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BCHL Playoffs recap – Friday, March 3

BCHL-180x240The Merritt Centennials were the lone road team to score a win in Game 1 of the playoffs, getting two goals and helper each from Zach Risteau and Tyler Ward in a 6-5 win over the host West Kelowna Warriors.

Risteau and Ward each got their first in the first to put the Cents ahead by two before Jake Harrison got the Warriors on the board. In the second, Risteau made it 3-1 but West Kelowna responded with tallies from Chase Stevenson and Quin Foreman to tie it heading to the third.

In the final frame, West Kelowna took a brief lead with Michael Ryan scoring but less than a minute later, Ward equalized followed by Mike Faulkner and Brett Jewell with the winner. Foreman had a late reply for West Kelowna but they couldn’t find they tying goal. Game 2 goes Saturday in West Kelowna.

Shawn O’Malley scored the only goal of the night and Matthew Galajda made all 24 saves for the Victoria Grizzlies in a 1-0 home win over the Nanaimo Clippers. After a scoreless first, O’Malley got the decisive tally at 4:09 of the second with Dayne Finnson and Justin Michaelian in on the setup. Evan DeBrouwer made 27 saves for Nanaimo but his teammates couldn’t find a way to solve Galajda. Game 2 goes Saturday in Victoria.

Luke Santerno got the Trail Smoke Eaters on the board and later set up the winner and the insurance marker in a 4-2 home win over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Nathan Iannone got the ‘Backs on the board in the first but in the second, Santerno and Connor Brown-Maloski responded to put the Smokies in the lead going to the third. Kale Howarth’s goal was the winner in the third and Josh Laframboise had the insurance, both set up by Santerno. Carson Bolduc scored with seven seconds left for Salmon Arm but that’s how it ended. Game 2 goes Saturday in Trail.

Jonny Evans had a goal each period with his hat trick leading the Powell River Kings to a 4-2 home win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals. Evans’ opener came on the power play in the first and he notched his second in the second before Max Newton got the Caps on the board. It was still anyone’s game going to the third but Evans scored 59 seconds into the third and Carter Turnbull added on after that. Michael Montambault had the final Caps goal but they got no closer. Game 2 goes Saturday at 5 p.m. in Powell River.

Davis Bunz and Kohen Olischefski scored in the first for the Chilliwack Chiefs, giving them all they’d need in a 4-1 home win over the Langley Rivermen. Colin Bernard made it 3-0 Chiefs in the second before Angus Crookshank got the lone Rivermen goal. Kale Kane rounded out the scoring for the Chiefs in the third while Mark Sinclair made 28 saves for the win. Game 2 goes Saturday in Chilliwack.