“We feel a sense of community. We feel like the whole city is behind us. We want to bring something good to everyone. We are assuming that. We feel like we can take that responsibility. “- Luke Acheson
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Luke Acheson maintains that the GW Graham Grizzlies are playing for something bigger than just a soccer game.
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“We have families here who are losing their livelihoods,” said Acheson, whose Chilliwack team will participate in the Triple A Subway Bowl Coastal championship game next Saturday at BC Place after defeating the Centennial Centaurs of Coquitlam 19-0 in the Semifinal action on Saturday.
“We feel a sense of community. We feel like the whole city is behind us. We want to bring something good to everyone. We are assuming that. We feel we can take that responsibility. “
The atmospheric river that hit the region two weeks ago prompted a state of emergency to be called. The Grizzlies got the go-ahead to practice just three days before their quarterfinal game last Monday against the Mt. Douglas Rams of Victoria.
That game was played at McLeod Stadium in Langley. Due to road conditions that day, it took the Grizzlies three hours to get to Langley and four hours to get back to Chilliwack. They won that game 27-20.
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They came home from their win over the Centaurs Saturday night at BC Place in 90 minutes.
This Saturday’s Double A Coastal Championship at BC Place will also feature an area team, as Abbotsford’s Robert Bateman Timberwolves beat Nanaimo’s John Barsby Bulldogs 41-19 on Saturday in a semi-final.
Robert Bateman’s coach David Mills said there are players on the team who are “cleaning our basements and barns right now … it really puts things in perspective.”
“Even in normal times, I think practice gives you a chance to stop thinking about your homework or whatever else is happening to you for a couple of hours a day,” Mills said. “I think he’s doing it especially now.
“It has been an interesting year, to say the least. You had to deal with the hits with COVID-19 and now with everything that is happening in our community. “
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This Saturday’s game times are not up, but Robert Bateman will meet North Vancouver’s Carson Graham Eagles in the Double A final. The Eagles beat the Langley Thunderbirds 24-22 on Saturday.
The Grizzlies will face the Terry Fox Ravens in the Triple A final. The Port Coquitlam Ravens beat the Vancouver Notre Dame Jugglers 27-12 on Saturday.
GW Graham only went up to Triple A this season. They lost in the provincial Double-A semi-finals in 2019, quarter-finals in 2018, and semi-finals in 2017.
Soccer, like all high school sports, had no game competition last year, remaining in single practice mode due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ravens (10-0 overall, 7-0 in the league) are the only team to have beaten the Grizzlies (12-1 overall, 6-1 in the league) this season, making a 34-0 decision. on October 22 at Percy Perry Stadium. in Coquitlam.
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On Saturday, the Grizzlies nullified a Centennial offense that had averaged 27 points per game in the regular season and last week beat the No. 1 Vancouver College Fighting Irish 27-24 in the quarterfinals. Vancouver College had allowed 26 points in total in its entire seven-game regular season.
“Coming to Triple A from Double A, they have a chip on their shoulder. They want to show everyone in the province that they are as good as everyone here, ”Grizzlies defensive coordinator Ian Parks said of his charges. “That is our test. That is where we want to go. Every week we have made a great defense. “
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Due to weather-related travel issues, BC School Sports changed the Subway Bowl from a provincial championship format to a regional one. Indoor teams were placed in their own Subway Bowl playoffs.
The Triple A Kelowna Owls beat the Double A South Kamloops Titans 37-8 on Saturday at Hillside Stadium in Kamloops and are scheduled to play the Double A Vernon Panthers next week for the Indoor Subway Bowl crown. Details on the game have yet to be finalized.
It hasn’t dull the playoffs if Saturday at BC Place was any indication. Both the Grizzlies and Ravens had especially lively celebrations after their victories.
“It doesn’t feel different to us,” Acheson said of the playoff format change. “We still feel that we have to beat the best in the province to win a championship this year.
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“We are not concerned with the name of things. We are concerned about winning games. “
Terry Fox was the No. 4 team in the final Triple-A provincial top five rankings that came out on November 1. The Grizzlies were No. 5.
Terry Fox was an honorable mention for the preseason ranking at Triple AGW Graham was not named at all. Vancouver College was No. 1, followed by Mt. Douglas at No. 2.
“As I said earlier in the year, COVID-19 was kind of a wild card for all of us. We had kids and shows that hadn’t done much, “said Terry Fox’s trainer Tom Kudaba. “Some teams were practicing, but there was no contact.
“Our group of children really perked up. They are very lush. “
Twitter: @SteveEwen
Reference-theprovince.com