The Merritt Centennials made a valiant come back effort in the 3rd period, but it wasn’t enough as the Chiefs were able to hang on in a 3-2 game.
The first period saw the Cents have a decent output on net, but the Chiefs were the only ones who found the back of it. Luca Grabas scored his first in the BCHL after cashing in on a broken play in front. The puck deflected off a defender and right on to his stick and he quickly released upstairs to make it 1-0. The Cents fired 9 shots on net in the first but Dias stood tall the rest of the way stopping 13/14.
The middle frame saw the Chiefs add to their lead on the powerplay as Tanner Andrew was able to capitalize on a 5 on 3. Dias got caught looking over the wrong shoulder of the screen in front, and the puck came over the blocker side and in. Captain Kyle Penney of the Chiefs was able to make it 3-0 midway through the frame. The Cents started to turn it on towards the end of the period and drew a penalty to start the 3rd a man up. Shots after 2 were 23-21.
Early on in the third Walker Erickson got smoked with a knee on knee hit, and the Chiefs were levelled a 5 minute major. Faced with another 5 on 3 in the pod season, the Cents were finally able to cash in as Jerzy Orchard fired a shot from the point top corner. Josh Olson got the Cents within one when he streaked down the right wing and fired a shot short side high and beat Gullmes to make it a 3-2 game. The Cents pressed for more offense towards the end of the game, but couldn’t find it and ended up falling by the 3-2 score.
After the game Head Coach Derek Sweet Coulter said that he was proud of how the team buckled down late given the situation.
“We are playing our 4th game in 5 nights and the guys didn’t go quietly. We came out and tried to win the game in the third and that takes guts and shows our character. I’m proud of the way our guys were playing – it was Centennials hockey.”
The Centennials will get a chance to rest and recoup before hitting the ice against the Chiefs again on Wednesday.
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