A summary of youth hockey outcomes from the Okanagan and surrounding area.
In the first round of WHL playoff games, the Kelowna Rockets leveled the series versus the Wenatchee Wild on Saturday night.
In the first game, the Rockets lost a 5-2 lead, but this time, they stuck to their game plan and found a way to win.
Just 1:10 into the first period, Rockets forward Andrew Cristall redirected the puck past Wild goalie Daniel Hauser to give Kelowna an early 1-0 lead. The visitors would increase their lead to 2-0 thanks to another deflection by Trae Johnson, who would later be named the game’s top player.
The Wild scored their only goal in the second period when Briley Wood made a nice play from behind the net, setting up Sam Ward, who was positioned in the left faceoff circle, with a one-time pass. The goal reduced the Rockets' lead by half.
But the Rockets secured the game by putting together a strong effort in the third period, ultimately sealing the game with 2:30 left to play, as Luke Schelter scored into the empty net.
The Rockets were outshot by the Wild 27-22. Kelowna went 0-for-5 on the power play, while Wenatchee went 0-for-1.
The series now returns to Kelowna. Game 3 starts on April 2, and Game 4 will be played the next night.
Saturday’s results
- Everett 2, Vancouver 1 (Series tied 1-1)
- Swift Current 4, Lethbridge 3 (Swift Curent leads series 2-0)
- Medicine Hat 3, Red Deer 1 (Series tied 1-1)
- Moose Jaw 5, Brandon 4 (Moose Jaw leads series 2-0)
- Portland 5, Victoria 1 (Portland leads series 2-0)
- Prince George 7, Spokane 4 (Prince George leads series 2-0)
Sunday’s games
- No games scheduled
VERNON 6, POWELL RIVER 2
It was anyone’s game heading into the third period between the Vernon Vipers and Powell River Kings Saturday night, but it was the Vipers who turned on the jets, propelling themselves to a huge home-ice victory.
Neither team found the back of the net in the first period, and after two periods of play, the score was tied at one-a-piece. Both teams played a strong defensive game in the first 40 minutes of regulation, and it looked like it was going to be a close battle right to the very end. The hometown Vipers, however, had other plans.
Just 25 seconds into the final frame, Vipers’ forward Nick Mikan scored a power play goal to give his team a 2-1 edge. After Mikan’s goal, goals would come rapidly for Vernon in the final 20 minutes. Etienne Lessard, Luke Bibby, Bronson Ross, would score. Mikan also scored another power play goal, and the Vipers skated off Kal Tire Place ice in front of 2,547 fans with a 6-2 win.
The Kings outshot the Vipers 35-25. Vernon went 2-for-6 on the power play, while Powell River went 0-for-1.
That concludes the regular-season schedule for Vernon. They’ll now shift their focus to their round one opponent in the BCHL Playoffs, the Trail Smoke Eaters. Game 1 starts in Vernon on April 5.
At Salmon Arm, the Trail Smoke Eaters obtained a victory with two goals in the final minutes of the match.
The Smoke Eaters took a 1-0 lead when Cash Carter scored at 4:29 in the first period, but Cole Cooksey's power play goal and Adam Boatter's even-strength goal gave the Silverbacks a 2-1 lead going into the second period.
The only goal in the second period came at 21 seconds in, when Trail's Adam Parsons scored his 13th goal of the season.th Then, with just under three minutes remaining, Mathieu Cobetto-Roy broke the tie and Josh Schenk scored an empty-net goal, leading the Smoke Eaters to a 4-2 victory.
The final shots on goal were 37-37. The Silverbacks scored 1 goal out of 3 power plays, while the Smoke Eaters scored 0 goals out of 2 power plays.
Trail will face Vernon in the first round of the BCHL Playoffs, while the Silverbacks will take on the Merritt Centennials.
Saturday's results
- Spruce Grove 3, Blackfalds 2 (SO)
- Surrey 6, Cowichan Valley 1
- Alberni Valley 3, Langley 2 (OT)
- Victoria 5, Coquitlam 4
- Chilliwack 3, Nanaimo 2
- Merritt 4, Prince George 1
Sunday's games
- Chilliwack at Nanaimo
- Prince George at Merritt
*End of regular season*
