Chilliwack Chiefs – 3
Coquitlam Express – 2 (OT)
Brian Morse scored the overtime winning goal 2:10 into the extra period, his second goal in as many games, as the Chilliwack Chiefs beat the Coquitlam Express 2-1 to take a 2-0 series lead. The Express got on the board first when Mateo Dixon scored 6:56 into the middle frame, but the Chiefs stormed back with two goals of their own, by Mateo Mrsic and Tim Delay, to lead 2-1 at intermission. Tyler Kopff notched the game-tying goal in the final five minutes of regulation to force overtime before Morse’s heroics. Game 3 is Tuesday in Chilliwack.
Langley Rivermen – 5
Nanaimo Clippers – 1
Ajeet Gundarah made 33 saves, Dominick Rivelli had a goal and an assist and Walker Gelbard dished out three helpers as the Rivermen got back into their first round series against the Clippers with a 5-1 victory. Langley scored two in the first and another two in the second to build a 4-0 lead before Michael Craig got Nanaimo on the board, but Brett Ursulak sealed the game with an empty-netter late. The Rivermen head back to Langley for Game 3 on Monday night, looking to take another game off of the number-one seed in the Coastal Conference.
Powell River Kings – 5
Surrey Eagles – 3
Powell River jumped out to a 3-0 lead and never looked back as they outlasted Surrey 5-3 in Game 2. Adam Mendelson scored two first-period goals for the Kings to get the ball rolling, while netminder Kyle Metson made 38 saves for the win. The Eagles attempted a comeback late, scoring twice in the third period, but they could not get close enough. Zachary Wagnon had a trio of assists for Surrey in the loss.
Wenatchee Wild – 5
Cranbrook Bucks – 0
Andy Vlaha made 34 saves to earn his first career postseason shutout and Cade Littler scored twice, including the game-winner, as the Wild blanked the Bucks 5-0 in Game 2 of their first-round series to even things up at one. After Littler scored the lone first-period goal, Garrett Szydlowski added on in the second, before Wenatchee opened up the floodgates with three goals in the final frame. The teams will reconvene south of the border for Game 3 on Tuesday.
Vernon Vipers – 5
West Kelowna Warriors – 4
Vernon scored three straight goals in the first period and never trailed the rest of the way as they held on for a 5-4 win over West Kelowna to tie their series 1-1. Thomas Tien had two of the Vipers early goals, while Connor Welsh had the other, to make it 3-0. Brennan Nelson would get one back for West Kelowna before the end of the first, but Lee Parks reestablished the three-goal lead with his first of two in the game 7:08 into the second. The Warriors would get back to within one, but could not even things up. Christopher Duclair had a goal and two assists in the loss.
Penticton Vees – 8
Trail Smoke Eaters – 4
Penticton’s Bradly Nadeau and Trail’s Josh Schenk each had a hat trick and an assist, but it was the Vees supporting cast that was the difference in their 8-4 win in Game 2. Nadeau now has at least three goals in his last three playoff games going back to last year, putting up 10 over that stretch. His brother Josh also had a four-point night with a goal and three assists, while defencemen Ryan Hopkins and Mason Poolman each had a trio of helpers themselves. On the Smoke Eaters side, Brady Hunter had three assists in a losing effort. Trail will look to get back into the series at home in Game 3 on Tuesday.
Alberni Valley Bulldogs – 4
Victoria Grizzlies – 0
Hobie Hedquist stopped all 32 shots he faced for his second career BCHL postseason shutout as the Bulldogs topped the Grizzlies 4-0. On offence, Matt Kursonis and Brandon Buhr led the way with a goal and an assist each, while Emanuelson Charbonneau chipped in with a pair of assists from the back end. Victoria goalie Oliver Auyeung-Ashton was solid in the loss, stopping 34 of 36 shots, with two of the Bulldogs goals coming with an empty net.
Salmon Arm Silverbacks – 6
Prince George Spruce Kings – 3
CJ Foley, Mathieu Bourgault and Brandon Santa Juana had two points each and Matthew Tovell made 20 saves as Salmon Arm doubled up Prince George 6-3 to take a 2-0 series lead. The Spruce Kings led 2-1 after one after Linden Makow and Ty Gagno answered an early Silverbacks goal, but the Silverbacks powered ahead in the second period with four goals and never looked back. The Spruce Kings will hope the friendly confines of Kopar Memorial Arena will help them get back into the series starting with Game 3 on Tuesday.
