Chiefs Playoff Preview

The best part of the hockey year is underway in Chilliwack tonight as the Chiefs get set for game one of the best of seven against the Coquitlam Express.
Coach Jason Tatarnic says they have a full lineup ready to go.

“Everyone is back from injuries, so we’ll have 22 players ready to go.  We’ll have to figure out which 20 we’re going to dress…it’s the first time in a long time we’ve had a full lineup.”

As far as their opponent is concerned, Coquitlam finished 19 points back of the Chiefs this season and Chilliwack blasted them twice last weekend, but Tatarnic says the playoffs are a new season and none of that matters now.  He says they’ll have to be mindful of turnovers because the Express have a very good offense.

“They have two great players…Mackin scored 50 goals this season (and led the league in scoring) and Supinski scored 48 (and finished 2nd in league scoring).  They have some players that have the ability to put the puck in the net so we have to pay attention to their offensive side of the game.”

The Chiefs have done most of their scoring by committee this year, although Craig Puffer scored 29 goals and put up a point a game.

Games one and two are at Prospera Centre tonight and tomorrow.  The series then shifts to Coquitlam for games three and four starting Friday.

Also a huge congratulations to Coach Tatarnic, who yesterday was announced as the winner of the Joe Tennant Memorial Trophy for BCHL Coach of the Year.  He took over a team that finished last place in the division last year and turned them into a first place team this season, a 43 point swing in the standings in just one year.