Each week during the BCHL season, local hockey guru Jacob Bestebroer writes a column in the Chilliwack Progress, discussing the hometown team and goings-on around the league.
This week, he shines a spotlight on some off-the-ice happenings.
There is lots going on off the ice as we near the holiday season.
The Chilliwack Chiefs Annual Teddy Bear and Toque Toss takes place tomorrow as the Chiefs host the Trail Smoke Eaters.
Fans are encouraged to bring a teddy bear or a toque to throw on the ice when the Chiefs score their first goal of the game. (Quick trivia question, who scored the goal to set off the first Chiefs Teddy Bear Toss in 1998? Answer at end of article).
All bears and toques collected will be donated to Chilliwack Community Services. If you have stuffed animals and toques and are trying to decide which to bring, go with the toques as Community Services is a little short on those right now.
The Chiefs also announced yesterday that Dec. 28 will be the first annual “Fill the Rink for the Food Bank” night.
The Prince George Spruce Kings are the opponent and all tickets are priced at just five dollars, including all taxes and services charges. We only ask that you bring a non-perishable food item as a donation to the Salvation Army food bank.
If you are a season ticket holder you can bring a friend to the game for free.
You can pick up your free ticket(s) in advance at either the Prospera Centre box office or the Chiefs office.
At this time of year the food bank is in urgent need of tinned meat, fish, fruit, vegetables and ready-to-eat products such as ravioli, stew, pork and beans and the like. They also need peanut butter, pasta, rice, cereals and baby food.
Back to on-the-ice happenings now.
Chilliwack is a perfect 3-0 against the Trail Smoke Eaters this season and used two wins in Trail last weekend to vault them into third place in the Interior Conference.
Saturday they travel to Salmon Arm to face the Silverbacks.
That’s two games against teams near the bottom of the conference and a great chance to pick up four points.
But it won’t happen by just showing up.
Both the Smokies and Silverbacks have been playing better as of late. Salmon Arm has just won two straight on the road in Nanaimo and Alberni Valley.
Congratulations to former Chief Kevin Estrada who resumes his hockey career this week with the ECHL’s Ontario Reign in California.
Injuries have kept Kevin from playing for a while now so nice to see him back on the ice.
Thank you to everyone for your feedback on last week’s column about the BCHL’s All Time Top Fifty team.
To answer one question, no, I don’t think former Chiefs captain Peter Zurba should have been on the list.
I do think though that he is in the discussion on any type of all-time Chiefs team.
Trivia answer: Jamie Weiss.