Cents Game Day – Merritt vs Penticton – February 18/23

Date – Saturday, February 18, 2023

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 – 11-25-3-2

Penticton Vees – 21-16-2-1

Previous Meetings;

The Merritt Centennials and the Penticton Vees have played each other three times already this season, with the Vees holding the advantage.

October 7, @ Penticton: Cents lose 6-0

October 14, VS Penticton: Cents lose 5-4 OT

December 14, VS Penticton: Cents lose 8-0

Over the past five seasons, the Centennials have won only once in 22 games. The only win came back on February 15, 2019, in a 4-2 victory.

Blue Paint Battle;

Johnny Hicks has made 27 appearances this season logging over 1,500 minutes of hockey, 1,514 to be exact. Hicks has put up an 8-10-3 record with a 0.917 SV% and a 3.53 GAA. Back-up Connor Sullivan has a 2-9 record in 12 games with a 0.876 SV% and a 5.36 GAA. Merik Erickson has been added onto this roster. Through 21 games in the PIJHL this season, he has a 17-2 record with a .905 SV% and a 2.71 GAA.

Luca Di Pasquo has dominated most of the action in net so far this season, and rightfully so. In 30 games played, he has a 26-3 record with a 0.923 SV% and a 1.66 GAA. Back-up, Hank Levy, has played well this season as well. He has put up a 10-0 record in 12 games with a 0.910 SV% and a 2.03 GAA.

Special Teams Comparison;

Cents – PP 19.0% (25/137) *13^th best in the league PK 80.2% (140/174) *6^th best in the league

Vees – PP 35.0% (28/151) *1^st best in the league PK 84.3% (110/141) *3^rd best in the league

Players to Watch;

Jackson Murphy-Johnson has been a solid back-end veteran piece for the Centennials since joining the team. With two keys injuries on the blue line, Aleksey Chichkin and Tyler Bates, there has been an AP player filling in for the Cents. The 20-year-old is creeping up on 100 BCHL games. The seasoned veteran this season has six points (2G,4A).

Brett Moravec has torched the Centennials this season so far and will be looking to continue.  Moravec has four goals and two assists throughout the three matchups this season, including all four of those goals coming last game alone. Overall, on the season, Moravec has 40 points (22G,18A).