Cents begin quest for KIJHL championship as playoff schedule is announced

Let the KIJHL playoffs begin!

Your Merritt Centennials, who finished third in the Bill Ohlhausen Division of the KIJHL, will meet the second seed Revelstoke Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs which kicks off on Friday night at the Forum in Revelstoke.

The series will be:

Game 1: Friday Feb 28 Merritt vs Revelstoke at 7 p.m.

Game 2: Sat.  March 1   Merritt vs Revelstoke at 7 p.m.

Game 3: Mon. March 3  Revelstoke vs Merritt at 7 p.m.

Game 4: Tue. March 4  Revelstoke vs Merritt at 7 p.m.

(***If necessary)

Game 5: Fri. March 7  Merritt at Revelstoke at 7 p.m.

Game 6: Sat. March 8 Revelstoke vs Merritt at 7 p.m.

Game 7: Mon. March 10 Merritt vs Revelstoke at 7 p.m.

“I think it’s going to be a good playoff series, because both teams have a lot of skill and balance, so it will be fun for the fans,” said Merritt Head Coach Wes McLeod.

The Grizzlies, who won the regular season series over the Centennials 3-2, are the defending KIJHL champions and have two of the last three championships.

“They are well coached and have history on their side,” McLeod added. “But I think our guys (Centennials) want to make a little history of their own as well.”

The Cents are hoping to have their leading scorer Sam Giangulano and forward Troy Horn back in the lineup for the series opener on Friday. Both missed the final two games of the regular season as “precautionary” according to McLeod. Giangulano lead the Centennials with 25 goals and 28 assists for 54 points finishing 11th in league scoring this season.

Season ticket holders and sponsors can purchase tickets for game three and four Tuesday Feb 25 at 2 p.m. at Nicola Valley Sports.  According to Cents co-owner and President Brad Anstey, tickets for this group will be on hold to purchase until Thursday Feb. 26 until 6 p.m. The remaining tickets  will then be released for the general public for purchase either online at Showpass, or at Nicola Valley Sports.

Go Cents Go!