by Matthew Tanner (Resident Bruins Expert)
Email: cascade.sports@ufv.ca
The Bruins battled hard and battled often this past week, they and emerged battered and a little bit bruised but no worse for the wear. The Chilliwack Bruins, now 10-8-2, played four games this past week and have found themselves in third place in the B.C. Division with 22 points, just five points back of the first place Vancouver Giants.
The Bruins went 1-1-2-0 in the four games, earning 4 of a possible 8 points. It’s the way the Bruins lost their games that really hurt, though. Each game the Bruins lost, it was only by a single goal. The Bruins were very much in each game but consistently couldn’t find a way to come out on top in the tight games. Chilliwack lost to the Edmonton Oil Kings 4-3 in overtime, to the Red Deer Rebels 4-3 in regulation and 3-2 in overtime to the Everett Silvertips. They were all close games that the Bruins could have won.
The Bruins did have one very bright spot on the week, and it fell on a sombre day. On a day reserved for remembrance and appreciation across the nation, the Bruins and the Vancouver Giants came together for their annual Remembrance Day Classic in Chilliwack. The Bruins held a pre-game ceremony in honour of the men and women who have sacrificed so much for their country. As is the case every year, the Bruins wore a special third jersey. This year they wore military fatigues with the Chilliwack Bruins Spoke-C crest on the front. The jerseys were auctioned off for charity after the game. The Bruins went on to thrash the Giants 5-1.
The Giants opened the scoring in the first period and then surrendered five straight goals. The bruins surrendered only 18 shots in the game, with Lucas Gore earning the win. Meanwhile, the Bruins peppered the Giants goaltender with 37 shots. Bruins captain and standout defenceman Brandon Manning scored the game winning goal on the power play in the second period. Once again, the Bruins were receiving scoring from throughout the line-up, with five different players scoring the goals.
The Bruins started the game a little flat but were woken up and galvanized in the second period by a scary hit 3:19 into the period. Chilliwack Bruins forward Robin Soudek, the Bruins fourth highest scorer, was returning to the bench with his back to the play, when Chilliwack native Wes Vannieuwenhuizen checked him from behind about six feet from the boards. Soudek’s head went straight into the boards and collapsed to the ice. He laid there motionless for a full ten minutes while those tending to him strapped him onto a spine board to transfer him to Chilliwack General Hospital. This sparked a number of fights and further engrained the heated rivalry between these two teams. After the game, Bruins captain Brandon Manning said in an interview that “I don’t think we hate anyone as much as we hate the Giants.” Strong words that can only further fuel a growing and bitter rivalry.
As of this time, reports are that Soudek has a concussion. The amount of time he will be out is unknown, though this is welcome news given how much worse it easily could have been. On Sunday, November 14, Wes Vannieuwenhuizen was suspended by the WHL, though the length of the suspension has not yet been announced.
