The Quesnel Millionaires scored a trio of first period goals and never trailed en route to a 4-2 decision over their Northern rivals from Prince George on Saturday night at the Quesnel Twin Arenas.
Spencer Graboski scored just 31 seconds into regulation for the Mills, who extended the lead to two on a Justin Hogan effort minutes later. RJay Berra brought the Spruce Kings within one later in the period, but Clayton Chessa's goal just seven seconds before intermission restored Quesnel's two-goal lead.
The team's traded power-play goals in the second, as Faiz Khan brought Prince George within one before Daryl DeVries netted an insurance marker on another last-minute strike. Both teams were scoreless through the third.
Hirby Halcrow made 22 saves for the win, while Justin Hogan netted first star honours following a two-point night. Alex Wright made 32 saves for the Spruce Kings in his first start since returning to the team mid-week.
In other action, Brandon Pfeil scored a pair of goals — including the overtime winner — to lift the Merritt Centennials to a 4-3 victory on home ice over the Coquitlam Express. The Cents took a three-goal lead after 20 minutes, but strikes 10 seconds apart from Garrick Perry and Massimo Lamacchia in the second period brought the Express within one before Alex Petan evened the game late in the third. Lino Chimienti faced 31 shots in his first win for Merritt.
In Vernon, Trail's Travis St. Denis scored 31 seconds into regulation but it was the only offence the Smoke Eaters would receive in a 3-1 loss to the Vipers. David Robinson and Max Mowat each scored to give the home side the lead after one period, and Malcolm Lyles put the game away midway through the third. Blake Voth turned aside 18 shots to record the win, while Matt Larose took the loss for Trail.
In Powell River, Chad Niddery scored twice and added an assist to lead the Kings to a 3-1 victory over Westside. Niddery's two goals each came late in periods, as he opened the scoring with 30 seconds left in the first and doubled the lead with just eight seconds remaining in the second frame. Grayson Downing brought the Warriors within a goal early in the third on a shorthanded effort, but Justin Dasilva put the game away with a power-play marker with 4:39 left on the clock.
In Alberni Valley, Frank Slubowski stood tall with 39 saves on 40 shots as the Bulldogs netted a 3-1 win against Salmon Arm. Tyler Berkholtz's first period tally stood up as the game's only goal until the 13:41 mark of the third when the SilverBacks' Brett Knowles tied the score. But a quick reply from Josh Mitchell and an empty netter from Connor Varley captured the two points for the Bulldogs. Kurt Williams was steady in defeat, stopping 33 shots on the night.
In Cowichan Valley, the Langley Chiefs scored five times in the opening period and ultimately cruised to a 5-1 triumph over the Capitals. Mike Tebbutt's marker in the opening minute was followed by scores from Matt Ius, Trevor Gerling, Josh Myers and Brad McBride, who was one of a pair of Chiefs to finish the game with two points. Jordan Grant put the Caps on the board on a second period power-play, but it was all the offence the hosts could generate on the night. Langley's Cole Huggins was the game's first star with a 39-save performance.
