BCHL playoff hockey is set to return to the Chilliwack Coliseum on Friday with the Chilliwack Chiefs securing home ice advantage in the first-round.
After finishing the regular season second in the Coastal Conference, the Chilliwack Chiefs face off against the Coquitlam Express in the opening round at 7 p.m.
This season, the Chiefs went 7-2 against the Express.
It has been over 750 days since the Chiefs last playoff match. Since then, the team has faced many challenges, which head coach and general manager Brian Maloney says has only made the group stronger.
READ MORE: Banged-up Chilliwack Chiefs still getting results in BCHL action
“There has been a lot of adversity that our team has worked through this season,” Maloney said in a Chiefs press release. “Everything from suspensions, injuries, COVID, even right down to the floods. Plus last season playing only the pod season. This group feels like we have been forming at the mouth for some playoff hockey.”
This will be the ninth all-time playoff meeting between the Chiefs and the Express. Chilliwack is 6-2 in all-time head-to-head series.
Maloney, whose team is entering the playoffs winning their last six games, says he knows this group has the potential to bring the Fred Page Cup back to Chilliwack.
“We’ve put together a roster that we feel is playoff ready. We’re big, we’re heavy and we can score. We’ll be playing hard nose playoff hockey.”
First-round schedule presented by On Side Restoration
Game 1 - Friday, April 1 @ Chilliwack Coliseum - 7 p.m.
Game 2 - Saturday, April 2 @ Chilliwack Coliseum - 7 p.m.
Game 3 - Monday, April 4 @ Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex - 7 p.m.
Game 4 - Tuesday, April 5 @ Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex - 7 p.m.
*Game 5 - Thursday, April 7 @ Chilliwack Coliseum - 7 p.m.
*Game 6 - Saturday, April 9 @ Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex - 7 p.m.
*Game 7 - Sunday, April 10 @ Chilliwack Coliseum - 7 p.m.
*If necessary
Tickets for games 1 and 2 went on sale March 23 at noon. They are available to purchase from the Chilliwack Chiefs office at the Coliseum or online at chilliwackchiefs.net.
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