Just two weeks ago, many would have assumed that the Quesnel Millionaires were happy just to make a postseason appearance after a number of seasons spent on the outside looking in after the regular season. Turns out, the Interior Conference's sixth-seeded team is giving the defending Fred Page Cup champions a solid run for their money.
Joshua Desmarais, Clayton Chessa and Trever Hertz scored a trio of unanswered goals over the game's final 40 minutes to draw Quesnel even at two games apiece with the Vernon Vipers following a 3-1 home ice victory on Saturday evening.
Cole Ikkala had put the Vipers ahead with a power-play goal late in the first period, but Millionaires netminder Kirby Halcrow rebounded well after being shelled a night earlier to shut down the visitors the rest of the way. Halcrow finished with 35 saves and was named the game's first star.
Desmarais and Chessa then put the hosts ahead with back-to-back goals in the second, while Hertz scored midway through the third to provide insurance that Quesnel was ultimately able to do without. The series now shifts back to Vernon for Game 5 on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Westside Warriors captured consecutive victories on home ice after Trevor Bailey scored in overtime to give the hosts a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the Penticton Vees.
Beau Bennett and Alex Grieve exchanged first period markers before the Vees went ahead by a pair in the second with back-to-back power-play tallied from Alex Szczechura and Bennett. But the Warriors stormed back in the final 20 minutes, as Joel Woznikoski pulled the hosts within a goal before Grayson Dowing tied the game at the 12:17 mark of the third period. Bailey then ended the comeback when he beat Penticton starter Sean Bonar at 5:24 of overtime.
Westside netminder Kevin Jebson put in a strong performance in net, turning aside 47 shots in a game where the Warriors were outshot by a margin of 50-38. The 20-year old was particularly strong in the third period and in overtime when he made 21 consecutive saves.
Bennett led all scorers with three points on the evening, while the Westside trio of Downing, Bailey and Woznikoski all scored once and added an assist.
The series resumes with Game 5 set for Monday at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton. Faceoff is set for 7:05 PM.
