The Westside Warriors squandered a two goal lead late in the third period then gave up a controversial power-play goal in overtime as they fell 5-4 to the visiting Salmon Arm Silverbacks before nearly 900 fans at Royal LePage Place Saturday.
Trailing 4-2 midway through the third, Morgan Zulinick picked Michael King's pocket and scored a shorthanded goal to cut the deficit to one.
Four minutes later Mak Barden snagged a loose puck which Ben Betker had trouble controlling and beat Connor Wilkinson to even the count at 4-4 and force overtime.
Seconds before regulation time ended Warriors forward Connor Dempsey appeared to be interfered with as he attempted to create a two-on-one break. The call wasn't made and a frustrated Dempsey took a slashing penalty which was being served when Brock Balson scored his second of the night on a four-on-three power-play 1:27 into the first overtime.
"My frustration got the best of me in that situation. I did think it was interference," says Dempsey of the non call.
"I kind of retaliated a little bit. That one's on me. You have to stay out of the box in the last 10 seconds of the game."
Dempsey's line with Richard Vanderhoek and Tyler Krause provided the offensive spark for the Warriors contributing three of the teams four goals.
"I love playing with them, they know where to go, they can move the puck and definitely finish when they have the chances. We could have had a couple of more goals but we're working towards it.
Dempsey had two goals and an assist while Vanderhoek chipped in with a pair of assists and Krause one helper.
Brayden Sherbinin had a goal and two helpers while Max French also scored for the Warriors.
French's marker, a shorthanded effort with 31 seconds left in the second snapped a 2-2 tie.
It came just seconds after Wilkinson stopped Silverbacks sniper Bryce Gervais on a penalty shot.
Gervais attempted to go high glove side but Wilkinson was able to get a glove on the shot denying Gervais his fifth of the season.
Minutes earlier Wilkinson stopped Gervais on a shorthanded breakaway to keep the game knotted at 2-2.
The teams were tied 1-1 after one before Westside grabbed a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes.
Dempsey's second of the night stretched the lead to 4-2 before the Silverbacks mounted their comeback.
Wilkinson, a regular with the Junior B Kelowna Chiefs, looked cool and calm in making his first start in the BCHL in an emergency role replacing starter Steven Racine who suffered a concussion in practice earlier in the week.
"I thought he played well. Michael King gives one away being nonchalant and then Ben Betker has trouble with one and we really hang him out to dry," says Ferster.
"We can't afford to have those things when we're up 4-2. And if you can't close a team out when you're up 4-2 you don't deserve to win a hockey game and we didn't deserve to win tonight."
Racine is expected to be ready to go next Friday when the Warriors host Coquitlam in game five of their six game home stand.
The Warriors (5-4-0-1) are now winless in three and have just one win in their last five after starting the season 3-0.
They'll host Coquitlam and Prince George next Friday and Saturday before a brief two game trip to Powell River and Cowichan.
