The Vernon Vipers are the first team to move on to the second round of the BCHL playoffs after a 6-5 win over the Merritt Centennials that completes a four-game sweep.
The outcome was still in question late into the third when Riley Brandt got the winning goal for the Snakes. Sam Johnson had a reply with two seconds to go to make it a one-goal game. Vernon led 2-0 by 5:56 into the game on goals by Mackenzie Bauer and Blaine Caton but Merritt chipped away and actually tied the game 3-3 midway through the third on a Diego Cuglietta goal.
TJ Dumonceaux put the Vipers up one heading to the third but again Merritt had a response on a Gavin Gould tally. Brandt's marker was the decisive goal just 1:37 later. Vernon will play the winner of the Penticton-West Kelowna series in the Interior Division finals.
In Alberni Valley, the Bulldogs stayed alive with a 5-4 overtime win. Chris Schutz scored twice in 11 seconds late in the third to force OT and Eric Margo won it with 13 seconds left in the first extra frame. Nanaimo led 3-2 after two and Sheldon Rempal put them up a pair in the third before Schutz rallied the 'Dogs. Guillaume Decelles made 47 saves for the Clippers while Billy Christopoulos got the win with 43 saves. Nanaimo leads the series 3-1.
In West Kelowna, the Penticton Vees got third-period goals from Connor Chartier and Dakota Conroy to come back and defeat the Warriors 3-2. Gabe Bast opened the scoring in the first but Kristian Blumenschein and Liam Blackburn scored for West Kelowna in the second to put them ahead. Penticton poured 15 of their 39 shots on goal in the third, managing to get two past Stephen Heslop. Penticton leads the series 3-1.
In Powell River, six different Victoria Grizzlies scored in a 6-1 victory over the Kings. Cole Pickup opened the scoring for the visitors and Nick Halagian tied it on the power play. In the second, Ayden McDonald's goal was the winner followed by tallies from Brett Gruber, Garrett Forster and Jay Mackie. Shawn McBride had the final tally late in the third. The series is tied 2-2.
In Prince George, the Langley Rivermen held the Spruce Kings to just 16 shots and took Game 4 by a 4-1 score. Hunter Anderson scored shorthanded to open the scoring for Langley but Jake LeBrun tied it late in the first period. There was no more scoring until the third when Anderson got the winner followed by Brayden Barker and William Campion, all within 2:51. The series is tied 2-2.
In Coquitlam, Tipper Higgins and Craig Puffer scored twice each for the Chilliwack Chiefs in a 7-2 win over the Express. Jordan Kawaguchi and Puffer scored in the first with Higgins and Puffer making it 4-0 in the second before Jackson Cressey and Brett Supinski got the Express goals. Bennett Morrison, Kurt Black and Higgins rounded out the Chiefs scoring. Chilliwack leads the series 3-1.
