The Alberni Valley Bulldogs received a goal from blueliner Marley Keca in his first game with the club en route to a 3-1 victory over the visiting Powell River Kings on Thursday night at the Weyerhaueuser Arena.
Sawyer Mick opened the scoring for the hosts, converting a Josh Mitchell feed past Michael Garteig just four minutes into regulation. And Mitchell continued to dish the puck in the second, setting up Connor Varley for his first of the season at the 3:44 mark of the frame. 20 seconds later Keca extended the lead to three.
Andrew Pettitt scored midway through the third period to pull the Kings within a pair, but that was the only time that the visitors would beat Frank Slubowski. The Alberni Valley netminder turned aside 33 shots in a first star performance.
Meanwhile, in Penticton, Billy Faust made 28 saves and posted his first BCHL shutout as the Vees blanked Merritt by a 3-0 score.
Stefan Nicolishen opened the scoring at the 13:30 mark of the second, and Bradley Robbins followed suit less than four minutes later to extend the Penticton lead. Garrett Milan wrapped up the scoring late in the third, scoring into an empty net.
Faust's performance brought his goals-against average to a league-low 1.10, while his .960 save percentage also leads the BCHL. Tyler Steel took the loss for the Cents, turning aside 31 shots on the night.
