Merritt Centennials play hockey with the community

(Image credit: Merritt Centennials)

Oct 17, 2022 | 7:03 AM Vern Strecheniuk

MERRITT – Ahead of the BCHL Showcase, the Merritt Centennials got a tune-up game in against kids in the community.

“Today we are playing some street hockey with the community,” said Head Coach Curits Toneff. “I think its a good idea for our guys to keep active and put some faces to names for some youth in our community.”

The Sports Box in Central Park was packed with kids between 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. getting the chance to play hockey with the Centennials, something that hometown defenseman Chase Cooke thinks is very important.

“It’s good to get out and spend time with some of the kids and some of our fans, we haven’t been able to do it much over the last couple of years,” said Cooke. “I came out to some of these as a kid, I remember it was always the best time in the world, you think you are playing with superstars, so I think its really important that we are out here having fun just getting involved in the community.”

Toneff echoed the importance of his team playing some hockey with the community but also noted how fun it is for everyone involved as well.

“It s huge, these guys are role models for these young kids and it looks like they are having an absolute blast, I might have to get out there myself it looks so fun.”