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Berger backstops Cents to road win

Jacob Berger made 45 saves, including 17 of 18 in the third period, allowing the Merritt Centennials to take a 3-2 win in Wenatchee over the Wild.

Alex Bourhas opened the scoring for the Cents in the first and when Sam Morton tied it for Wenatchee later in the frame, Nicholas Wicks restored the Cents lead just 1:35 later. Tyrell Buckley got the only goal of the second which put the visitors up by two going to the third.

Wenatchee, having outshot Merritt 29-14 through 40 minutes, really poured it on in the third and were hopeful when Jasper Weatherby got one early on to get the Wild within one but they couldn’t solve Berger again after that. Berger took 2nd Star honours after his busy night while Seth Eisele made 17 saves for Wenatchee.

Ty Taylor made all 35 saves for the Vernon Vipers for his second shutout of the season a 2-0 victory over the visiting Powell River Kings. Jack Judson’s goal on the man advantage at the eight-minute mark of the first period would be all the support Taylor needed on the night. Brett Stapley added the insurance late in the second and Vernon was able to kill three Kings power plays in the final frame.

Angus Crookshank’s second goal of the night came in the final minute of the first overtime session and delivered a 5-4 home win for the Langley Rivermen over the Prince George Spruce Kings. Sean Gulka scored early in the first and after Liam Watson-Brawn tied it just past the midway mark of the opening frame, Crookshank’s first restored the Langley lead. Dustin Manz drew PG level a minute into the second but again Langley had a reply with Trevor St. Jean doing the damage. Kyle Johnson made it 3-3 early in the third, Devin Leduc put the Rivermen up again and it looked to be enough but Ben Brar scored with 19 seconds left in regulation to set the stage for OT.

Dakota Boutin’s goal in the second period wound up being the winner for the Penticton Vees in a 4-2 home win over the Victoria Grizzlies. The Vees went up a pair in the first on tallies by Lukas Sillinger and Grant Cruikshank before Justin Michaelian got one back for Victoria. Boutin’s was the only goal of the second period and Chris Klack added the final Vees tally early in the third. Lucas Clark got one back for Victoria shortly after but Victoria was not able to get anything else past Adam Scheel, who made 19 saves for the win.

Despite allowing the opening goal of the game, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs allowed nothing after and came back to claim a 4-1 home win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals. Ethan Scardina got the Caps on the board first but it would be the only puck to get past John Hawthorne on the night as he made 31 stops for the win. Cayden Kraus evened the score later in the first and Mitch Oliver’s goal early in the second was the winner. Cole Poliziani added on in the second and Christian Simeone had the final ‘Dogs tally late in the third.

Marcus Mitchell’s power-play goal in the final minute of the second period was the difference for the the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in a 4-2 home win over the Nanaimo Clippers. Logan Mostat opened the scoring for the ‘Backs in the first but Nanaimo tied it just 34 seconds into the second on a Jake Harris tally. Trevor Adams put Salmon Arm back in front but 1:33 later Jamie Collins tied it again for Nanaimo. Mitchell’s winner came at 19:13 of the second and Hudson Schandor had the final Salmon Arm goal in the third.

A three-goal first period for the Chilliwack Chiefs paved the way to a 7-1 home win over the Coquitlam Express. Kaden Pickering, Regan Kimens and Ryan Miotto all tallied in the opening frame with the lone Express goal coming in the second courtesy of Eric Linell. Pickering, Will Calverley, Tommy Lee and Corey Andonovski added on for the Chiefs in the third while Mathieu Caron made 24 saves for the win.