
It really does take a village to raise a child. So when you have a team full of young men, then that village has to be something pretty special.
You might think with all the time dedicated to competing and getting better, there would be little time to contribute to the community. Well, you would be sorely mistaken. Sunday mornings they find themselves on the ice working with the Little Heroes program, and players also assist alongside the coaching staff with the Junior Jets throughout the week. The team has been a part of Indigenous Hockey Camps, volunteering with Canucks Autism Network, and all manner of community events across Chilliwack and the Eastern Fraser Valley. Like Nikita Kulikov said, it’s one team, one family. And in this case, one community.
This team loves its community, and in turn Chilliwack has given love to their Jets. It is a sight to behold when the Sardis Sports Complex is at capacity on a Sunday night. So many key match-ups are on the horizon as the Jets aspire to take their success to the next level. Be sure to join us on home game nights and add your voice to the energy that building emanates. There is nothing quite as spectacular as seeing the result of a group of people continuously putting forward the best version of themselves.
