Centennials get shutout to end home stand

The Merritt Centennials played a brief three-game home stand and after taking three out of the possible first four points, the Cents were shutout in the third game.

The Penticton Vees were in town at the Nicola memorial Arena for a rare Wednesday night game, and the game was all Vees.

Coming out of the dressing rooms in the first period, the Vees set the tone early. Just over a minute into the opening frame, Brett Moravec sniped the top left corner from the slot after an offensive zone turnover for the Cents. Five minutes later, Spencer Smith extended Penticton’s lead to 2-0. At the 15:24 mark, Kyle Isenberg was called for interference, brining out the leagues best powerplay, and they showed why they are the best. As the powerplay was winding down, Moravec got some help from the post as it rang off the iron and hit Connor Sullivan in the back and into the net. Moravec’s second of the game, this time on the powerplay. Final after the first, 3-0.

The second period started even faster for the Vees. 45 seconds in, Moravec once again found the back of the net, capping off the hat-trick and chasing Sullivan out of the net. Down 4-0 early into the second, the Cents turned to Johnny Hicks looking to shift momentum, which only worked for 19 minutes of action. In the final minute of the second, who else but Moravec was able to score once again, his fourth goal of the game, extending the lead to five. There was only one penalty from either team in the frame, coming at the 8:07 mark when Walker Erickson was called for a trip. Final after the second, 5-0.

The Vees continued dominating this game in the final frame. Jackson Murphy-Johnson went to the box for cross-checking at the 5:51 mark, giving the Vees and extra skater once again. It took 11 seconds for the leagues leading scorer, Josh Nadeau to score the powerplay goal. A couple minutes later, the Cents found themselves a man down once again with Mark Thurston in the sin bin for roughing. Hiroki Gojsic was the powerplay scorer this time around, extending the lead to seven. The Vees would add one more with Jackson Nieuwendyk scoring an unassisted goal right off the draw in Cents territory. Final score 8-0.

The Cents were outshot in the game 55-16, with Sullivan stopping 18/22 in the losing effort and Hicks saving 29/33 in relief.

Coming up next for the Centennials is a road trip to play the Trail Smoke Eaters on Friday (December 16) and the Cranbrook Bucks on Saturday (December 17).