First 10 minutes sink Cents vs Vees

The Merritt Centennials had a poor start Wednesday night versus Penticton.

Before Merritt was able to level a single shot on goal, the score was 2-0 Vees. The first came on the powerplay just 3:06 in with Ethan Mann firing home the rebound from the slot. Just 32 seconds later Spencer Smith would go in all alone off a Cents turnover and beat John Hicks in tight for his 8^th of the season.

Finally Merritt would wake up after the media timeout with a beautiful stretch pass from Chase Cooke to Ben Ward who beat Carter Serhyenko on the backhand. Cents turn it around in the final stages of the period go head to the room down 2-1.

Hicks would turn aside 21 shots in the opening frame.

The middle stanza would see wide-open end to end action with both teams bulging the twine.

Ben Ward would continue his ‘Jordan Flu Game’ as the under the weather forward netted his second of the game on the powerplay, assists to Tristan Allen and Jacksenn Hungle.

The Vees would respond with the Russian Import Aydar Suniev would restore the one goal game 3-2.

Hicks continued to play well stopping 41/44 after 40 minutes.

Penticton would add a fourth on the powerplay early in the third with Ryan Hopkins scoring from the point with a seeing eye shot.

The late stages of the frame would see both teams taking multiple penalties as the comeback effort falls short, final 4-2 Vees.

Cents are back in action on Friday night at the NVMA versus Vernon.