Despite loss, Merritt shows signs of growth under new head coach

The Merritt Centennials began the Curtis Toneff era Wednesday night at the NVMA versus the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.

The second half of the BCHL season got off to a bit of uneventful start with both teams skating through a clean opening 20 minutes, no scoring, no penalties.

Colton Phillips-Watts would get the start for Merritt stopping all 14 shots he faced.

The goals would start flying in the middle stanza, with Salmon Arm breaking the deadlock less than five minutes in with Lucas Matta beating PW. The ‘Backs would add to their lead at the 12:57 mark when Brandon Santa Juana ripped a one-timer on the powerplay.

The Cents would respond with captain Davide Patella scoring his 4^th on the season from a terrible angle.

Late in the frame, the Cents would give up a shorthanded marker to the BCHL’s leading scorer Simon Tassy.

Merritt would climb back within one in the third thanks to the second of the night from Patella on the powerplay, but that’s as close as they would come. Salmon Arm added one more, making the final 4-2.

Despite the loss, Merritt showed solid signs of growth under new head coach Toneff.

Cents are back in action on Sunday afternoon at 2pm versus Cranbrook at the NVMA.