It’s going to be hard figuring out what to take out of Chilliwack Chiefs games over the next two months, but if wins and losses are all that count, the junior A club is off to a fine start.
Playing their first two ‘preseason/extended training camp’ games last weekend, the Chiefs blew the doors off a division rival, beating the Surrey Eagles by scores of 6-2 and 5-2.
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GAME 1 - Oct. 2 vs Surrey
The Chiefs out-shot the Eagles 40-22 and went three-for-six on the power play in a 6-2 triumph at the Chilliwack Coliseum.
Nick Cherkowski led the locals with a pair of goals, with Brett Rylance, Kienan Draper, Frankie Carogioiello and Ethan Bowen also scoring for Chilliwack. Ayrton Martino had a pair of assists.
Michael Abgrall and Carter King replied for the Eagles, who were largely stymied by the Chiefs goaltending duo of Mathieu Caron and Ethan Pearson. The pair split the game. Pearson, the 18-year-old rookie, started and surrendered one goal on seven shots in 30:38 of action. Caron came on midway through period two, and gave up one goal on 15 shots.
The three stars were Cherkowski (first), Bowen (second) and Rylance (third).
Martino was the Fortis BC Energy Player of the Game.
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GAME 2 - Oct. 4 vs Surrey
Draper had the hat-trick and added an assist for a four-point night as the Chiefs whumped the Eagles 5-2 at the Chilliwack Coliseum.
The rookie scored all three of his goals on the power play as Chilliwack went three-for-eight with the man advantage.
HATTY🎩🎩🎩
— Chilliwack Chiefs (@Chiefs_Hockey) October 5, 2020
KIENAN DRAPER WITH HIS 3RD GOAL AND 4TH POINT OF THE NIGHT! 5-2 CHIEFS🔥🔥🔥#ChwkChiefs | @NHLCentralScout pic.twitter.com/Th6RbdjdgL
Wyatt Schlaht scored a second period goal against the team that traded him to the Chiefs just over a week ago, and Bowen also scored.
Pearson went the distance in goal, stopping 21 of 23 shots. Cole Galata and Carter King put pucks behind him.
The three stars were Draper (first), Bowen (second) and Tommy Lyons (third).
Ty Gagno was the Fortis BC Energy Player of the Game.
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WHAT’S NEXT?
A light week looms for the Chiefs, who don’t play again until Friday, when they once again host Surrey.
The following weekend they’ve got a home-and-home against the Eagles.
Get used to Surrey. Seven of Chilliwack’s 11 extended training camp games are against their Mainland rivals.
READ MORE: Chilliwack Chiefs to play home-heavy preseason slate
READ MORE: Chilliwack Chiefs sign St. Andrews alum Frankie Carogioiello
@ProgressSports
eric.welsh@theprogress.com
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