By Joel Smart and Mike Thompson (The Cascade/Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: May 22, 2013
The Vancouver Canucks cast an enormous shadow over the rest of the sports world in the Fraser Valley. They are the team that sports fans talk about first, they get the prized placement in our various newspapers and sports shows and it’s their games that people dream of getting front-row seats for. It can take a while for your eyes to adjust when you look into that shadow, trying to see what else there is.
After a while the BC Lions and Vancouver Whitecaps begin to come into view. With a little more effort, the Vancouver Canadians appear – Vancouver’s Short-Season A minor league baseball team. But what else is there?
The short answer is a lot. However, to appreciate this wealth of additional sport, one must learn to value sports in a slightly different way than is required for the more major leagues. Yes, it is true that the skill level of athletes in the minor and midget leagues is not that of the highest-calibre players in the world. The plays you see won’t be quite as spectacular. The goals would probably happen differently in the major leagues, and the players would probably be quicker and more impressive. Athletes might still be developing, or they might be a player that peaked without reaching that higher level. But, either way, their performances are not automatically less enjoyable or less important. When you’ve got a close game, and you see two teams playing their hardest to come out on top, that’s all that matters.
Perhaps not surprisingly, teams often make up for their lack of top-end talent with harder, more-determined efforts. As a sports fan, an appreciation for a hard-working team is all it takes to get the most out of all the Fraser Valley has to offer.
Hockey
Abbotsford Heat
The most obvious team to stand out—at least for many hockey fans—is the Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League. While they’re not appreciated by all due to their affiliation with the Calgary Flames, they represent a high level of hockey that is both affordable and convenient. Tickets range from $15 to $40 depending on the seats.
Vancouver Giants
The Vancouver Giants, who play in the Western Hockey League, also play an elite and enjoyable game of hockey (though not as elite as the Heat). Watch them play the Victoria Royals (formally the Chilliwack Bruins) if you want to see a heated regional match-up. Tickets are about $20.
BC Hockey League
The Fraser Valley also has several teams that play in the BC Hockey League (BCHL). These include the Chilliwack Chiefs, the Langley Rivermen and the Surrey Eagles. The BCHL is a very competitive league with quality hockey. For just $12 a ticket, it’s hard to go wrong.
Pacific Junior Hockey League
If you really want to find some local rivalries, you’ll have to turn to the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL). Here you’ll find the Abbotsford Pilots, the Aldergrove Kodiaks and the Mission City Outlaws (formerly the Hope Icebreakers) among the 10 local teams. Tickets are as cheap as $6. Each year the champion of the PJHL plays against the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League and the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League in order to determine the winner of the Cyclone Taylor Cup. The winner of this cup goes on to play against the winners from similar contests in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario (12 hockey leagues in total). The team that defeats all others in this final dual wins Western Canada’s Junior B championship, and is awarded the Keystone Cup. The Abbotsford Pilots managed just such a feat in 2012. And, for the first time ever, Abbotsford will host the Keystone Cup championship in 2014.
Baseball
BC Premier Baseball League
For those more interested in baseball, the Abbotsford Cardinals might be right up your alley. Currently third in their league, this tight-knit team is aiming for its first ever Final Four Championship. Abbotsford will play host to the 2013 Provincials this year, and upgrades to the playing field at Delair Park will be completed by the third week of July when the tournament begins. The Cardinals return home from their roadtrip to play at Delair against the Vancouver Cannons at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12 and again on Tuesday, June 18. Other local teams include the Langley Blaze, the White Rock Tritons and the Coquitlam Reds. See the Premier League website for more.
Abbotsford Angels Hardball Association Midget AA
The Abbotsford Angels Hardball Association Midget AA features four Abbotsford teams: the Blue Jays, the Cardinals (not to be confused with the Premier league team), the Giants and the Red Sox. Catch the Abbotsford Blue Jays at Delair Park, who will play against the Ridge Meadow Braves and the Aldergrove Rangers on a back-to-back weekend (Friday, May 24, and Saturday, May 25). Maybe you’d rather check out Chilliwack Minor Baseball Team 2 duke it out against the Abbotsford Cardinals on May 25 at Delair. Or watch Team 1 take on the Abbotsford Red Sox at Delair on Sunday, May 26. If you like good, old-fashioned baseball, you’re sure to enjoy it. Check Abbotsfordbaseball.ca for game times.
Roller Derby
Do you like fast-skating, hard-hitting women in tights and roller skates? The correct answer is yes, and that’s why you really should check out the exploding roller derby scene in the Fraser Valley. Abbotsford and Chilliwack used to each have their own all-women, flat-track roller derby leagues (The Reign Valley Vixens and the Voodoo Derby Dollz respectively). The two have recently merged into the Fraser Valley Roller Derby Association in order to build the league – which now features two teams: the Undead Heart Throbs and the Voodoo Derby Dollz. A third team, the Dead Meat Darlins, functions sort of like a farm team and practice squad for new skaters. Games (or bouts) are often played against teams from other leagues, like Vancouver’s Terminal City Rollergirls (whose team Public Frenemy recently played the Dollz). Another Abbotsford-based roller derby league is the Whiskey Renegade Rollers. Roller Derby games are inexpensive to attend, and usually allow even cheaper entry when a non-perishable food item is donated. Find game times at the Fraser Valley Roller Derby or Whiskey Renegade Facebook pages.
Abbotsford BMX
Abbotsford BMX—a one-lap sprint bike racing group—meets at the Abbotsford Exhibition Park on Haida Drive. Come to watch, or for a small fee take part in a race yourself – both indoor and outdoor courses are available, though the outdoor dirt course is by far the coolest. Abbotsford BMX is permitted by Cycling BC, which is a part of both the Canadian Cycling Association and the International Cycling Union. To find out more check out AbbotsfordBMX.ca
