Kohen Olischefski’s third-period goal stood up as the winner for the Chilliwack Chiefs in a 4-3 road win that puts them up 2-1 in their series against the Langley Rivermen.
Langley opened the scoring on a Nic Ponak goal in the first but Jordan Kawaguchi got his first of two in response making it 1-1 heading to the first intermission. Cole Poliziani gave the Chiefs the lead late in the second and in the final frame, Kawaguchi notched his second just 35 seconds in and Olischefski followed with the winner.
The Rivermen attempted a rally with Zac Masson scoring at 12:24 and Ryan Barrow at 19:16 but they couldn’t find the goal that would force overtime. Mark Sinclair made 18 saves for the win.
In Merritt, the Centennials took a 3-0 series lead on the defending BCHL champion West Kelowna Warriors with a 6-2 win. Merritt led 2-0 after one with goals from Tyler Ward and Zach Zorn. Ward’s second of the game, and sixth of the playoffs, was the game-winner in the second period. Tyler Chavez Leech’s first BCHL goal got the Warriors on the board but Cade Gleekel restored the Cents’ three-goal edge. Michael Ryan scored for West Kelowna late in the second but Merritt got goals in the final frame from Nick Fidanza and Ethan King (empty net). Jacob Berger made 30 saves for the win.
