BCHL players always say they never pay attention to streaks and records.
They’re always focused on the next shift, game, yadda yadda yadda.
But the record Jordan Kawaguchi matched Sunday night wasn’t just any mark.
A four point outing for the Chilliwack Chiefs captain moved him into a tie with Doug Ast for first place on the all-time franchise scoring list.
“Dougie was my coach my first year and he set the record a long time ago (1993-94), so it’s pretty special to catch up to him,” Kawaguchi said. “Honestly, it means a lot.”
After his Chiefs were blanked 4-0 by Penticton Friday night it looked like Captain K was going to fall short of the magic mark.
Chilliwack was down 3-0 12:09 into period two and head coach Jason Tatarnic told Gooch before the game that if Jordan wasn’t close he would pull his ice time back in the third period.
But if anyone could pull off four points in 29:51 it was Kawaguchi.
He picked up a second assist on a Will Calverley goal then scored one of his own on a short-side top-shelf shot over Tevin Grant’s shoulder.
Fifty one seconds into period three he found his way into the blue paint, popping a Kohen Olischefski centering feed past Grant to get within one point of Ast.
“I tried not to think about the record too much because when you do that stuff doesn’t happen,” Kawaguchi said. “But I think the third point, I was sitting on the bench and I thought, ‘Alright, I only need one more. A bounce goes my way and I’m there.”
With 6:57 on the clock and his team on the power play, Gooch circled off the right-wing boards, flipping the puck to Olivier Arseneau at the left point.
The veteran blueliner put a wrister on net, Calverley tipped it past Grant and Kawaguchi had his point.
“I was at home for the first two periods because I thought four or five (points) might be a bit tough,” Ast laughed. “My son was at the game and after the second period he told me Jordan had two points.”
“I hurried down for the third (period) and it’s a good thing I did because he was just dancing out there.”
Deep down, no one wants to see their records surpassed.
But if Ast was going to share this with anyone, he’s glad it’s Jordan.
“He has had a fantastic junior career in Chilliwack and he displays phenomenal smarts and hands around the net,” Ast said. “That’s what I’ve always loved about him. Every time he’s out there he’s so scary, so dangerous for opponents.”
“On top of that, he’s a real good leader and a good kid.”