Night 3

In Merritt at the Nicola Valley Arena the Salmon Arm Silverbacks protected a one-goal lead for the final 51 minutes of the game in defeating the Centennials 2-1. Salmon Arm opened the scoring five minutes into the first period only to have Merritt equalize three minutes later. However the Silverbacks took the lead right back 36 seconds after that and held onto it the rest of the way. After three goals in the first and only 22 seconds combined on the power play in that period the teams combined for over 15 minutes on the man-advantage in the final two frames but either could score again. Kris Moore was again sharp for Salmon Arm making 42 saves in front of 950 Merritt fans.

In Penticton at the South Okanagan Events Centre the Vernon Vipers used two early goals to take the lead and held on for a 3-2 victory over the Vees. The Vipers scored goals 45 seconds part in the first eight minutes of the game in defensive battle which featured 48 shots combined and only two power plays a piece. The result was both Vernon's first win and Penticton's first loss.

In Trail at the Cominco Arena the Westside Warriors scored two goals halfway through the third period to defeat the Smoke Eaters 3-2. Early in the third frame Trail took a 2-1 lead but the Warriors responded with two markers in two and a half minutes to go ahead for good. Granted only two power plays Westside had to kill of six and Cam Gorchynski was solid making 36 saves. The result was both the Warriors first win and the Smoke Eaters first loss.

In Quesnel at the Twin Arenas the Millionaires stayed undefeated with a 3-1 victory over the Coquitlam Express. Quesnel got two goals from Clayton Chessa and 35 saves from Kirby Halcrow for their second win of the season.

In Prince George at the Coliseum in a penalty filled affair the Langley Chiefs defeated the Spruce Kings 6-3. Langley scored all six of their goals on special teams, finishing four-for-nine on the power play and adding two shorties. Prince George meanwhile scored two man-advantage goals in the first period to take an early lead but for a second straight game squandered a multi-goal advantage after the Chiefs potted all six markers in the final two periods.

In Powell River at Hap Parker Arena the Kings would not go away and defeated the Victoria Grizzlies 4-3 in double-overtime. The Grizzlies held three different leads in the game but on three separate occasions the Kings tied the contest, eventually forcing overtime where they took the only lead they needed. Handed the final seven penalties of the game, including two in overtime, Powell River finished eight-for-nine on the penalty kill.

In Nanaimo at the Frank Crane Arena the Surrey Eagles exploded on the power play to defeat the Clippers 8-2. Finishing seven-for-11 with the man-advantage the Eagles took a commanding 8-0 lead before allowing a pair of third period power-play goals of their own. Offensively Richard Vanderhoek, Jeff Vanderlugt, and Bradley McGowen finished with six, five, and four points respectively.

In Port Alberni at the Weyerhaeuser Arena the Bulldogs scored a late shorthanded goal to defeat the Cowichan Valley Capitals 5-4. Scoring shorthanded with four and a half minutes left the Bulldogs recorded their first win of the season. Along with the shorty the Bulldogs also had three power play goals while surrendering two of them. After trailing 3-1 a late second period rally got Alberni Valley back in the game thanks to eight points from Trent Dorais and the Mitchell brothers (Josh & Sam).