Jacob Bestebroer writes a weekly column in the Chilliwack Progress during hockey season discussing the Chilliwack Chiefs, the BCHL and goings-on around the junior A world.
It’s not official just yet, but it looks like a former Chilliwack forward Ryan Bowen could be back in a Chiefs uniform this weekend.
After a very good season with the Chiefs as a 16 year old in 2014-15, he spent the last two plus seasons in the Western Hockey League.
Earlier this week the Lethbridge Hurricanes traded his rights to the Kelowna Rockets.
He’d be a huge addition for the Chiefs. In his one season here he had 10 goals and 28 points in 53 games, very good numbers for a player that age. He didn’t even turn 16 till Dec. 10 of that season.
Earlier this season Ryan’s two younger brothers, Jason and Ethan, played for the Chiefs as affiliate players. Both are with the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds Major Midget team.
The Bowens are the third trio of brothers to play for the Chiefs, following Chad, Nathan and Drew Martz and Luke, Mark and Matteo Esposito.
Neither of those families all suited up for the Chiefs in the same game, which is something the Bowen family has a chance of doing.
With Chiefs forwards Jared Turcotte and Anthony Vincent out with suspensions, we may see two or three of them in the lineup this weekend. The Chiefs are home for a pair of games, taking on the Coquitlam Express tonight (Friday) and the Penticton Vees Saturday.
Friday night the Chiefs will try to extend one of the most ridiculous streaks I have ever heard of. Including playoffs Chilliwack has beaten Coquitlam 26 straight times. The last victory for the Express over the Chiefs was a playoff game on March 6, 2015.
Coquitlam’s string of losses at Prospera Centre has reached 20 games, with their last win coming March 1, 2014.
That year’s Express team finished just a few games over .500 in the regular season, but you could tell they were going to be dangerous in the playoffs. They went on to win the league championship.
Meanwhile, that game was Harvey Smyl’s last behind the Chiefs bench.
The Chiefs will sport a different look Saturday against the Vees. It’s the annual Jersey Off the Back Night in support of the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation.
The Chiefs will be wearing a special jersey that will be auctioned off during the game, with a starting bid of $125. Bidding will end at the puck drop of the third period.
jb@chilliwackchiefs.net