The Cowichan Valley Capitals grabbed a pair of points from an Interior Conference contender on Friday evening, scoring four unanswered goals in a 5-2 victory over Salmon Arm.
Shay Neufeld and Brett Knowles had put the SilverBacks ahead with goals two minutes apart in the first period, but Tyler Matheson scored his first of two before intermission to draw the home side even. Alex Halloran and Matheson then put the Caps ahead in the second before Mike Hammond put the finishing touches on the win with an empty net marker.
Jordan Grant was a key contributor for Cowichan valley with four assists, while Derek Dun faced 38 shots in the victory.
In other action around the league, the Trail Smoke Eaters withstood a spirited comeback to top the Vernon Vipers by a 3-2 margin. Beau Blanaru, Sam Mellor and Scott Jacklin each scored in the first period to put the Smokies up a pair prior to being outshot 21-4 in the second period and 34-13 over the rest of regulation. Dylan Walchuk brought the Vipers within on in the third but the visitors were stonewalled from there by Trail netminder Kiefer Smiley.
In Powell River, Kody Dhaliwal snapped a tie at the 1:57 mark of overtime to lead the Langley Chiefs to a 3-2 victory over the Kings. The visitors had gone ahead by a pair in the first period on goals from Brad McBride and Josh Myers, but replies from Matt Garbowsky and Chris Williams in the second proved to be the final offence in regulation. Darnell Dyck's assisted on the Dhaliwal winner was his second of the night.
In Coquitlam, the Westside Warriors handed their hosts a rare home ice loss with a 4-3 decision over the Express. Coquitlam took a lead into the second period on goals from Jason Grecica and Alex Petan, but the Warriors replied with a trio of markers in the second period to sew up the win. Tyler Brickler, Brett McKinnon and Grayson Downing each scored and assisted for Westside, while Zac Ashdown contributed three points in a losing effort.
In Victoria, recent Grizzlies acquisition Dustin Johnson scored just 13 minutes into his first game and netted again in the second period to pace his new team to a 5-2 victory over Nanaimo. David Morley and Pearce Eviston also scored in the first to extend the Grizzlies' lead to three, while Kyle Kramer and Samuel Labrecque put the Clippers on the scoreboard in the third period. Matt Ginn made 27 saves for the victory.
In Merritt, Lino Chimienti made a terrific debut in net for the Centennials but ultimately took the loss in a 3-2 overtime defeat to the Penticton Vees. A pair of Joeys — Benik and Holka — had given the visitors a two-goal lead after two periods, but Regan Soquila scored early in the third and Max Vallis tied things up late to earn the Cents a point. Garrett Milan set up a pair of Penticton tallies in the win.
