Kevin Obssuth had a goal and two assists and Carter Turnbull added a goal and an assist to lead the Powell River Kings to a convincing 4-1 road win over the Nanaimo Clippers in game one of their first-round series.
After a scoreless first period, the Kings got goals from Neal Samanski, Turnbull and Josh Coblenz to take a commanding 3-0 lead after two. The teams exchanged goals in the third period but Powell River was able to hold off the Clippers comeback bid.
Kings goalie Derek Krall stopped 31 of the 32 shots he faced to pick up the win and take away home-ice advantage from Nanaimo. With his multi-point effort, including the game-winning goal, Turnbull was named first star of the game. David Silye scored the lone goal for the Clippers.
Cole Poliziani scored 1:09 into overtime to give the Alberni Valley Bulldogs the upset win over the Victoria Grizzlies by a score of 5-4 and take a 1-0 series lead. Victoria got off to a 2-0 lead midway through the second period, but Alberni Valley was able to tie it up before the end of the frame. The teams exchanged goals in the third and Michael Sacco tied the game with just over five minutes to play to force overtime. Bulldogs goalie John Hawthorne made 34 saves to get the win and Grizzlies forward T.J. Friedmann scored two goals and was named first star in the loss.
In the highest-scoring game of the night, Kale Howarth scored his second of the game just over five minutes into overtime to beat the West Kelowna Warriors 6-5 and take a 1-0 series lead. Ryan Steele had a hat trick and an assist and Chase Dubois added two goals and three assists for West Kelowna in the loss. Trail threw 54 shots at the Warriors net and were led by three-point efforts from Howarth and Ross Armour. This game included a penalty-filled second period which saw eight minors, one major and two misconducts called.
The Chilliwack Chiefs picked a good time to get their first win in nine games against the Prince George Spruce Kings as they blanked them 3-0 in game one of their series. Chiefs goalie Daniel Chenard only faced 18 shots but he stopped them all to get the shutout. Chilliwack had 27 shots on goal and scored once in each period with goals from Adam Berg, Will Calverley and Tommy Lee to take the series lead. Berg added an assist to his game-winning goal and was named the game’s first star.
Derek Brown scored one goal and added three assists to pace the Vernon Vipers to a 5-2 comeback victory in game one of their series against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Salmon Arm went ahead 2-1 when Tanner Campbell scored his second of the game early in the second period, but the Vipers responded with four straight goals to get the win. Vernon peppered Silverbacks goalie Cooper Reid with 43 shots and six Vipers players had multi-point games as they took a 1-0 series lead.
The Penticton Vees began their Fred Page Cup defence with a hard-earned 2-1 win over the Coquitlam Express in game one of their first-round series. After Jonny Tychonick opened the scoring for the Vees less than five minutes into the game, Christian Sanda tied it for the Express 56 seconds into the second period. Jack Barnes would put Penticton ahead for good midway through the second as they held on for the win. Coquitlam goalie Brock Hamm stopped 37 of 39 shots and was named the second star of the game in the loss.
Ty Westgard’s shorthanded goal in the second period held up as the winner as the Surrey Eagles won 3-2 over the Langley Rivermen to take a 1-0 series lead. After a scoreless first period, Trevor St. Jean gave Langley the lead less than five minutes in the second frame. Surrey answered back with goals by Desi Burgart, Connor Sundquist and Westgard before the end of the period to take a 3-1 lead. The Rivermen got a late goal from Alec Capstick but it wasn’t enough. Eagles goalie Mario Cavaliere stopped 21 of 23 shots to get the win.
