Cents Game Day – Merritt vs Trail – Jan 28/22

Date – Friday, January 28, 2022

Game Time – Puck drop 7:00 pm

Location – Nicola Valley Memorial Arena, Merritt B.C.

Broadcast – Q101 & BCHLTV

Trail Smoke Eaters – 15-14-1-1

Merritt Centennials – 2-28-1-1

The Merritt Centennials will conclude their January schedule tonight at home versus the Trail Smoke Eaters for a Curtis Toneff revenge game. Toneff played for the Smokies in 2013-14, potting four goals in 24 games. He also served as an assistant coach for Trail for two seasons.

In the first month under Toneff the Cents has gone 1-8-0-1, but made steady improvements along the way, while also getting younger at the deadline.

It was a quick start from the Centennials on Wednesday night as the first shot of the game found the back of the net courtesy of Ben Ward just 44 seconds in. Assists on the play to Jackson Krill and Davide Patella.

Salmon Arm would strike back with Isaac Lambert coming off the bench and beating John Hicks. The ‘Backs would strike again later in the period with a delayed penalty against Merritt, Salmon Arm would work the 6-on-5 to perfection as Will Lavigne fired through a crowd to beat in Hicks.

The Cents would level the score late, with captain Patella working a jam play and scoring from an absurd angle. 2-2 after two.

Hicks stopped 18/20 in the opening frame.

The daunting Salmon Arm powerplay would strike in the second period with the Backs captain Daniel Panetta scoring top corner to make 3-2.

The Cents would again equalize on a casual shot from the slot from Krill that somehow, someway found a way past Vanderkooi to even the score 3-3.

The Backs powerplay would strike again less than two minutes later with Noah Serdachny bulging the twine to restore the one goal lead, 4-3.

Hicks remained busy in the second stopping 34/37 through 40 minutes.

The third period was all Salmon Arm, with the Silverbacks scoring three more times to walk away with a 7-3 win.

Hicks would stop 50 in the losing effort.

The Smokies enter play tonight following a three game set with Prince George last weekend, in which Trail won twice. The last four games for the Smoke Eaters have all been decided by a single goal. The team is led by Brady Hunter with 37 points (14G, 23A).

Previous meetings;

The Cents and Smoke Eaters have faced each other twice this year, with Trail earning two points in each outing. The first game in Trail on November 10^th, in that contest Merritt played strong but couldn’t find a late equalizer falling 2-1. In December the two sides matched up in Merritt with Trail running away 9-2.

Blue Paint Battle;

John Hicks is working to cement himself as Merritt’s number one goalie, coming off two straight 50-plus save performances on Tuesday and Wednesday. Hicks is now 0-6-1 with a .885 SV% and a 5.27 GAA, all while facing the most rubber in the BCHL.

Jackson Baker has been pulled in his last three starts for Merritt. Baker is 0-4 with a .770 SV% and a 11.66 GAA.

Evan Fradette has been the leader between the pipes for Trail, appearing in 26 contests, posting a 13-11-2 record with a .909 SV% and 3.40 GAA.

Cole Tisdale has entered the fray recently, playing twice last weekend versus Prince George. Tisdale is 1-1-0 with a .904 SV% and 2.52 GAA.

Special Teams Comparison;

Smokies – PP 25.6% (6/18) PK 80.3% (9/18)

Cents – PP 10.9% (18/18) PK 65.6% (18/18)