Cents Game Day – Merritt vs Salmon Arm – November 27/22

Date – Sunday, November 27, 2022

Game Time – Puck drop 2:00 pm, Pregame show 1:45 pm

Location – Nicola Valley Memorial Arena, Merritt BC

Broadcast – CKMQ-FM Q101 & BCHLTV

Merritt Centennials – 5-13-3-0

Salmon Arm Silverbacks – 12-8-0-1

Previous meetings;

This is the first matchup between the Merritt Centennials and the Salmon Arm Silverbacks this season.

Last year, the Centennials went 0-7 against the Silverbacks.

Over the past five seasons, the Cents have a 7-10-2 in this battle.

Blue Paint Battle;

Johnny Hicks has made 13 appearances this season logging over 700 minutes of hockey. Hicks has put up a 4-4-3 record with a 0.912 SV% and a 3.56 GAA. Back-up Connor Sullivan is still trying to get his feet underneath on the Cents. Sullivan has played in three games with an 0-3 record and a 0.833 SV% and 7.71 GAA.

Matthew Tovell has taken most of the load for the Silverbacks this year. He has played in 17 games putting up a 9-7 record with good advanced stats, issuing a 0.922 SV% and 2.76 GAA. The back-up, Carter Richardson has played in seven games with a 3-1 record and a 0.896 SV% and a 2.94 GAA.

Special Teams Comparison;

Cents – PP 20.00% (15/75) *11^th best in the league PK 81.05% (77/95) *5^th best in the league

Silverbacks – PP 18.31% (13/71) *13^th best in the league PK 77.04% (74/96) *10^th best in the league

Players to Watch;

The Cents made a flurry of moves before this weekend of action and one of the trades involved a new defenseman going to make it Cents debut. 20-year-old Tyler Bates was acquired from the Calgary Canucks in the AJHL and is coming onto this time to provide veteran leadership.

Owen Beckner is the leading scorer for the Silverbacks. Through 21 games played this season, Beckner has eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points. That issues a 0.95 points per game. Beckner will be looking to boost that number up and average a point per game and lead the Silverbacks offensively against the Cents.