Back on June 7, the BC Hockey League released its schedule for the 2021-22 season for all 18 teams. I’ll have a look at the Chilliwack Chiefs schedule and how it breaks down with the new conference alignment.
The Chilliwack Chiefs will once again host the BCHL Showcase from Oct. 20-24 at the Chilliwack Coliseum. The Chiefs’ opponents for the Showcase are the Vernon Vipers and Merritt Centennials.
The Chiefs open their season in Langley against the Rivermen on Oct. 8 before their home opener the next night against the Coquitlam Express.
Five Interior teams make the trek to Chilliwack this season. The Vernon Vipers play the Chiefs in the BCHL Showcase and the Trail Smoke Eaters come to the ‘Wack on Dec. 3.
Wenatchee makes its return to Chilliwack on Jan. 8, Salmon Arm comes to town on Jan. 22, and the Penticton Vees are the last interior team to visit Chilliwack on Mar. 11.
The Vees are the only Interior team the Chiefs play twice this season, once home and once away.
Road Trips
This season is spread out with a few more trips to Vancouver Island with the five Island teams now being in the same conference as the Chiefs. The first trip is a short two-game set with the Powell River Kings on Nov. 5 and 6.
The Chiefs have two trips to the Interior on consecutive weekends. The first is on Nov. 19 and 20 when the Chiefs go to Pentiction and their first trip to Cranbrook since the 1995 Mowat Cup to face the Bucks.
The next weekend sees the Chiefs head up to Prince George to renew their rivalry with the Spruce Kings before heading back south to West Kelowna to face the Warriors.
The Chiefs head to the Island for another two-game set against the Victoria Grizzlies and the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Dec. 4 and 5. Chilliwack returns to the Island for three-games-in-three-nights against Nanaimo, Alberni Valley, and Victoria from Feb. 18-20.
The last trip to the Island is Mar. 4-6 against Nanaimo, Cowichan Valley, and Alberni Valley.
Game breakdown by team
Coastal Conference
Coquitlam Express: four home, four away
Langley Rivermen: four home, four away
Surrey Eagles: four home, four away
Victoria Grizzlies: two home, two away
Cowichan Valley Capitals: two home, two away
Nanaimo Clippers: two home, two away
Alberni Valley Bulldogs: two home, two away
Powell River Kings: two home, two away
Interior Conference
Cranbrook Bucks: one away
Trail Smoke Eaters: one home
Penticton Vees: one home, one away
Salmon Arm SilverBacks: one home
Prince George Spruce Kings: one away
Merritt Centennials: one away
Vernon Vipers: one home
West Kelowna Warriors: one away
Wenatchee Wild: one home
The Chiefs finish the season on the road against the Surrey Eagles on Mar. 18 and at home against the Powell River Kings on Mar. 19.
