On a night when all six BCHL games went into overtime, it was Jamie Collins’ goal with just 13 seconds left in double-OT that lifted the Nanaimo Clippers to a 4-3 home win over the Wenatchee Wild.
Collins also opened the scoring on a penalty shot at 7:26 of the first and Matt Creamer put the home side up two just past the midway part of the opening frame. Brendan Harris got the Wild on the board just before the intermission. With five seconds left in the second period, Logan Milliken’s goal scored to make it a 2-2 game heading to the third.
Spencer Hewson scored near the middle of the third to put the Clips ahead and it looked like it might hold up as the winner but again, the Wild were able to score late in the period with Austin Chavez’ goal setting the stage for overtime. In the dying seconds of the second extra frame, Collins’ second of the night won it for Nanaimo. Austin Roden made 38 saves for the win while Devin Cooley stopped 23 for the Wild.
Zach Masson’s goal at 4:31 of double-OT clinched a 2-1 road win for the Langley Rivermen over the Prince George Spruce Kings. Ethan de Jong put the home side ahead with a goal late in the first and it would be the only tally until McKay Flanagan tied the game in the third period. With 29 ticks left on the clock, Masson’s marker won it for Langley. Bo Didur made 25 saves for the win while Tavin Grant stopped 34 for PG.
The one game where OT settled nothing Friday night was in Salmon Arm as the Silverbacks and visiting Vernon Vipers skated to a 4-4 draw. After Chris Jandric opened the scoring for the Vipers, Josh Blanchard and Haydn Hopkins replied for the ‘Backs putting them up one after one. Jimmy Lambert for Vernon and Ryley Booth for Salmon Arm scored a minute apart in the second and Cameron Trott scored 15 seconds after that, tying the game 3-3. Vernon went ahead on a Michael Ufberg got but Elijiah Barriga tied it again in the third. Vernon peppered Nic Tallarico with 50 shots on the night while Ty Taylor made 35 saves for Vernon.
Max Newton got the OT winner against his former team as the Cowichan Valley Capitals downed the host Trail Smoke Eaters 4-3. In a five-goal first period, Trevor Ayre opened the scoring for the Caps only to see Andre Ghantous and Connor Brown-Maloski reply 56 seconds apart to put Trail ahead. Ayre and Kale Howarth then swapped tallies to close the frame with Trail up 3-2. Ayden MacDonald scored late in the second knotting things up 3-3 and after a scoreless third, Newton got the winner 41 seconds into OT.
Braiden Epp got the winner at 3:23 of overtime, giving the West Kelowna Warriors a 3-2 home win over the Merritt Centennials. The Cents chased Warriors starter Nik Amundrud with two quick goals in the first by Zach Risteau and Cade Gleekel but that would be all the scoring for the visitors on the night. Logan Mostat and Quin Foreman scored in the second for the Warriors to tie the game and after a scoreless third, Epp won it in OT. Shane Farkas was flawless in relief in net, making 35 saves for the win.
Tristan Mullin was the OT hero for the Powell River Kings, scoring his hat trick goal 27 seconds into double-overtime in a 5-4 home win over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Mullin opened the scoring in the first only to have Ryan Steele tie it for the ‘Dogs 17 seconds later. Ben Berard restored the Kings lead just before the intermission but early in the second, Mackenzie Wright tied things up again. Mullin got his second of the night, on the power play, making it 3-2 Kings going to the third. Jake Witkowski and Jordan Sandhu both scored on the man advantage for Alberni Valley in the third putting them ahead for the first time. Jake Kohlhauser managed to tie the game, setting the stage for Mullins OT heroics.