Jacob Bestebroer writes a bi-weekly column in the Chilliwack Progress during the BCHL hockey season.
For the first 10 seasons, beginning in 1990, that the Chiefs played in Chilliwack the BCHL used shootouts as a way of deciding regular season games that were still tied after overtime.
The shootout was abandoned by the league after the 1999-00 season.
After 18 seasons without it, the league brought it back this season.
Its first incarnation featured five shooters. Now they are going with three.
Last Friday the Chiefs were involved in their first shootout of the season, a 3-2 win over the visiting Prince George Spruce Kings.
It was the first shootout the Chiefs have been involved with since Jan. 8, 2000. That night the Chiefs defeated the visiting Cowichan Valley Capitals 5-4. That night the Chiefs got shootout goals from Travis Banga and Jody Lapeyre to earn the win.
Here’s some other facts and figures from the Chiefs history in the shootout.
Friday’s shootout win was the 51st time the Chiefs have needed a shootout to decide a game. It was the 27th time they came out on the right side.
On home ice, which until last Friday was the old Chilliwack Coliseum, the Chiefs are now 12-9 in the breakaway contest.
With this season more than half done and the Chiefs playing in just one shootout, they are on pace for the fewest shootouts by a Chiefs team in one season. During the 1997-98 and 1999-00 seasons the Chiefs took part in just three shootouts.
The most shootouts in one regular season by a Chiefs team is seven which happened in both the 1990-91 and 1992-93 seasons. They also set the team record for shootout wins in a season in both those years, going 5-2 each time.
The 1995-96 Chiefs failed to win a shootout game going 0-4. That’s a surprising stat considering that team won 44 out of 60 regular season games.
It’s the only time the Chiefs have gone winless in a season in the shootout.
The first shootout the Chiefs were involved in took place in Bellingham on Oct. 14, 1990. Bill MacGillvray scored the deciding goal in a 5-4 Chiefs win.
During November of the 1993-94 season, the Chiefs played in three straight shootout games. They dropped the first two on the road, 3-2 in Penticton and 9-8 in Merritt before defeating Merritt 5-4 on home ice.
The highest scoring shootout games were a pair of 9-8 decisions.
In addition to the aforementioned 9-8 loss in Merritt, the Chiefs were 9-8 winners in Victoria on Sep. 24, 1992. Four times the Chiefs have played to 3-2 final scores in shootout, which are the lowest scoring shootout games they’ve played in.
For a look at an early Chiefs shootout goal, hop on to Youtube and search for ‘Joey Potskin.’ You’ll find Joey’s winner in an 8-7 win over the visiting Kelowna Spartans from Dec. 22, 1990.
Just one game for the Chiefs this weekend.
They are in Surrey tonight (Friday). They return to home ice Wednesday against the Langley Rivermen.
Note the start time of that game is 2 p.m.
jb@chilliwackchiefs.net