Cents Game Day – Merritt vs Penticton – Feb 4/22

Date – Friday, February 4, 2022

Game Time – Puck drop 7:00 pm

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

Broadcast – Q101 & BCHLTV

Penticton Vees – 26-6-0-2

Merritt Centennials – 2-30-1-1

The Merritt Centennials are looking to break a 7-plus period shutout streak tonight as they welcome in the Penticton Vees to the NVMA.

Earlier this week in a nice show of community support, Merritt Centennials proudly presented a donation totalling $2179 to the Merritt Rotary Club for flood relief efforts. This donation was presented by the team on behalf of the greater hockey community specifically the Penticton Vees and BC Hockey Hall of Fame.

The Penticton Vees graciously donated the proceeds from their 50/50 and chuck-a-puck equating to $904 during their November 26th game against the Centennials. That was the Cents first game following the Merritt floods, and at that time, the entire team was displaced.

On Wednesday night, the Cents couldn’t find their offensive touch on Wednesday night versus the Prince George Spruce Kings.

Just 3:27 into the first period, Rowan Miller opened the scoring for PG, following a nice effort from Nick Rheaume led to a back-door pass on the rebound.

The Spruce Kings would add one more in the frame when Evan Fedele netted his first of the season past John Hicks. Hicks would stop 13/15 in the first.

The Cents were only able to level three shots in the first.

Head Coach Curtis Toneff was much happier with his teams second period effort, but it would still be PG bulging the twine. On the powerplay, Rheaume scored his first of the night.

Merritt would fire 11 shots on Aaron Trotter but he would stand tall in the visitors crease.

In the third, the Spruce Kings continued to outwork Merritt in the corners and control play, scoring three more times to win 6-0.

The Cents have not scored in goal in over seven full periods after back-to-back shutouts.

Hicks would stop 39/45 in the game.

The Penticon Vees enter play tonight, winners of five straight. Last time out it was a battle of the Interior Division Elite in Salmon Arm. The game was scoreless through 40 minutes, with Penticton out-shooting the ‘Backs. In the third, the Vees would strike twice to win 2-1.

Luc Wilson leds the way offensively for Penticton with 46 points (18G, 28A), followed closely by Josh Nadeau with 45 (25G, 20A).

Previous meetings;

The Cents and Vees have played each other three times this season, with Merritt failing to score a single goal in those games. Merritt has lost to Penticton by 8-0, 8-0, and 11-0 scorelines. Tonight the Cents are looking to break a current 7-period shutout streak overall and their season long slump versus the Vees.

Blue Paint Battle;

With back-to-back games this weekend at home versus tough opponents, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see both Merritt netminders patrol the crease. John Hicks has been playing well recently and is now 0-8-1 with a .880 SV% and a 5.58 GAA.

Jackson Baker looked solid in relief of Hicks on Friday. Baker is 0-4 with a .809 SV% and a 9.88 GAA in limited minutes.

Kaeden Lane made his return from injury two weeks ago versus the Cents and is now an impressive 20-1-1 with a 1.88 GAA and .919 SV%. Carter Serhyenko has been backing up recently, at 1-2-0 with a 3.31 GAA and a .951 SV%.

Special Teams Comparison;

Vees – PP 26.0% (5/18) PK 83.5% (2/18)

Cents – PP 10.1% (18/18) PK 64.9% (18/18)