Cents leave BCHL Showcase with 3 out of 4 points.

SEATTLE — The Merritt Centennials headed home with 3 out of a possible 4 points after a solid showing at the BCHL Showcase, scoring 10 goals in two games impressing many of the scouts in the crowd.

The first game was a battle of the streaks. The 9-2-0-0 Victoria Grizzlies came in to Wednesday’s game (Oct 25) on a 6 game winning streak, while the Cents came in on a 4 game losing streak. The Centennials came out flying handing the Grizzlies a 6-2 blowout loss.

Five different Centennials scored in the win, Ocean Fancy picked up his first BCHL goal while Ryan Spinale, CT Larochelle, Zach Losier, Michael Felsing and former Grizzly Cullen Emery scored on his former team, his 2nd goal in 4 games. Cullen Emery was quoted as saying “I want to shove it in their faces” for trading him away, and he did just that in a bit of poetic justice. Karlis Mezsargs picked up his third win of the season and was 10 minutes away from a shutout.

In the second game, it was a bit of a heartbreaker. Michael Stenberg got his first of the season on a great turnover play forced by Jacob Smith. Michael Felsing would extend the lead to 2-0 but the Express hung around all game long cutting the lead to 2-1. A late goal by Jaxson Murray extended the Cents lead to 3-1.

Early in the third period the Cents missed a chance on a wide open net to make it 4-1, then the Express scored again to cut the lead to just 3-2 Centennials. After the Express would tie the game at 3-3 Dylan Lariviere would get the go ahead goal with about five minutes left, a goal that was reviewed for a kicking motion but eventually stood. Unfortunately the Cents would get a penalty soon after leading to the tying goal to make it 4-4 with about 3 minutes remaining and the goalie pulled on a 6 on 4.

In overtime the Cents got a breakaway 4 seconds into overtime but couldn’t capitalize. The Express would cash in on the next play winning 5-4 in overtime.

The Centennials still left with 3 out of 4 points, they play next on Sunday at the NVMA at 2 p.m. when they host the (8-3-0-0) Vernon Vipers.