There are a few teams in the BCHL still looking for their first win but the Coquiitlam Express are no longer among them as they defeated the visiting Salmon Arm SilverBacks 6-2 Friday night. The Express used two goals each period and a pair of goals from rookie talent Alexander Kerfoot in the victory. Coquitlam got goals from Steven Layani and John Siemer in the first and from Kerfoot and Taylor Love in the second. The 'Backs only tallies came in the second from Brock Balson and Morgan Zulinick. Malcolm McKinney and Kerfoot salted it away for the Express in the third.
In Pentiicton, the Vees had a successful home opener with a 9-2 win over the Prince George Spruce Kings. Curtis Loik had a successful return from injury, tallying to open the scoring and was followed by Ryan Reilly and Mario Lucia. Paul De Jersey scored the first of two in the second for PG but 1st Star Connor Reilly, Travis St. Denis and Grant Nicholson replied to make it 7-1 after two. Ryan and Mike Reilly scored in the third before De Jersey's second.
The Nanaimo Clippers picked up another point in their home opener but lost 4-3 in OT to the Cowichan Valley Capitals. Nanaimo went up 2-0 on goals by Brayden Jaw and Brett Hartskamp only to see Jake Charles tie it with two before the horn. Charles completed his hat trick in the third and Jaw forced OT for the Clips but Matt Brown won it in extra time for the Caps.
After a scoreless first in Surrey, the Eagles took a 2-0 lead into the third on goals by Brandon Morley shorthanded and Sean McGovern. Derek Sutliffe replied shorthaned for the Rivermen but that was as close as they'd get.
In Alberni Valley, the Bulldogs won their second straight to start the year with a four-goal third to defeat the Victoria Grizzlies 6-3. The teams traded two goals each in the first and Victoria went up one after two on a Wade Murphy marker. The 'Dogs scored four unanswered in the third includiing two from 1st Star Dylan Nowakowski to win it.
The Vernon Vipers remain undefeated after a 5-2 road win in Westside. Tied 1-1 after one, the Vipers went up in the second on a Marcus Basara tally and added goals by Marc Hetnik and two from Adam Tambellini in the third. Travis Blanleil scored late for the Warriors.
In Merritt, the Trail Smoke Eaters spoiled the Cents home opener with a 5-3 comeback win. A scoreless first gave way to a five-goal second that saw Merritt score the first three from Brandon Bruce, Silvan Harper and Billy Marshall. But Trail roared back with five unanswered from Adam Boytinck, and Brent Baltus in the second and Nicholas Wong and two from Clatyon Chessa in the third to win it.
