The Quesnel Millionaires served up notice over the weekend they intend to make some noise in the B.C. Hockey League playoffs.
The Mills beat the Salmon Arm Silverbacks 4-1 Saturday in Salmon Arm to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Interior Conference series. Darick Ste-Marie scored two goals for Quesnel, including a shorthanded marker in the second period, while Justin Hogan and Trevor Hertz also connected. Mark Zengele, who finished atop the scoring race with 120 points, tied with Beau Bennett of Penticton, was the lone Silverbacks scorer.
Quesnel took Game 1 of the series Friday 4-3 in overtime. Sam Higgins collected the OT winner, 1:54 into the first overtime period. The Mills, who missed the playoffs the previous six seasons, host the next two games tonight and Tuesday.
In other Interior Conference playoff action Saturday, the Westside Warriors knocked off the Trail Smoke Eaters 4-2 to tie their series 1-1. Grayson Downing notched a hat trick, scoring his third, the gamewinner, in the third period. Trail took Game 1, 6-3 at Westside.
The Penticton Vees beat the Merritt Centennials 3-1, after opening the series in Penticton Friday with a 4-2 victory.
In the Interior Conference, the sixth-seeded Nanaimo Clippers jumped to 2-0 in their series against the third-ranked Victoria Grizzlies, winning 4-3 Saturday in overtime. Lu Oliver Blaine ended it, 5:59 into overtime.
The Powell River Kings defeated the Cowichan Valley Capitals 3-1 Saturday, while the Langley Chiefs scored a 4-3 overtime win over the Surrey Eagles. The Kings and Chiefs each lead their series 2-0.
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