Cents Game Day – Merritt vs Vernon – March 4/22

Date – Friday, March 4, 2022

Game Time – Puck drop 7:00 pm

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

Broadcast – Q101 & BCHLTV

Vernon Vipers – 22-17-4-3

Merritt Centennials – 3-37-2-1

Tonight is mental health awareness night at the NVMA in support of the Ty Pozzobon Foundation as the Cents welcome Talon Zakall and the Vernon Vipers to town for the third of the season series.

The Merritt Centennials had a poor start Wednesday night versus Penticton and it would cost them in the end.

Before Merritt was able to level a single shot on goal, the score was 2-0 Vees. The first came on the powerplay just 3:06 in with Ethan Mann firing home the rebound from the slot. Just 32 seconds later Spencer Smith would go in all alone off a Cents turnover and beat John Hicks in tight for his 8^th of the season.

Finally Merritt would wake up after the media timeout with a beautiful stretch pass from Chase Cooke to Ben Ward who beat Carter Serhyenko on the backhand. Cents turn it around in the final stages of the period go head to the room down 2-1.

Hicks would turn aside 21 shots in the opening frame.

The middle stanza would see wide-open end to end action with both teams bulging the twine.

Ben Ward would continue his ‘Jordan Flu Game’ as the under the weather forward netted his second of the game on the powerplay, assists to Tristan Allen and Jacksenn Hungle.

The Vees would respond with the Russian Import Aydar Suniev would restore the one goal game 3-2.

Hicks continued to play well stopping 41/44 after 40 minutes.

Penticton would add a fourth on the powerplay early in the third with Ryan Hopkins scoring from the point with a seeing eye shot.

The late stages of the frame would see both teams taking multiple penalties as the comeback effort falls short, final 4-2 Vees.

Vernon comes to town 3-2 over their last five with wins coming over Trail and Prince George including a 2-0 shutout win on Wednesday night. Reagan Milburn and Luke Buss lead the Vipers in scoring with 28 points each. Talon Zakall has 25 points spread between Merritt and Vernon.

Previous meetings;

The Cents and Vipers have met just twice this season. The first matchup was a blowout with Vernon earning a 9-1 win at home. The Cents would respond in game two, with the contest going all the way into a shootout before the Vipers could pull out a 4-3 win at the NVMA.

Blue Paint Battle;

John Hicks has been playing well recently with back to back to back 50-plus save performances and is now 0-12-2 with a .898 SV% and a 5.14 GAA.

Jackson Baker is 0-7 with a .854 SV% and a 7.97 GAA after a outstanding performance last time out versus Penticton.

Also joining the Cents for the stretch run is AP goalie Payton Trzaska. The goalie played for the Princeton Posse this season in the KIJHL, posting a 10-8 record with a 3.20 GAA and .914 SV%. With Merritt he is 0-2, 5.86 GAA and a .902 SV%.

Roan Clarke has been exceptional for Vernon this season going 15-13-5 with a 2.73 GAA and .915 SV%. Backup Ethan David is posting equally solid numbers at 7-4-2 with a 2.53 GAA and .914 SV%.

Special Teams Comparison;

Vipers – PP 18.3% (13/18) PK 80.4% (9/18)

Cents – PP 11.4% (18/18) PK 68.5% (18/18)