Photo credit: Garrett James Photography
Nanaimo Clippers – 5
Chilliwack Chiefs – 4 (OT)
Jérémie Payant scored the biggest goal of the Clippers season with just over five to play in overtime, giving Nanaimo the 5-4 victory and extending their season until at least Game 5 on Friday. This game had five lead changes and was highly entertaining right from the start. Nanaimo opened the scoring with a Kai Daniells goal 4:45 into the game, but the Chiefs replied with goals by Michael La Starza and Nico Grabas 33 seconds apart to take the lead at intermission. The Clippers battled back in the middle frame, retaking the lead on goals by Jake Hewitt and Brody Waters, but Chilliwack answered back yet again, this time on a Dylan Kinch goal early in the third. Hewitt buried his second of the game later in the period before AJ Lacroix tied it in the final minute to force overtime, setting the stage for Payant’s winner.
Alberni Valley Bulldogs – 3
Surrey Eagles – 2 (OT)
Matt Kursonis had a goal and an assist, including the overtime winner less than two minutes into the extra frame, as the Alberni Valley Bulldogs took Game 4 3-2 over the Surrey Eagles to even up their second round series. After a scoreless opening frame, Dakota MacIntosh got the Bulldogs on the board first midway through the second, but Surrey’s Jake Bongo tied things up less than a minute later. The deadlock did not last long as just over a minute after that, Brandon Buhr potted his fourth of the postseason to give Alberni a 2-1 lead at the break. Eagles affiliate player Massimo Fazio scored his first BCHL goal early in the third period to make it 2-2 and eventually force overtime where Kursonis deflected a point shot home 1:55 in. Game 5 is on Friday night back at South Surrey Arena.
Penticton Vees – 5
Wenatchee Wild -1
Bradly Nadeau scored 21 seconds into the game to set the tone for the Penticton Vees who would go on to score four straight and eventually beat the Wenatchee Wild 5-1 to complete the second round sweep and advance to the Interior Conference Finals. Josh Nadeau had two goals in this one, while Hiroki Gojsic and Brett Moravec had the other two for the Vees. Mario Gasparini scored the lone marker for Wenatchee. Penticton goalie Luca Di Pasquo stopped 28 of 29 shots to earn first star and see his save percentage climb to a playoff best .939 and his goals-against average drop to 1.50, also tops in the league. The Vees will wait for the winner of the Salmon Arm and Vernon series to see who they play in Round 3.
Salmon Arm Silverbacks – 7
Vernon Vipers – 3
The Salmon Arm Silverbacks had seven different goal scorers and goaltender Matthew Tovell made 27 saves as they beat the Vernon Viperes 7-3 in Game 4 to take a 3-1 series advantage. For the fourth game in a row, the Silverbacks jumped out to a lead, this time a three-goal advantage after first period goals by Tristan Allen, Brandon Santa Juana and Isaac Lambert. Once again, Vernon showed their resiliency and battled back, cutting the lead to 3-2 in the second after Julian Facchinelli and Isaac Tremblay got them on the scoresheet. The teams exchanged a goal each before the end of the frame to make it 4-3 at intermission. In the third, Salmon Arm blew the game open, scoring three straight goals to make it a 7-3 final. The Vipers will try to keep their season alive on Friday night in Game 5 back at the Shaw Centre in Salmon Arm.
