The Merritt Centennials looked down and out on Friday night, trailing by a trio of goals to the defending National Champions as the game entered the third period with Vernon up 3-0. But the Cents were rewarded for a strong effort in the final 20 minutes of regulation, as goals from Steve Tresierra, Jeff Jones and Sean Maktaak tied a game that Merritt would eventually win on a Brandon Pfeil tally 1:45 into the first overtime period.
Michael Zalewski, John Knisely and Todd Skirving had accounted for the Vipers offence in a game that looked well under control after 40 minutes. But the Centennials finally found their way past Blake Voth after having 22 shots turned aside through two periods.
Tyler Steel picked up the win in the Merritt net, turning aside 26 shots in total.
In other BCHL action on Friday, the Westside Warriors fell behind early but turned on the offence late in an 8-2 defeat of the Coquitlam Express. The visitors took an early lead on a Jason Grecica tally but Westside replied with a pair of goals before intermission and scored twice more in the second. Three special teams goals in the final 20 minutes sealed the win, as Alex Grieve scored once and assisted on three other Warriors goals to lead the charge offensively. Kevin Boyle turned aside 26 shots in the victory.
In Salmon Arm, the Prince George Spruce Kings posted a 4-1 road win on the strength of a hat trick from RJay Berra. The Prince George captain scored in the first and second periods to give his team a two-goal lead and shot into an empty net with less than a minute remaining in regulation. Zac Ashdown also tallied for the visitors, while David Killip replied with the SilverBacks' lone goal. Kirk Thompson was strong in net for the Spruce Kings on a night where he faced 27 shots.
In Nanaimo, Ryan Stanimir and Zach Martin each scored twice to lead the Clippers past Victoria by a 7-4 margin. Dustin Johnson put the Grizzlies ahead just four minutes into regulation, but first period replies from Colton Cyr, Stanimir and Todd Gebert gave the hosts the makings of a lead they would not relinquish. Martin, Stanimir and Andrew Gladiuk piled on in the second before Joel Lowry score a pair of late goals to bring the visitors within three. Charles-Andre Pelletier picked up the win in goal, stopping 19 of 21 shots.
In Trail, a three-goal second period proved to be the difference as the Smoke Eaters found their way past Quesnel by a 5-1 score. Opening period goals from Ryan Aynsley and newcomer Ryan Luiten bookended a Daryl DeVries marker to give the hosts a one-goal lead after 20 minutes, but strikes from Joey Baker, Cullen Bradshaw and Scott Jacklin in the second removed any question of a Mills comeback. The foursome of Aynsley, Luiten, Bradshaw and Jacklin each had two-point nights while Kiefer Smiley stopped 34 shots in the win.
In Powell River, the Kings worked their way back from a third period deficit to defeat the Cowichan Valley Capitals 5-3. A shorthanded marker from Mike Hammond opened the scoring and teammate Jordan Grant scored on a power-play minutes later to open up a two-goal advantage. But Brenden Forbes started the rally with 1:14 left in the period and Cohen Adair tied things up early in the third. In the end, it was a pair of Kings tallies just 10 seconds apart that sunk the Capitals, who were outshot 48-16 on the night.
In Surrey, Brad McGowan capped a four-point night with the double overtime winner as the Eagles soared past the Langley Chiefs by a 5-4 score. Richard Vanderhoek and Brad McBride exchanged first period goals before the Chiefs struck for three in the middle frame. But Daniel Gentlzer and McGowan brought the hosts back even early in the third before the league's scoring leader closed out the game on a penalty shot. McBride scored twice in the loss, while Karel St-Laurent won his second start in as many nights for Surrey.
