Cents Game Day – Merritt at Salmon Arm – March 5/22

Date – Saturday, March 5, 2022

Game Time – Puck drop 6:00 pm

Location – Shaw Centre, Salmon Arm B.C.

Broadcast – Q101 & BCHLTV

Salmon Arm Silverbacks – 33-8-4-1

Merritt Centennials – 3-38-2-1

The Merritt Centennials are seeking their first win of the week after an 0-2 start at home to the month of March. Tonight they face the Salmon Arm Silverback, a team they took to OT last time out.

The Merritt Centennials were looking for a better start on Friday night after coming out flat versus Penticton earlier in the week.

The Cents would play stronger in the opening moments of the game, but once again it would be the visitors striking first. Tyler Chan would fire on from the top of the right dot and the puck would find a way past John Hicks.

Merritt would earn a chance to level the game with a powerplay, but a Jojo Tanaka-Campbell shorthanded marker would increase the Vernon lead to 2-0.

Low shot total after 20 with Vernon ahead on the shot clock 11-8.

The Snakes would continue to pull away in the middle stanza, finding the back of the net three more times. Jack Glenn, Luke Buss and Cade McNelly all bulged the twine to increase the lead to 5-0 after 40 minutes of play.

Just past the 12 minute mark of the period Geoff Bjarnason would give the fans something to cheer about as he would square up with Cade McNelly for a old fashioned heavy weight tilt at centre ice. Judges scoring the fight in favour of McNelly for landing the takedown however both combatants landed serious blows.

The goals would keep coming from Vernon with four more to make the final 9-0. Hicks would be replaced after the 7^th goal, Jackson Baker allowing 2 in relief.

The ‘Backs had Friday night off after playing the Cranbrook Bucks on Thursday. In that contest, the Bucks beat the Backs 2-1 in OT. Prior to that Salmon Arm had won three in a row.

Simon Tassy continues to lead the way with 71 points, 37 goals and 34 apples.

Previous meetings;

The Cents and Backs have faced each other six times already this season with Salmon Arm winning all six games. However, last time out between the two teams, the Cents forced the game into OT before falling 5-4 on the road, picking up their first point away from the NVMA all season long. Despite the difference in the standings, Merritt and Salmon Arm matchup well.

Blue Paint Battle;

John Hicks had a shaky game last night at home, getting pulled after allowing 7 goals. Hicks is now 0-13-2 with a .892 SV% and 5.33 GAA.

Jackson Baker is 0-7 with a .854 SV% and a 7.97 GAA after a outstanding performance last time out versus Penticton.

Also joining the Cents for the stretch run is AP goalie Payton Trzaska. The goalie played for the Princeton Posse this season in the KIJHL, posting a 10-8 record with a 3.20 GAA and .914 SV%. With Merritt he is 0-2, 5.86 GAA and a .902 SV%.

Liam Vanderkooi is the normal man between the pipes for SA versus Merritt, he is 11-1-0 with a .921 SV% and a 2.33 GAA. Starter Owen Say is 22-7-5 with a .928 SV%

Special Teams Comparison;

Backs – PP 29.4% (1/18) PK 86.5% (1/18)

Cents – PP 11.2% (18/18) PK 67.9% (18/18)