Centennials make a flurry of moves

MERRITT – The Merritt Centennials continue to shake up the roster with a trio of moves yesterday.

The Cents have traded defensemen, Carter Patterson to the Blackfalds Bulldogs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) and Chase Cooke to the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). In the third move of the day, the Cents acquired defenseman Tyler Bates from the Calgary Canucks of the AJHL.

Patterson played in 16 games for the Centennials this year, scoring a goal and adding in three assists for a total of four points.

“Carter is a player with a year and a half left of junior hockey, he needs to play more to achieve his goals, and we felt we are doing him right in finding him a new opportunity in Blackfalds,” said Centennials Head Coach and General Manager, Curtis Toneff.

The local boy, Cooke, had played his entire BCHL career in his hometown. Throughout his time with the Cents, the 19-year-old played in 112 games, not being able to find the back of the net once but added in 19 assists.

“Over the past week, Chase and I had multiple conversations about what he wants to do for the remainder of his junior career, and in the end, Chase felt the desire to experience something new. Chase will be a great addition for Humboldt, and wish him all the best there,” commented Toneff.

Coming in the direction of Merritt is 20-year-old Bates. The Calgary, Alberta native has played in six games this season with the Blackfalds Bulldogs but did not register a point in those games.

“Tyler is a mobile puck-moving two-way defenceman that has a lot to prove and is chomping at the bit to get playing again. Tyler has over 80 games of Junior A hockey under his belt and skates well, and plays with good instincts on both sides of the puck. We now have two twenty-year-old players on the back end with Tyler and Jackson Murphy-Johnson; both players will be looked to for leadership and stability night in and night out,” explained Toneff.

Bates will be joining the Cents this weekend against the Langley Rivermen on Friday (November 25) and Sunday (November 27) against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.