Lawson Fenton made 40 saves and Jackson Cressey scored the game-winning tally with 2:32 to play in the third as the Coquitlam Express downed the visiting Wenatchee Wild 2-1.
After a scoreless first, Brendan Harris got the Wild on the board early in the second but it would prove to be the only shot to get past Fenton on the night. Austin McIlmurray got one past Garrett Nieto and tied the game 4:15 into the third and Cressey came through with winner in the late moments.
Wenatchee pulled Nieto for the extra attacker with 1:44 to go but were not able to force OT. Fenton took 1st Star and FortisBC Energy Player of the Game accolades for his efforts.
Liam Finlay’s goal in the third period was the winner for the Vernon Vipers, who also got 39 saves from Andrew Shortridge in a 3-2 home win over the West Kelowna Warriors. Riley Brandt and Nicholas Rutigliano swapped goals in the first and Jagger Williamson put the Snakes up one after 40 minutes. Finlay’s winner was followed shortly after by a Warriors goal from Rylan Yaremko but they couldn’t find the equalizer.
The Langley Rivermen clinched a playoff berth, getting a goal and an assist from both Will Campion and Matt Graham in a 5-2 road win over the Prince George Spruce Kings. After Campion and Graham got the Riv out to a 2-0 lead, PG got tallies from Kyle Johnson and Adam Burnett to tie it heading to the second intermission but that was all that would get by Nick Trenciansky on the night. Torrin White got the winner with Donovan Shambeau (first BCHL goal) and Matty Saharchuk following up.
Ayden MacDonald scored twice in the first and Kade Kehoe later provided the winner as the Cowichan Valley Capitals defeated the visiting Salmon Arm Silverbacks 6-4. MacDonald’s second made it 4-2 Caps after one with Matt Hudie and Kyle Topping also scoring. Elijiah Barriga got the ‘Backs within one in the second but Kehoe’s goal early in the second clinched it for the Caps. Taro Hirose scored his second of the night for Salmon Arm after that but Mitch Meek iced it late with an empty-netter.
Stefan Wornig made 31 saves and Kyle Betts’ goal late in the third was the winner for the Powell River Kings in a 3-1 home triumph over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Austin Kamer got the Kings on the board in the first and after a scoreless second, Betts’ goal was the insurance. Ryan Finnegan broke Wornig’s shutout bid a minute later but Nick Halagian scored an empty-netter to seal the deal with 1:13 left.
Tyson Jost had two goals and three helpers, including a four-point first period, as the Penticton Vees handed the visiting Chilliwack Chiefs an 8-1 defeat. Jost scored 57 seconds into the game and then set up goals by Owen Sillinger, Scott Conway and David Eccles as the Vees led 5-1 after one. Taylor Allan had the lone Chiefs goal in the first. Sillinger got his second goal in the middle frame with Seamus Donohue (first BCHL goal) and Jost adding on in the third. Luke Voltin had the other Vees goal. Anthony Brodeur made 23 saves and remains undefeated at 23-0-1.
Matt Hoover had a goal and three helpers as the Nanaimo Clippers came out on top of a 5-1 decision over the the visiting Surrey Eagles. Devin Brosseau and Hoover provided all the offence the Clips would need in the first and in the middle frame, 26 seconds after Donovan Ott got Surrey on the board, Sheldon Rempal got the first insurance marker. Chris Dodero added another in the second and Brosseau got his second of the night at 13:37 of the third. Nanaimo fired 54 shots on Justin LaForest in the Surrey net.
