Cents Game Day – Merritt vs Cowichan Valley – December 10/22

Date – Saturday, December 10, 2022

Game Time – Puck drop 7:00 pm, Pregame show 6:45 pm

Location – Nicola Valley Memorial Arena, Merritt BC

Broadcast – CKMQ-FM Q101 & BCHLTV

Merritt Centennials – 7-14-3-1

Cowichan Valley Capitals – 6-17-1-1

Previous meetings;

This matchup between the Merritt Centennials and the Cowichan Valley Capitals is a rare one.

The game tonight is the only game between these teams this year and they only played once last season, with the Capitals winning 5-1 on October 24.

Over the past five seasons these two teams have played each other five times with the Cents falling behind, winning one of five.

Blue Paint Battle;

Johnny Hicks has made 16 appearances this season logging over 800 minutes of hockey, 881 to be exact. Hicks has put up a 6-4-3-1 record with a 0.922 SV% and a 3.09 GAA. Back-up Connor Sullivan is still trying to get his feet underneath on the Cents. Sullivan has played in four games with an 0-4 record and a 0.845 SV% and 7.24 GAA.

McCoy Bidewell has carried most of the load for the Capitals this season. He has played in 19 games with a 4-11-1 with a 0.893 SV% and a 4.30 GAA. The back-up on this team, Lukas Renaud, has a 2-6 record with a .901 SV% and a 3.39 GAA.

Special Teams Comparison;

Cents – PP 19.6% (18/92) *12^th best in the league PK 80.8% (97/120) *5^th best in the league

Capitals – PP 16.7% (14/84) *18^th best in the league PK 74.7% (62/83) *17^th best in the league