Cents Game Day – Merritt at Cranbrook – Nov 3/21

Date – Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Game Time – Puck drop 6:00 pm, Pregame show 5:45 pm

Location – Western Financial Place, Cranbrook BC

Broadcast – CKMQ-FM Q101 & BCHLTV

Cranbrook Bucks – 4-3-0

Merritt Centennials – 0-8-0

The search for win number 1 of the season continues with a mid-week showdown in Cranbrook tonight.

On Sunday, the Merritt Centennials played a solid opening 20 minutes on Sunday afternoon but wouldn’t be rewarded for their efforts. The Cents spent 10 minutes on the powerplay in the opening frame, but went 0-5, including a brief 5-on-3 situation.

Despite being the better team for the vast majority of the first, it would be Victoria leading 2-0 thanks to a pair of goals from d-men. On the Powerplay Eli Barnett would fire one home through a screen. Then with just five minutes remaining in the frame, Justin Gibson would bulge the twine from the top of the right circle.

Keegan Maddocks, playing in back-to-back games would stop 5/7.

Similar to PG the night before, Victoria came out strong in the second frame, scoring three times in a minute and a half. First it was Kalen Szeto floating one high top corner past Maddocks. Then Tyler Waram beat Maddocks over his glove. That would be the end of Maddocks night, as John Hicks would relieve him.

The first shot that Hicks would face would be a breakaway from Connor Eddy as he deked around Hicks to make it 5-0 Victoria. Hicks would settle down from there making a number of big saves.

Late in the middle stanza, Levi Carter and Jerzy Orchard would work the give an go shorthanded in the offensive zone, with Orchard sniping low past Kelsey to get the Cents on the board trailing 5-1.

Maddocks stopped 6/10 before being pulled, Hicks turning aside 10/11 in relief.

The final twenty minutes were a penalty fest, with both teams combining for 15 individual infractions. Despite the opportunities neither team would score with the extra man. Merritt finishing the night 0-12 on the PP, Victoria going 1-9.

The Cent would add a late marker when a Talon Zakall point shoot toke a deflection in front and beat Kelsey.

John Hicks would stop 20/21 in relief and earn third star honours for his work.

Previous meetings;

The Merritt Centennials have never faced the Cranbrook Bucks in a regular season game as the expansion club entered the league prior to the pod season.

Blue Paint Battle;

The Cents have switched up their goaltending duo in recent weeks with youngster John Hicks now joined by Keegan Maddocks between the pipes. Hicks was excellent in relief on Sunday, stopping 20/21 shots to improve his numbers. He now has a .858 SV% and a 5.21 GAA. Maddocks has a .816 SV% and 6.42 GAA after returning from an injury.

Nathan Airey has been carrying the mail for the Bucks. He is 3-2 with a .915 SV% and a 2.82 GAA. Their backup is Evan Gartner who holds a .873 SV% and a 3.56 GAA.

Special Teams Comparison;

Bucks – PP 20.0% (12/18) PK 83.9% (4/18)

Cents – PP 15.6% (17/18) PK 71.4% (15/18)