Cents Game Day – Merritt at Wenatchee – Dec 17/21

Date – Friday, December 17, 2021

Game Time – Puck drop 7:00 pm

Location – Town Toyota Center, Wenatchee WA

Broadcast –Q101 & BCHLTV

Wenatchee Wild – 6-10-4-1

Merritt Centennials – 1-18-1-0

The Wenatchee Wild held the majority of play early in the opening period Thursday night, pinning the Cents deep and holding the blueline well.

At the 3:40 mark of the opening frame, Cade Littler scored his 7^th on the year, beating Merritt’s rookie netminder Brandon Weare.

Weare called up from the Revelstoke Grizzlies of the KIJHL, was making his BCHL debut, stopping 12/13 shots in the first.

The Cents would get a couple of powerplay chances late in period, but despite some nice passing, they failed to convert and the frame ended 1-0 Wenatchee.

The Wild would start the middle stanza on the powerplay and make it count, with Brasen Boser bulging the twine to increase the home team’s lead to 2-0.

Less than a minute later, the Cents came alive with a beautiful one man effort from Ryan Mulrenin for his 4^th of the season. Mulrenin beat his man clean at the blueline then went in all alone and beat Tyler Shea clean.

The Wild would continue to utilize their second best powerplay, striking twice more with the extra man in the frame to make the game 4-1 after 40 minutes.

Weare 27/31 through two periods.

Penalties would continue to sink the Cents with Wenatchee stretching out their lead to 5-1 with their fourth PP goal of the game. The Wild would add one more to win 6-1.

 

Previous meetings;

The Wild and Cents continue their three game set, with game number 2 tonight. The Cents are now 1-2 versus Wenatchee on the season, and are in need of a big win tonight to claw back in the standings.

Wenatchee now holds a 14 point advantage over Merritt for the final playoff spot in the Interior Division.

Blue Paint Battle;

The Cents are running with a pair of AP goalies this weekend in Colton Phillips-Watts and Brandon Weare.

Weare joins the Cents from the Revelstoke Grizzlies of the KIJHL, he allowed six goals a night ago.

Colton Phillips-Watts is also back with the team and suited up on Saturday versus Wenatchee. PW is 0-1 with an .831 SV% and a 6.50 GAA.

The Cents have only seen Tyler Shea so far this year. The Wenatchee starter is 5-4-3 with a .889 SV% and a 3.05 GAA. Backup Andy Vlaha is 1-6-1 with a .859 SV% and a 4.00 GAA.

Special Teams Comparison;

Wild – PP 34.7% (1/18) PK 81.4% (5/18)

Cents – PP 9.2% (18/18) PK 63.5% (18/18)