Cents Game Day – Merritt vs Salmon Arm – Dec 29/21

Date – Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Game Time – Puck drop 7:00 pm

Location – Nicola Valley Memorial Arena, Merritt B.C.

Broadcast –Q101 & BCHLTV

Salmon Arm Silverbacks – 19-4-1-0

Merritt Centennials – 1-20-1-0

The second half of the BCHL season begins tonight for Merritt, and it will signal the start of a new era of Cents Hockey. Gone is Head Coach and GM Dave Chyzowski, and in his place comes Curtis Toneff.

The former BCHL player is just 28 years old yet comes with a wealth of experience both at this level and at junior B.

Following his playing career which ended in 2014, Toneff joined the Campbell River Storm of the VIJHL (Junior B) as an Assistant Coach. The next season, Toneff joined the staff of the Trail Smoke Eaters for two season as an Assistant.

In 2017, he got his first Head Coach and GM shot with the Nanaimo Buccaneers, VIJHL, where he remained for two seasons. Most recently, Toneff has served as an Assistant Coach on the Humboldt Broncos.

During his lone stint as a Head Coach in Nanaimo, Toneff led his team to the semi-finals in two straight years.

Assistant coaches Levi Stuart, and Paul Barnes remain with the team.

Prior to the winter break, the Cents played a triple-header south of the border in Wenatchee, dropping three straight games to the Wild. Merritt was in a difficult position with no healthy goaltender, and injuries pilling up across the roster.

Salmon Arm enters play tonight riding a three game win streak, which includes victories over Prince George, Penticton, and West Kelowna. Simon Tassy leads the way for the ‘Backs with 41 points (22G, 19A).

Previous meetings;

The Cents and ‘Backs have played twice this season with Salmon Arm winning both meetings. In October, the Cents dropped a close 3-1 affair with Brayden Melynk turning aside 44 shots in the loss.

In November, Salmon Arm skated away to a 7-2 win on home-ice. No Cent has more than 1-point versus the Silverbacks this season.

Blue Paint Battle;

The situation in the Merritt crease is foggy. Keegan Maddocks is still with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers. John Hicks has been battling injuries and his status remains unclear.

AP goalies Colton Phillips-Watts and Brandon Weare both backstopped the team down in Wenatchee prior to the Christmas break but have responsibilities with their Junior B teams fighting for first place in the KIJHL.

Hicks, if available, is 0-4 this year with a .867 SV% and a 5.22 GAA.

PW is 0-2 with a .886 SV% and a 5.50 GAA, including a massive 65 save performance is Wenatchee.

Weare is 0-2 with a .848 SV% and a 6.36 GAA.

Things in Salmon Arm are much clearer.

The starter is Owen Say, the 20-year old netminder is 14-3-1 with a .913 SV% and a 2.52 GAA. The backup is Liam Vanderkooi at 5-1 with a .932 SV% and a 2.01 GAA.

Special Teams Comparison;

‘Backs – PP 30.9% (2/18) PK 85.7% (1/18)

Cents – PP 9.1% (18/18) PK 66.4% (18/18)