It took until the second-to-last day of the regular season, but the Victoria Grizzlies finally know who they’ll play in the first round of the sa国际传媒 Hockey League playoffs.
The Grizzlies (29-25-0), who finished fifth in the Coastal Conference, will open the playoffs — likely next Friday — at the George Preston Recreation Centre against the fourth-place Langley Rivermen (33-18-1-2).
The Chilliwack Chiefs (33-17-2-2) vaulted past the Rivermen and Nanaimo Clippers into second in the conference with a 4-1 victory on Saturday over the Coquitlam Express. The Chiefs will now host the Express in the best-of-seven first round, while the Clippers (33-17-3-1) finish up third in the conference and will open the playoffs at home against the sixth-place Surrey Eagles (28-26-0). The conference-champion Alberni Valley Bulldogs will host the eighth-place Cowichan Valley Capitals in the other opening-round series.
In the Interior Conference, BCHL regular-season champion Penticton Vees will open the first round against the Trail Smoke Eaters, while Salmon Arm will host Wenatchee, West Kelowna will take on Vernon and Prince George will host Cranbrook.
