Cents Sam Saskiw named KIJHL goaltender of week

For the second time this season, a Merritt Centennial backstop has been named the Kootenay International Junior ‘A Hockey League (KIJHL) goaltender of the week.

Following impressive performances last week, Sam Saskiw was given the nod after helping the Cents to back-to-back wins this weekend at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena. (NVMA)

On Saturday night, Saskiw came on in relief of goaltender Tyler Picha, who allowed three goals on three Princeton Posse shots to start the game, and turned aside 23 of 24 shots he faced in Merritt’s 5-4 shootout win.  Then, on Sunday, the Sherwood Park, Alberta-born goalie stopped 16 of 17 shots en route to his fourth straight victory in January, a 4-1 romp of Chase.

This season, Saskiw has 11 wins in 19 starts for the Centennials and has lowered his goals against average to 3.33 percent.

Back on November 25, Tyler Picha also received the award for the Centennials, who are unbeaten in their last seven games and have points in their last ten games.

The Centennials will look to keep the streak alive this weekend, when they play back-to-back games, beginning  Friday, when Merritt wraps up their three-game homestand against the Sicamous Eagles. This will mark the Cents fourth game this month versus Sicamous.

On Saturday night, the Centennials wrap up the month with a visit to Revelstoke to face the Bill Ohlhausen Division-leading Grizzlies at the Forum in what could be a possible first-round playoff matchup in March.

Both weekend games are slated for 7:00 p.m. and can be heard on Q101 with Roger White beginning with the Super Save Gas Pre-Game show at 6:45 p.m.