Cents Game Day – Merritt vs Penticton – December 14/22

Date – Wednesday, December 14, 2022

Game Time – Puck drop 7:00 pm, Pregame show 6:45 pm

Location – Nicola Valley Memorial Arena, Merritt BC

Broadcast – CKMQ-FM Q101 & BCHLTV

Merritt Centennials – 8-14-3-1

Penticton Vees – 24-2-0-0

Previous meetings;

The Merritt Centennials and the Penticton Vees will play each other for the third time this season, with the Cents losing both so far.

October 7, @ Penticton: 6-0

October 14, VS Penticton: 5-4 OT

Over the past five seasons, the Cents have been dominated by the Vees, only winning once in the last 22 games in this matchup.

February 15, 2019 @ Penticton: 4-2

Blue Paint Battle;

Johnny Hicks has made 16 appearances this season logging over 900 minutes of hockey, 946 to be exact. Hicks has put up a 6-4-3-1 record with a 0.922 SV% and a 3.11 GAA. Back-up Connor Sullivan won his first BCHL game of his career his last outing in a shutout fashion, getting the monkey off his back. Sullivan has a 1-4 record in five games with a 0.868 SV% and a 5.56 GAA.

Luca Di Pasquo has taken on most of the action this season, playing in 19 of the 26 games. Di Pasquo has a 17-2 record with a 0.919 SV% and a 1.84 GAA. Back-up Hank Levy remains undefeated in his limited action this season. He has a 7-0 record with a 0.912 SV% and a 1.95 GAA.

Special Teams Comparison;

Cents – PP 20.6% (20/97) *9^th best in the league PK 81.3% (100/123) *6^th best in the league

Vees – PP 35.5% (39/110) *1^st best in the league PK 83.9% (52/62) *3^rd best in the league

Players to Watch;

Defenseman Jonathan Wong will be making his Centennials debut. After being acquired in a trade with the Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, he will be strapping on Cents red for the first time, and it comes in a critical spot. Recently, the Cents have had two pieces on the back end go down with an injury, so Wong will be stepping into a tough first game against the Vees.

The Nadeau brothers could be players to watch every game they play in, and it stands true in this case. Bradley and Josh Nadeau are tied for the league lead in points this season, both with 51. The Centennials have given up the most goals in the league and the brothers will be looking to capitalize on that.