Cents Game Day – Merritt vs Cowichan – Oct 24/21

Date – Sunday October 24, 2021

Game Time – Puck drop 5:00 pm, Pregame show 4:45 pm

Location – Chilliwack Coliseum, Chilliwack BC

Broadcast – CKMQ-FM Q101 & BCHLTV

Cowichan Valley Capitals – 0-6-0

Merritt Centennials – 0-5-0

The BCHL Showcase concludes this evening with a matchup between winless teams. The 0-5 Centennials will face the 0-6 Capitals.

Last time out for the Cents, A hot start from the Cents wasn’t rewarded on the scoreboard in the first period as a pair of powerplays, including a 5-3 chance, went begging. The Cents controlled the play early in the contest outshooting the Chiefs 5-0 at one point.

The middle portion of the period was filled with penalties as four players received misconducts after a scrum broke out in the Chilliwack zone.

The period looked destined to end scoreless before Connor Milburn was left alone in the high slot and the Lake Superior State commit made no mistake high over the glove of Brayden Melynk. Melynk would stop 10/11 in the frame. Cole Savage stopped 9/9.

The second period would be a wild one with two different Centennials notching their first BCHL goals for the second game in a row.

First it would be Jacob Dewitt walking down the left wing side from the point, firing one glove side past Savage to make the game 1-1. Assists coming from Jerzy Orchard and Ben Ward.

Around the mid-point of the period, the newest Cent Ashton Taylor walked a similar path to Dewitt down the left wing before giving the fans some ‘top corner hockey’ to give Merritt a 2-1 lead.

The Chiefs would respond at the 17:24 mark following a wild goal mouth scramble Ethan Bowen poked one past Melynk.

Melynk stopped 28/30 through 40 minutes.

The third period would see Chilliwack break the tie, and explode from their scoring 5 times in the final frame to win 7-3. Goals coming from Mateo Mrsic, Ethan Bowen, Cam Johnson, Liam Tanner and Xavier Henry.

Merritt would get one back late on the powerplay when Jerzy Orchard bulged the twine for his third on the season.

Cowichan last played on Saturday dropping a 5-4 decision to the Cranbrook Bucks. Similar to the Cents game, the contest as tied entering the final 20 minutes, before Cranbrook secured the win. Adam Jeffery scored twice in the loss for the Caps.

Previous meetings;

The Cents and Caps haven’t faced each other for a long time due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pod season. They last played in December 2019 when the Caps would take two from Merritt by scores of 3-2 and 5-3.

Blue Paint Battle;

The Cents are still looking for a netminder to take control of the crease. Brayden Melynk allowed seven goals on Friday night to inflate his numbers to a .882 SV% and a 5.62 GAA. John Hicks has a .831 SV% and a 6.60 GAA in two games played.

The Capitals have been running with Evan May, as the 2004 goalie has appeared in all six games this season from CV. May posting .867 SV% and a 5.12 GAA with an 0-5 record. The backup is Ben Montgomery, he has a .838 SV% and a 6.70 GAA.

Special Teams Comparison;

Capitals – PP 13.6% (16/18) PK 78.1% (10/18)

Cents – PP 20.8% (8/18) PK 70.4% (15/18)