Cents Game Day – Merritt vs Salmon Arm – February 24/23

Date – Friday, February 24, 2023

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

Location – Shaw Centre, Salmon Arm BC

Broadcast – CKMQ-FM Q101 & BCHLTV

Merritt Centennials – 11-27-3-2

Salmon Arm Silverbacks – 22-16-4-1

Previous Meetings;

The Merritt Centennials and the West Kelowna Warriors have played each other four times already this season. This is the fifth and final game, with the season series split at two a piece.

November 27, VS Salmon Arm: Cents win 4-3 OT

December 31, VS Salmon Arm: Cents lose 5-1

January 13, @ Salmon Arm: Cents win 5-4

January 27, VS Salmon Arm: Cents lose 5-0

Over the past five seasons, the Centennials have won nine in 23 games.

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 2-11 record in 14 games with a 0.868 SV% and a 5.66 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.

Matthew Tovell has dominated most of the action in net so far this season, and rightfully so. In 36 games played, he has a 18-14-3 record with a 0.924 SV% and a 2.60 GAA. Back-up, Carter Richardson, has played well this season as well. He has put up a 4-2-1 record in 12 games with a 0.887 SV% and a 3.29 GAA.

Special Teams Comparison;

Cents – PP 18.8% (27/144) *14^th best in the league PK 78.4% (149/190) *11^th best in the league

Silverbacks – PP 19.3% (29/150) *12^th best in the league PK 78.0% (128/164) *13^th best in the league

Players to Watch;

This will be Aidan Lindblad’s third game facing his former team since being traded to the Centennials at the BCHL trade deadline. Through nine games as a Merritt Centennial, Lindblad has three assists, still searching for his first goal as a Cent, Lindblad will be hungry to accomplish it against his former team.

Throughout the four games played between these two teams, Hayden Stavroff has been a thorn in the Centennials side. Stavroff has three goals and two assists in the four games. Looking to continue his success against the Centennials is Stavroff here tonight.