Connor Welsh scored the game’s opening goal and then set up the winner in the second period for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in a 3-1 home win over the Merritt Centennials.
Welsh’s opener came just over five minutes into the game but the Cents tied the score just seven seconds into the middle frame on a tally from Zach Court. It was Alex Macdonald’s goal at 6:55 of the second that proved to be the winner with Welsh and Tristan Bukoves contributing the setup.
Jake Witkowski provided the insurance tally for the ‘Dogs late in the second period and the third period was scoreless. Carson Schamerhorn made 37 saves for the win while Jacob Berger stopped 35 for Merritt.
Chris Klack scored twice, including the game-winner, as the Penticton Vees held on to defeat the visiting Prince George Spruce Kings 3-2. PG got out in front early on a Kyle Johnson goal just 1:08 into the game. In the middle frame, Klack tied the score and Duncan Campbell followed up to put the Vees up one heading to the second. The score remained 2-1 until late in the second when Klack got his second, which proved vital as the Spruce Kings got a late marker from Connor Russel to get back within one but that’s how it ended. Mat Robson made 22 saves for the win.
After a 40-minute staredown of goalless hockey, the Victoria Grizzlies emerged with a three-goal third period and 3-0 home win over the Vernon Vipers. Lucas Clark’s goal at 5:29 of the third proved to be the winner with Tyler Welsh and Justin Michaelian following up after that. Matthew Galajda made 22 saves for his second-straight shutout. Cole Demers stopped 27 for Vernon.
Chase Dubois had a hat trick and Quin Foreman’s pair included the winner as the West Kelowna Warriors downed the visiting Trail Smoke Eaters 5-3. The score was 1-1 after one with Dubois and Ross Armour trading tallies. In the second, Dubois and Blaine Caton swapped markers making it 2-2 heading to the third. Trail took the lead early in the third on Kale Howarth’s goal but West Kelowna rallied, starting with Dubois’ hat trick tally. Foreman followed soon after with the winner and provided the insurance goal as well. Shane Farkas made 24 saves for the win while Linden Marshal stopped 38 for Trail.
A goal each period and 28 saves from Mark Sinclair was the winning formula for the Chilliwack Chiefs in a 3-1 road win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals. Derek Osik opened the scoring in the first for Chilliwack and after Nicholas Wilson tied the game in the second, it was a shorthanded Will Calverley goal late in the middle frame that was the winner. In the third, Powell Connor’s first BCHL rounded out the scoring for Chilliwack.
Jasper Weatherby’s first-period goal would be all the offence the Wenatchee Wild needed en route to a 6-0 home win over the Coquitlam Express that saw the home side wind up with a 55-11 shot advantage. Charlie Combs scored twice in the second, giving him 11 goals in his past four games, and AJ Vanderbeck added another. Slava Demin and Matt Baker scored in the third. Garrett Nieto turned aside the 11 pucks that came his way while Reid Cooper stopped 49 for Coquitlam.
