Cents Game Day – Merritt vs Cranbrook – January 5/23

Date – Thursday, January 5, 2023

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 – 8-19-3-1 

Cranbrook Bucks – 21-8-1-0

Previous meetings;

The Merritt Centennials and the Cranbrook Bucks have played each other three times this season and the Cents have not been able to get a win yet.

September 23 VS Cranbrook: 5-2

November 18 @ Cranbrook: 5-2

December 17 @ Cranbrook 4-1

Since the Bucks entered the league they have beat the Centennials seven times in eight games.

Blue Paint Battle;

Johnny Hicks has made 19 appearances this season logging over 1,100 minutes of hockey, 1,102 to be exact. Hicks has put up a 6-6-3-1 record with a 0.917 SV% and a 3.32 GAA. Back-up Connor Sullivan has a 1-7 record in eight games with a 0.871 SV% and a 5.41 GAA.

The goalie role on this Bucks team has been dominated mostly by Nathan Airey. Airey has played in 22 games, putting up a 14-6-1 record with a 0.932 SV% and a 2.33 GAA. The back-up Carter Capton can’t be overlooked as he has a 7-2 record with a 0.918 SV% and a 2.30 GAA.

Special Teams Comparison;

Cents – PP 18.1% (21/116) *15^th best in the league PK 81.1% (116/143) *6^th best in the league

Bucks – PP 15.0% (15/100) *17^th best in the league PK 84.2% (80/95) *3^rd best in the league

Players to Watch;

Connor Farren has found success against the Bucks so far in the three games this season and will look to keep it up. The Cents have scored five goals against Cranbrook this season with Farren accounting for two of them. He will be looking to add more secondary scoring for this team. So far this season Farren has ten points (5G,5A)

Jack Silich is the leading scorer for this Bucks team but comes into this matchup looking to get back on track. Silich has been held off the score sheet in the past three games. The forward has 29 points (17G,12A) this season.