Jake Kauppila’s second goal of the night wound up being the winner for the Trail Smoke Eaters, who kept their playoff hopes flickering with a 6-4 home win over the Merritt Centennials.
Chase Bell’s first BCHL goal for Merritt brought the Cents within one to start the third period but Trail replied promptly with Cooper Sande and Kauppila restoring a two goal advantage. Kienan Scott added another for Trail after that.
Merritt got two quick goals just past the midway point of the final frame but they were not able to get the necessary goals past Bailey MacBurnie, who made 27 saves for the win.
Jeff Smith made all 28 saves and goals 32 seconds apart in the first period by Austin Kamer and Nick Halagian were more than enough support as the Powell River Kings downed the host Nanaimo Clippers 4-0. Jonny Evans and Kyle Betts added goals in the second and the Kings cruised home from there. The win puts Powell River just four points back of Nanaimo and they have four games remaining.
Garrett Forster’s goal with just six seconds left delivered a 5-4 home win for the West Kelowna Warriors over the Vernon Vipers. Jonathan Desbiens opened the scoring for West Kelowna but Vernon responded with goals from Joe Sacco, Odeen Tufto and Ben Butcher to lead 3-1 after one. Kylar Hope and Desbiens scored to tie it in the second but Latrell Charleson put Vernon ahead once more going to the third. Jake Harrison tied the game early in the final frame and it stayed that way until the dying seconds and Forster’s goal.
Overtime solved nothing in Prince George where the Spruce Kings and Alberni Valley Bulldogs skated to a 2-2 tie. After Tanner Campbell opened the scoring for PG in the first, Nathan Dingmann and Tristan Bukovec put the ‘Dogs ahead 2-1 in the second. Campbell’s second of the night at 7:24 of the third was the final tally on the evening. Brody Claeys and Joseph McLeod each made 31 saves in net. The single point moves Alberni Valley within on point of Victoria for the final Island playoff berth.
Brendan Harris’ goal in the latter part of the second period was the winner for the Wenatchee Wild in a 2-1 triumph over the visiting Victoria Grizzlies. Kyle Stephan got the Wild on the board in the first but Jake Stevens tied it in the middle frame and the game remained knotted 1-1 for just over 10 minutes until Harris’ tally. Garrett Nieto made 16 saves for the win.
Tyson Jost’s goal at 15:40 of the third was the winner for Penticton in a 3-2 Vees win over the host Salmon Arm Silverbacks. After a scoreless first, Nick Hutchison opened the scoring for the ‘Backs in the second but Demico Hannoun tied it just past the midway mark of the middle frame. Chris Gerrie put the Vees up in the third only to have Taro Hirose tie it 21 seconds later. Exactly seven minutes after that, Jost got the winner. Angus Redmond made 38 saves for Salmon Arm while Anthony Brodeur made 18 for Penticton.
Jared Domin’s first BCHL hat trick propelled the Cowichan Valley Capitals to a 7-3 road win over the Surrey Eagles. Paul McEvoy scored just 54 seconds into the game for Surrey in what would be his first BCHL hat trick as well but Cowichan replied with two goals from Domin plus markers by Adam Osczevski, Chris Harpur and Ryan Burton to go up 5-1 after one. McEvoy scored 44 seconds into the second but Domin completed his hat trick shorty after that and Josh Adkins added the final Caps tally. McEvoy finished his hat trick in the third for Surrey. Lane Michasiw made 31 saves for the win.
Jordan Kawaguchi had a hat trick for the Chilliwack Chiefs, helping them to a 6-1 road win over the Coquitlam Express. Kawaguchi scored early in the first and Darien Craighead’s goal in the second was the winner. Jackson Cressey got the lone Express goal in the second but Kawaguchi finished his hat trick shortly after that. Jesse Lansdell and Zach Giuttari added on in the third. Matteo Esposito made 18 saves for the win.
