Photo credit: Garrett James Photography
West Kelowna Warriors – 6
Vernon Vipers – 2
Christophe Farmer and Brennan Nelson scored two goals each and Johnny Derrick stopped 29 of 31 shots to lead the West Kelowna Warriors to a 6-2 victory over the Vernon Vipers in Game 4 of their first-round series and take a commanding 3-1 series lead back home for Game 5.
Nelson opened the scoring with just under eight minutes to go in the first period, but the Vipers responded with a Jack Glen goal with 19 seconds left to make it 1-1 at intermission. Farmer got his first of the game early in the second and Felix Trudeau padded the West Kelowna lead shortly after with his first of the postseason. Matthew Culling brought Vernon back to within one with a power-play goal near the midway mark of the second, but Farmer buried his second of the period shortly after to make it 4-2 after two. Nelson and Tyler Cristall piled on with goals in the third to make it a 6-2 final.
Special teams played a big part in this one with West Kelowna going two-for-four and the Vipers scoring once on their four opportunities.
The Warriors have a chance to clinch the series in Game 5, which goes Friday in West Kelowna.
Alberni Valley Bulldogs – 7
Cowichan Valley Capitals – 2
The Alberni Valley Bulldogs became the second team to advance to the second round and the second to sweep their first-round series after a 7-2 win against the Cowichan Valley Capitals in Game 4. Team captain Stephen Castagna led the charge offensively with two goals and Hobie Hedquist was solid in net again, making 20 saves on 22 shots for the win. Shane LaVelle and Mason Croucher scored for Cowichan in the loss. Alberni, the top seed in the Coastal Conference, will play either Coquitlam, Langley or Victoria in the second round.
Wenatchee Wild – 5
Salmon Arm Silverbacks – 1
Andy Vlaha stopped 37 of the 38 shots he faced in his second straight start in the series and the Wenatchee Wild got big offensive performances from several key players in a 5-1 defeat of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks that tied their first-round series 2-2. Quinn Emerson and Cade Stibbe each scored two goals, Ean Somoza had a four-point night and Cade Littler piled up three assists in the win. BCHL MVP finalist Simon Tassy had Salmon Arm’s lone goal of the game. Game 5 is Friday back in Salmon Arm.
Langley Rivermen – 4
Victoria Grizzlies – 1
A night after a thrilling overtime win, the Langley Rivermen picked up where they left off and beat the Victoria Grizzlies 4-1 in Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead. Max Bulawka, Tyler Schleppe, Andrej Kovacevic and Max Dukovac had the goals for Langley and goaltender Ajeet Gundarah made 31 saves in the win. Noah Leibl scored the only goal for the Grizzlies and Cole Schwebius made 30 saves in a losing effort. The Rivermen have a chance to clinch the series at home in Game 5 on Friday night.
