Cents Game Day – Merritt vs Nanaimo – December 3/22

Date – Saturday, December 3, 2022

Game Time – Puck drop 6:00 pm, Pregame show 5:45 pm

Location – Frank Crane Arena, Nanaimo BC

Broadcast – CKMQ-FM Q101 & BCHLTV

Merritt Centennials – 7-13-3-0

Nanaimo Clippers – 19-4-0-0

Previous meetings;

This matchup between the Merritt Centennials and the Nanaimo Clippers is a rare one.

The game tonight is the only game between these teams this year and they didn’t meet once last year.

Over the past five seasons these two teams have played each other four times with the series being tied 2-2. Tonight, is the deciding fifth game over the past five seasons.

Blue Paint Battle;

Johnny Hicks has made 15 appearances this season logging over 800 minutes of hockey, 881 to be exact. Hicks has put up a 6-4-3 record with a 0.919 SV% and a 3.27 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.

Aidan Campbell has taken most of the load for the Kings this year. He has made 18 appearances, putting up a 15-3 record with a 0.925 SV% and 2.66 GAA. The back-up, Shane Shelest has played in five games with a 4-1 record and a 0.909 SV% and a 3.15 GAA.

Special Teams Comparison;

Cents – PP 19.28% (16/83) *13^th best in the league PK 81.13% (86/106) *5^th best in the league

Kings – PP 24.00% (18/75) *2^nd best in the league PK 77.63% (59/76) *11^th best in the league

Players to Watch;

Connor Sullivan is getting the start for the Cents tonight. Sullivan has played in three games early in his Cents career and has been off to a slow start. He has a 0-3 record with a 0.833 SV% and a 7.71 GAA. The net minder will be looking for a bounce back performance to turn his Centennials career around and create a strong one-two punch with Johnny Hicks.

Kai Daniells leads the way offensively for the Clippers. Daniells is averaging 1.35 points per game scoring 31 points (14G,17A) in 23 games. He was also selected to the BCHL all star game. With back-up Sullivan starting for the Cents, Daniells will be looking to continue his scoring ways this season.