No one thought they'd actually run the table, but the perfect start to the Vernon Vipers' season was brought to an end Friday night in Chilliwack as the Chiefs claimed a 4-1 win.
The game was scoreless through 40 minutes with the Chiefs holding a 23-18 edge in shots on goal. Vernon's Darren Nowick actually opened the scoring early in the third but Kit Sitterley replied soon after for Chilliwack.
A power play goal by 1st Star Tyler Miller proved the winner with singles tacked on by two players with former NHLers for dads, David Bondra and Jaret Babych.
In Surrey, the Eagles turned a one-goal deficit after two periods into a 5-3 win over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs with a three goal third. The teams traded goals in the first and in the second, Ryan Lough and Mike Puddifant scored for the 'Dogs while Steve Koshey tallied for Surrey. In the final frame, the Morley brothers took over with Tyler scoring the tying goal, Brandon the winner and Tyler again for insurance into an empty net.
Despite being badly outshot, the Coquitlam Express got two goals in the third to salvage a 4-4 tie with the visiting Powell River Kings. The teams traded a pair of goals each in the first and the Kings went up 4-2 in the second on goals by Evan Richardson and Brandon Tidy. The Kings poured 22 shots on 2nd Star Khaleed Devji in the third for a game total of 49 but it was 1st Star Alex Petan and Alexander Kerfoot scoring for the Express to tie it.
In Merritt, the Centennials earned a 4-2 win over the Salmon Arm SilverBacks. The Cents' Richard Sabourin scored the only goal of the first and got others from Billy Marshal and Brent Fletcher int the second. Bryce Gervais and newly acquired Braden Pears scored in the second for the 'Backs but a penalty shot goal by Evan Stack in the third iced it.
Marcus Beesley recorded a shutout on 26 saves for the Prince George Spruce Kings in an 8-0 defeat of the Trail Smoke Eaters. Jujhar Khaira led tghe way offensively with two goals and two assists but it was Michael Colantone's goal early in the first that woudl stand up. Paul De Jersey's goal and assists put him atop the league scoring charts with 12 goals and seven assists in eight games now.
The Victoria Grizzlies won their third-straight game 5-1 over the host Langley Rivermen. Taylor Pernerowsko opened the scoring on a Victoria power play in the first and 1st Star Jarryd Ten Vaanholt scored the eventual winner, also on the PP early in the second. Darnell Dyck got Langley back within one but the Grizz pulled away with goals from Nolan DeJong, Mike Moran and Ten Vaanholt.
A four-goal first period by the Penticton Vees in Westside led the visitors to an 8-3 win over the Warriors. Travis St. Denis and Connor Reilly scored a pair each in the first with 1st Star Mario Lucia collecting his first of four helpters. Shawn Hochhausen got the Tribe on the board early in the second but the damage was done. Garrett Hendrickson replied for Penticton soon after and Cody DePourcq, Lucia and Mike Reilly did the rest of the Vees scoring.
