Centennials officially eliminated from playoff contention after a two lose weekend

The Merritt Centennials, who are still short-handed battling the injury bug, were in tough over the weekend. Playing at home against the Wenatchee Wild, the Cents were outplayed heavily in a lopsided game. Saturday night, the Cents played better in a losing effort to the Penticton Vees.

Friday, March 10: Merritt Centennials VS Wenatchee Wild

The Wenatchee Wild made their offence known early in the game coming into the first period. Just under four minutes into the period, Lucas Marshall unleashed a shot from the point for his first career BCHL goal. A little over a minute later, Ean Somoza extended the lead with his 17th goal of the season. Not even a penalty kill could slow down the Wild’s attack. With Arvega Hovsepyan in the penalty box for boarding, Somoza would score the short handed goal for his second of the game. Final after the first, 3-0.

Coming into the second period, the scoring would come in waves. Diego Johnson would be sent to the sin bin for cross-checking at the 4:05 mark, sending a dangerous offence to the powerplay. It took Parker Murray just over a minute to score on the powerplay for his 22nd goal of the season. Less than a minute later, Cade Littler would add another quick goal, pushing the lead to five. Three minutes later, Alexios Georgaklis would find his way onto the scoring sheet with his 4th tally of the year. That would call for the end of the night for Connor Sullivan, exiting the game after making 19/25 saves. Coming into the game in relief was Ryder Gregga, making his BCHL debut. Action coming of the BCHL media timeout went in favour of the Wild. Another cross-checking penalty for the Cents, this time Erik Sollied was in the box. It took Somoza 35 seconds to score on the powerplay, completing the hat-trick in the process. Jason Stefanek then would score a goal for the Wild, his 9th of the year. With the time ticking down in the middle frame, Wenatchee would head into the intermission grabbing one more goal. Ten seconds left, Micah Berger scored his 21st of the season. Final after the second, 9-0.

Jumping right back into the game was the Wild. 44 seconds into the third period, Stefanek would notch his second of the game, giving the Wild double digits. Before the teams went to regroup for the BCHL media timeout, the Wild would grab a couple more in back-to-back shifts. Berger finished off a two-on-one opportunity for his second goal of the game. 18 seconds later, off the ensuing faceoff, Luke Weilandt wanted to get his name on the goal scoring list with his 19th of the season. Up by 12 with less than a minute left, Garrett Szydlowski added onto the lead by scoring his 8th of the year. Final score, 13-0.

Sullivan took the lose in the game. Gregga, in relief, made 16/23 saves. With the lose, the Centennials became officially eliminated from playoff contention.

Saturday, March 11: Merritt Centennials @ Penticton Vees

Looking for a much needed bounce back game, the Cents got off to a hot start. Just over two minutes into the game, Sam Lewis grabbed the rebound at a sharp angle and threw it top corner, scoring his first career BCHL goal. The dominate offence of the Vees answered quickly. Two minutes later, Josh Nadeau picked the corner, tying things up with his 37th of the year. Later in the period, Dylan Emerson would be sent off for boarding, putting the leagues best powerplay unit on the ice. With 42 seconds left in the period, Bradley Nadeau grabbed the powerplay goal for his 41st goal of the season. The goal would give Bradley his 100th point of the season. Final after the first, 2-1.

Both teams would come out in the second and trade a pair of quick goals. Starting with the home team, Nic DeGraves found the back of the net for the fifth time this season. Two minutes later, at the 6:10 mark, Maddix McCagherty picked up the lose puck off the boards and streamed down the ice on a breakaway. Making a move out wide and using the patience of a veteran, the rookie score his first career BCHL goal. Final after the second, 3-2.

The Vees would notch another early goal and fend off some counter attacks by the Cents in the third. Almost three minutes into the final frame, Bradley Nadeau would score his second of the game to extend the lead back up to two. Just before the BCHL media timeout, the Centennials would prove they weren’t out of the game yet. Kyle Isenberg, playing forward for the injury riddled Centennials, would force the turnover behind the net and find Diego Johnson off to the side, who shoveled it into the back of the net. Johnson hit double digits with his 10th goal of the season. With five and a half minutes left, the Vees would put the game away. Mark Thurston was handed a two minute blow to the head penalty, putting Penticton back on the powerplay. Josh Nadeau would grab his second of the game, scoring on the powerplay, extending the lead back to two. With a last chance effort, the Cents pulled the goalie for the extra attacker. Brett Moravec would take advantage of the chance and slide the puck into the empty net, his 27th of the season. Final score, 6-3.

Connor Sullivan would make 54/59 saves in the losing effort.

Next up for the Centennials is a road trip weekend. Heading south of the border to play the Wenatchee Wild on Friday (March 17) and then back in Penticton against the Vees on Saturday (March 18).