Cents ground the Eagles; win home-and-home series

Make it three wins in a row for your Merritt Centennials after a sweep of the Sicamous Eagles in a home-and-home series this weekend.

It was the Cents’ first action of the 2026 calendar year, and after finishing 2025 with a disappointing December 2-4 record.

Merritt did build some momentum heading into the Christmas break, scoring 12 goals against division rival Kelowna on December 20 in a 12-6 win, the first time a Centennial’s team scored 12 goals in a game since Oct. 29, 1977, when the Centennials routed Revelstoke 20-3.

“We got a lot of confidence from that win heading into the break,” coach Wes McLeod said on Friday heading into the opener of the home-and-home series with Sicamous at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena (NVMA). “We played with grit and intensity, and I can guarantee you the Chiefs are not looking forward to their next visit here.”

Apparently, that momentum did carry over into 2026.

On Friday night, the Centennials got off to a slow start, falling behind 3-2 after two periods of play; however, a six-goal third period explosion powered the Cents to an 8-3 win over the Eagles.

Noah Lawless had two goals and two assists to pace the Cents’ attack, with Troy Horn also scoring a pair. Evan Thachuk,  Ryder McAslan, and Travis Langlois chipped in with singles, but the loudest cheer of the night from the 321 in attendance at the NVMA came when Merritt’s own Cooper Harrington scored his first career KIJHL goal to cap the scoring off for the Centennials.

“Every guy on the bench was excited for Coop ( Harrington), ” McLeod smiled. “He’s a great kid, terrific teammate, and all the guys were happy he finally got that elusive first goal.”

On Saturday night, the venue shifted to the Sicamous & District Recreation Centre, a building that was not kind to the Cents last year, where they dropped both games to the Eagles.

Unlike Friday’s encounter, the Cents got off to a fast start and never trailed in Saturday night’s game, leading  3-2 heading into the third before  Ashton Angle tied it for the Eagles at 4:40 of the final frame to send the game to extra time.

Ryker Swanson, Gairen Bona, and Travis Langlois all scored during regulation time for the Cents, heading into overtime.

Both teams had chances during the OT however no one could break the deadlock as goaltenders Tyler Picha (Merritt) made 31 saves on 34 shots and Eagles backstop Dylan Spackman turned aside 50 of 53 shots he faced.

In the shootout Picha stood tall stopping Emmytt Yurkowski, Chase Campbell and Ashton Angle. At the other end, after stopping Travis Langlois on the first Merritt attempt, sniper Noah Lawless scored the lone-goal in the shootout to give the Cents the win.

With the win, the Centennials improve to 15-11-2-1 and occupy fourth in the Bill Ohlhausen Division of the KIJHL,  just seven point back of Kelowna, however the Chiefs have one game in hand.

The Centennials are back in action Friday night when the Cents host the Spokane Braves at the NVMA. Game-time is 7 p.m. Jared Thomas will have the action for you on Q101 with Super Save Cents hockey beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.