POSTPONED – Cents Game Day – Merritt at Vernon – Jan 7/22

*Tonight’s Merritt Centennials game has been postponed as the Vernon Vipers have been placed into a five day pause under COVID-19 protocols.*

Date – Friday, January 7, 2022

Game Time – Puck drop 7:00 pm

Location – Kal Tire Place, Vernon B.C.

Broadcast –Q101 & BCHLTV

Vernon Vipers – 7-14-3-3

Merritt Centennials – 2-22-1-0

The Merritt Centennials are set for their first road trip of 2022, as they travel to Vernon tonight to face the Vipers and former teammate Talon Zakall.

The long-time Cent was traded to Vernon earlier this season for a package of three players of which only one remains with Merritt, Nicholas Remissong.

The win streak is over at one, after a Wednesday night defeat to the West Kelowna Warriors.

The Cents came into the contest riding high, and played well through the opening 40 minutes of play. The game was scoreless after 20, with Colton Phillips-Watts one of the biggest reasons why. PW stopped all 15 shots he faced in the opening frame, a number of them high quality chances from West K.

In the second period, the goals starting flying. The Warriors would strike first, with Isiah Norlin netting his first in the BCHL. Just over a minute later Felix Trudeau would bury in tight to make it 2-0 West Kelowna.

Merritt would respond when Jacksenn Hungle went in all alone and went blocker side past Johnny Derrick. Levi Carter would then level the score with a quick turn-around shot the went five-hole for his third on the year.

Tyson Jugnauth restored the West K lead before the end of the middle stanza 3-2.

The final 20 minutes was all Warriors. West K would strike twice on the powerplay thanks to Merritt taking double-minors and not look back rattling off five in the period to win 8-2.

The Vipers are 1-4 over their last five games, with the lone win coming 2-1 over Prince George prior to the Christmas break. Vernon is led by Luke Buss with 20 points on the season. Zakall has three goals and 10 assists.

Previous meetings;

The Cents and Vipers haven’t played yet this season. The two sides are the eight and ninth placed teams in the Interior Division with Merritt trying to chase down Vernon for the final playoff spot. Over the past five season Vernon is 13-3-2-0 versus Merritt.

Blue Paint Battle;

The goaltending situation in Merritt remains fluid with Johnny Hicks battling a lingering injury and a rotation of AP’s filling in the gaps, led by Colton Phillips-Watts.

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

PW is 1-4 with a .884 SV% and a 5.06 GAA. He picked up his first win of the season on Sunday night versus Cranbrook.

Vernon has been running with a pair of 2003-born netminders. Roan Clarke has started 18 times, posting a 4-10-4 record with a .891 SV% and a 3.35 GAA. Ethan David is 3-4-2 with a .907 SV% and a 2.71 GAA.

Special Teams Comparison;

Vipers – PP 15.6% (15/18) PK 74.2% (15/18)

Cents – PP 10.7% (18/18) PK 66.9% (18/18)