It’s hard to believe that the remaining games left for all Coastal conference teams will have no effect on the final division standings.
All 10 teams are locked in and know where they will finish.
In the BCHL Mainland division, the Surrey Eagles will finish first and play the fourth place Langley Rivermen in the first round.
The Chilliwack Chiefs are the second place team and will face the third place Prince George Spruce Kings.
The Coquitlam Express will finish in last place and miss the playoffs.
The Island division standings have been decided as well. Victoria will finish first, followed by Nanaimo, Alberni Valley, Powell River and Cowichan Valley.
While the remaining games cannot change either division’s standings they might matter to whichever teams makes it to the third round.
Right now the two division leaders, Surrey and Victoria both have 75 points, so should those two teams meet in round three, home ice advantage has not yet been decided.
Looking at the Chiefs, they cannot catch Victoria but they are just three points back of Nanaimo and are three points up on Alberni Valley.
All three of those teams have two games left.
Both remaining games for the Chiefs are against Langley.
Chilliwack is in Langley tonight and will host the Rivermen Saturday night on Fan Appreciation Night.
Langley cannot catch or be caught by any team in the Coastal conference so the games do mean less to them than they do to Chilliwack.
But don’t ever tell any coach that any game is meaningless.
Trying to pick winners in the Mainland division’s first round playoff series will be tough.
Keep in mind they are best-of-five series as well, which I think is an advantage to the so-called underdog.
Chilliwack won six of eight games against Prince George this season, but PG won the last two, both in Chilliwack. We’ll take a closer look at both series in next week’s column.
As mentioned, Saturday night is Fan Appreciation Night.
The first 1,000 fans through the door will be given thunder sticks courtesy of Fraser Valley Distance Education.
Fraser Valley Party Rentals will have a bouncy castle set up on the concourse for the kids and there will be tons of other prizes handed out to fans as well.
Season ticket renewals are in full swing.
Anyone who renews and pays in full prior to April 30 is entered into a draw to win a $1,000 shopping credit for the Overwaitea Food Group stores, a 50 inch flat screen TV, or one of numerous autographed Chiefs items.
This is also valid for all new season ticket purchasers.