Cents Game Day – Merritt vs Penticton – March 11/23
Jared Thomas/Q101
Mar 11, 2023 | 1:19 PM
Vern Strecheniuk
Date – Saturday, March 11, 2023
Game Time – Puck drop 6:00 pm, Pregame show 5:45 pm
Location – South Okanagan Events Centre, Penticton BC
Broadcast – CKMQ-FM Q101 & BCHLTV
Merritt Centennials – 12-32-3-2
Penticton Vees – 44-3-0-1
Previous Meetings;
The Merritt Centennials and the Penticton Vees have played each other five times this season. The Cents are yet to win in this matchup.
October 7th @ Penticton: Cents lose 6-0
October 14th VS Penticton: Cents lose 5-4 OT
December 14th VS Penticton: Cents lose 8-0
February 18th VS Penticton: Cents lose 7-2
March 3rd VS Penticton: Cents lose 13-1
Over the past five seasons, the Centennials have won only one game in 24 chances.
Blue Paint Battle;
Connor Sullivan has taken over the starting job for this Centennials team due to an injury to Johnny Hicks. In 19 games played, Sullivan has a 3-15 record with a 0.864 SV% and a 5.93 GAA. Before the injury, Hicks made 27 appearances putting up an 8-10-3 record with a 0.917 SV% and a 3.53 GAA.
Luca Di Pasquo has dominated most of the action in net so far this season, and rightfully so. In 36 games played, he has a 32-3 record with a 0.924 SV% and a 1.66 GAA. Back-up Hank Levy has had a great season also. Levy has a 12-0 record while issuing a 0.914 SV% and a 1.95 GAA.
Special Teams Comparison;
Cents – PP 17.0% (28/165) *16th best in the league PK 75.5% (163/216) *14th best in the league
Vees – PP 38.2% (73/191) *1st best in the league PK 84.3% (113/134) *2nd best in the league
Players to Watch;
After getting shutout their last game, the Merritt Centennials will be looking to produce some offence and the teams leading scorer is Jaxson Murray. Murray has 43 points (20G,23A) in 49 games played this season and will be looking to reach the score sheet again tonight.
Everyone knows the Vees have some dynamic scoring, but it is their depth that attacks as well. Last weekend when these two teams played, it was bottom six guys like Billy Norcross, Beanie Richter, and Thomas Pichette who did damage. Each Norcross and Richter finished with a goal and an assist, whereas Pichette found the back of the net twice.
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