The Trail Smoke Eaters' top line of Scott Jacklin, Sam Mellor and Travis St. Denis had already established itself as the Interior Conference's top offensive unit, and the trio showed why on Saturday night in combining for 12 points in a 5-2 victory over the Penticton Vees.
After a scoreless first period, Jacklin broke the ice with his 18th goal of the season at the 10:15 mark of the second. And he struck again four minutes into the third to give the Smokies a two-goal advantage before assisting on Sam Mellor's eventual game winner moments later. Joey Benik and Joey Laleggia each struck in a stretch of furious action that also included a pair of goals from St. Denis before Ryan Aynsley capped the scoring on a late power play.
Jacklin and St. Denis each ended the night with two goals and two helpers while Mellor scored once and assisted on three other goals. Kiefer Smiley was solid in the win, turning aside 25 shots.
In other BCHL action on Saturday, the Powell River Kings made a statement in their showdown with Coastal co-leader Langley, handing the Chiefs a 6-1 defeat on the Sunshine Coast. Cohen Adair and Justin Dasilva scored in the opening period, while Matt Garbowsky and Chris Williams bookended a Josh Myers effort to put the Kings comfortably in control by the end of the second. Dasilva finished the game with two goals and an assist and was named the game's first star.
In Quesnel, Spencer Graboski broke a deadlock that has last since the first period when he scored 1:00 into double overtime to send Millionaires fans home happy with a 2-1 victory. Michael Spring and Regan Soquila had traded goals in the opening 20 minutes, but netminders Kirby Halcrow and Tyler Steel took over the game from there. Halcrow stopped 35 shots in the win.
In Surrey, Kyle Singleton and Quinn Gould each scored twice as the visiting Westside Warriors topped the Eagles by a 5-3 score. Back-to-back power-play goals in the first period gave the visitors an advantage, but Surrey rallied to tie the game in the second. It was Gould who would eventually break the deadlock midway through the final frame, while Singleton scored into an empty net to seal the win.
In Alberni Valley, Casey Bailey struck for a hat trick as the Bulldogs netted an 8-4 victory over the Cowichan Valley Capitals. Bailey opened the scoring to jumpstart a four-goal first period for the Dawgs and then added a pair in the second. Stephen Saretzky scored Cowichan's first two goals — and his first in the BCHL — in a losing effort, beating winning netminder Kiefer Giroux on two of the Capitals' 28 shots.
In Vernon, the Victoria Grizzlies capped off their four-game Interior Conference road trip on a high note with a 3-2 overtime triumph over the Vipers. Malcolm Lyles gave the hosts an early lead, but the Grizzlies replied with two goals from Joel Lowry and Madison Dias before intermission. The teams battled through a scoreless second before Michael Zalewski forced overtime at the 11:25 mark of the third. Matt Ginn stopped 40 shots and was named the game's first star in the win.
