Each week during the BCHL season, local hockey guru Jacob Bestebroer pens a column in the Chilliwack Progress, discussing the Chilliwack Chiefs and goings on from around the BCHL. This week, he analyzes Chilliwack's first half, one that's taken many by surprise.
I don’t often bet on sports but I do follow betting lines, odds, point spreads etc.
You won’t find betting odds for anything BCHL related, obviously, but if there were I wonder what the odds would have been before the season started on the Chiefs winning 19 of their first 31 games.
10-1? 15-1?
I think probably higher, and most people who follow the league closely would not have made that bet.
Looking at it differently, what do you think the over/under on Chiefs wins after 31 games would have been?
In over/under, a number is given and the bettor has to bet either more or less than that number. I think it would have been set at 12.5. That actually may be a bit high, as the Quesnel Millionaires this team won only 13 games all of last year.
Would you have bet over or under on 12.5?
Tough call isn’t it?
If the line was 18.5, would you have ever considered betting over? I doubt many people would have.
Winning 19 or more of their first 31 games is nothing new for the Chiefs. In the 16 previous seasons the Chiefs played in Chilliwack they’ve reached or exceeded that number seven times.
The high number was 23 during the 2001-02 season.
The low was 12 during Harvey Smyl’s first season with the Chiefs in 1993-94.
When I look back at all 17 seasons, this season’s win total through 31 games is the second most surprising, and the most surprising from a positive standpoint.
The most surprising was when the 1998-99 Chiefs only managed to win 16 of their first 31 games. Everyone expected more from that team and they eventually turned it around, winning 22 of their final 29 games and advancing to the league finals.
So what lies ahead for the 2011-12 Chiefs?
With only four teams in each conference qualifying for the playoffs, postseason hockey is far from guaranteed.
Penticton has first place all but locked up which leaves four teams with a legitimate chance at securing one of the remaining three spots.
Joining Chilliwack in that quest are the Merritt Centennials, Prince George Spruce Kings and Vernon Vipers.
One good team will miss the playoffs.
The Chiefs currently have 20 players on their active roster, which is one below the allowable limit.
They are carrying just four 20-year-olds, which is two less than the league limit.
I think it’s safe to assume we will see Harvey Smyl make some additions to this team prior to the Jan. 10 trade deadline, and I think we’re in for a very entertaining playoff run in the BCHL.
Feedback can be sent to jb@chilliwackchiefs.net.