Cents Game Day – Merritt at Penticton – Nov 26/21

Date – Friday, November 26, 2021

Game Time – Puck drop 7:00 pm

Location – South Okanagan Events Centre, Penticton BC

Broadcast – BCHLTV ONLY (Q101 will not be broadcasting the game)

Penticton Vees – 12-2-0-0

Merritt Centennials – 0-12-1-0

The Merritt Centennials, like most in the community they call home have been displaced for the past two weeks following devastating flooding in the City. When Merritt evacuated the Cents players were spread across the province from Victoria to Osoyoos, but the majority went to Kamloops. Head Coach Dave Chyzowski has been boarding close to a third of the roster at his house and the Cents have been practicing at the Sandman Centre, home of the Kamloops Blazers.

The Cents have had three home games postponed over the past two weeks, as the team was supposed to be in the middle of a season-long seven game homestand. Instead of a pair of home contests this weekend, the team is back on the road to play Penticton for the first time this season.

The Cents were last in game action on November 12^th, in a heartbreaking 7-6 OT loss to the Coquitlam Express. In that game, the Cents allowed three shorthanded goals and couldn’t hang on to multiple leads before losing in overtime.

The Penticton Vees enter play after bearing the West Kelowna Warriors 6-3 on Tuesday night.

Previous meetings;

The Cents and Vees have had a one-sided rivalry over the past several season, with Penticton holding a 17-1 record over the past five seasons. The only win for Merritt coming in February 2019.

The last meeting was January 24, 2020, when the Vees won 6-2 at home. In that contest Payton Matsui scored a pair for Merritt in the loss.

Blue Paint Battle;

The Cents goaltenders will be well rested after two weeks off, and John Hicks will hopefully be fully recovered from a early season injury.

Keegan Maddocks has now appeared in seven games for Merritt, posting a 0-6-1 record with a .830 SV%, and a 6.62 GAA. Hicks is 0-3 with a .858 SV% and a 5.21 GAA.

In Penticton, Kaeden Lane has been leading the time share in the crease, posting a 8-1 record with a .898 SV% and a 2.27 GAA. Colin Purcell is 4-1 with a .902 SV% and a 2.24 GAA.

Special Teams Comparison;

Vees – PP 27.5% (5/18) PK 84.5% (4/18)

Cents – PP 11.9% (18/18) PK 70.0% (15/18)