The Chiefs do not have a game at Prospera Centre this weekend but a lot of Chilliwack ears will be listening to 89.5 The Hawk (and eyes will be watching the BCHL pay per view) as Harvey Smyl's squad play in Penticton this Friday night.

The Vees are going for win number 29 in a row, which would tie the BCHL record of consecutive victories held by the 1989-90 New Westminster Royals.

As proven over and over again, hockey is a small world and people are connected in so many ways. That will be the case as the Chiefs attempt to win at the Okanagan Events Centre this Friday.

The New Westminster Royals of the 1989-90 season had a definite Chiefs flavour to them with Harvey Smyl as one of the assistant coaches to head coach John Olver. Olver's son Darin later played for Smyl's Chiefs in 20022003, recording 89 points in 59 games played.

Doneau Menard wore jersey #4 as a defenceman on the Royals in 1989-90 and in 199293 Menard wore a suit as the Chilliwack Chiefs head coach.

Fellow former Chief blue liner Bobby Henderson is tied into this as well, as his dad Roy Henderson was the general manager of the 523-4 Royals. Henderson and Kevin Estrada-who played four seasons in Chilliwack that included a 118-point season in 2000-2001-used to go on the ice after practice in New Westminster and skate around together.

The connections continue with Royals defenceman Jason White playing as a 20-year-old in Chilliwack, grabbing 50 points in 60 games, Dean Schmyr and John Craighead, both of whom would become Chilliwack Chiefs, were affiliate players in 1989-90 with the Royals.

And just one more connect-the-dots example for you: 1989-90 Royals forward Justin George spent a season in Chilliwack racking up 52 goals in 58 games playing for the Eagles prior to heading to Queens Park arena the following season.

City Wide Literacy Challenge

Remember that The City Wide Literacy Challenge has started and the Chiefs organization is reading up a storm. You can win great prizes and all you have to do is read 20 minutes a day for 21 days and track it with the passports that are available at various locations, including the Times, The Book Man and the Chiefs office.

Bowl for Kids Sake 2012

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Fraser Valley recently announced the beginning of one of their most popular fundraisers-Bowl for Kids Sake 2012 presented by Prospera Credit Union-has its kickoff Feb. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. The Chiefs and Scotiabank are hosting a fun bowling event with the children and volunteers that are involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Bowl for Kids Sake 2012 is the 23rd annual event and officially begins on Feb. 22. If you would like to get involved, send an email to Janis.mitchell@ bigbrothersbigsisters.ca.

Mascot Night

If you are part of a team, organization or business that has a mascot, please contact me as Chief Wannawin hosts his annual Mascot Night on March 6 when the defending Fred Page Cup Champion Vernon Vipers roll into town.