By Marc Fitzgerald

Chilliwack, B.C.  – On a day where parts of the City were shut down due to a substation fire, it was Bryton Udy who shut down the Merritt Centennials.

Udy made 42 saves to pace the Chiefs to a 4-1 win over the Merritt Centennials on Friday night at Prospera Centre.

The Calgary product was busy throughout the night, but made a number of fantastic stops, none bigger than a post to post glove save on Brayden Low in the third period while the Chiefs were nursing a two goal lead. Udy`s parents were in attendance, as were a number of other immediate family members for the Chiefs players for the weekend.

Chilliwack opened the scoring in the first period from an unlikely source, as Matt Hutchinson collected a Spencer Graboski centering pass and buried a wrist shot glove side on Tyler Steele from just outside the left faceoff circle at 8:34 of the first. The goal for the 20 year old Hutchinson was his first of the year, and first as a Chief.

Graboski continued his strong play with a goal to add to his assist on the Hutchinson marker. He seems to have found a home playing alongside Kit Sitterley. Trevor Hills has been his other linemate of late, but missed Friday`s game due to a one game suspension for a fight with Westside`s Matt Berry on Wednesday. Jaret Babych took Hills` spot, and promptly finished with two assists. He was very effective all night long.

David Bondra and Kody Dhaliwal were the other scorers on the night for the Chiefs, who now move two points clear of Prince George, and stay six points up on Vernon in the Interior conference standings.  Second place in the conference isn`t out of the question either for the Chiefs, as they are now just ten points back of the Centennials with four games in hand. Merritt, at the end of a run that saw them play eight games in eleven days, has dropped three straight.

Udy was named the game`s first star, followed by Kody Dhaliwal, and Matt Hutchinson. The Chiefs are right back at it Saturday night against the Trail Smoke Eaters, a team they have yet to lose to this season. Puck drop at Prospera is 7pm.

Comments

Posted by: loveinchilliwack on January 28 2012 7:45 AM

This is a solid character win over a team higher in the standings. Good job guys!

Posted by: SardisisreallyChilliwack on January 28 2012 12:15 PM

and... you can not overlook the great jobs that the AP's did in this win. With 5 Chief regulars out of the lineup the call ups had a job to do and they did it.