There have been some notable achievements and memorable firsts for Chilliwack athletes this year.
The Chilliwack Crusaders Rugby Club women’s team celebrated their first team win since they joined the league in 2022. The game, against the East Vancouver Scribes at the Yarrow Sportsfield, was not just a win but a victorious 26-0.
And 2026 will always be memorable for sisters Shelby and Alexis Kramp, who at 18 and 13 galloped into this year’s provincial horse trials at Island 22 at the top of the leaderboard.
It has also been an exciting year on the gridiron, with the first-ever Eastern Valley Bowl. The event matched the G.W. Graham Grizzlies against the Sardis Falcons at Exhibition Stadium, with the Grizzlies winning 35-20.
But it was about more than the scoreboard that rainy night.
“It’s a proud moment for both programs, and congratulations to G.W. Graham,” said Sardis coach Suhk Parmar. “I am super proud of our kids. We’ve come a long way in the last few years, and I thought our seniors played outstanding tonight. It’s an exciting night, I’m happy for everybody that was here, and this is something to build on for the future.”
Football continues to grow in popularity among local youth, and in 2026, Chilliwack Secondary will become the third high school here to have a football program for its students.
As for the WHL, they announced in March they’d be moving back to Coliseum — and then in October that plan was pushed back at least another season.
Officials noted that a variety of factors led to the decision, but one of the biggest reasons for the delay was completing the search for an owner. They noted that one particular group is close to securing the franchise, but finalizing that deal is not yet done. The ownership situation is not far enough along to ensure a smooth entrance for the 2026-27, which was cited as a reason for the delay.
The status of the BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs is also up in the air, as the team will play out the rest of the 2025-26 in the Coliseum. They were slated to continue as a franchise, but find a new home for 2026-27. However, the Coliseum is now available in 2026-27 and it’s possible that the Chiefs could play another season in the building.
