Cents Game Day – Merritt vs Salmon Arm – January 27/23

Date – Friday, January 27, 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 – 10-22-3-2

Salmon Arm Silverbacks – 17-14-3-1

Previous meetings;

The Merritt Centennials and the West Kelowna Warriors have played each other three times this season, with the Centennials holding the advantage.

November 27, VS Salmon Arm: Cents win 5-4 OT

December 31, VS Salmon Arm: Cents lose 5-1

January 13, @ Salmon Arm: Cents win 4-3

Over the past five seasons, the Centennials have won nine of 22 games.

Blue Paint Battle;

Johnny Hicks has made 24 appearances this season logging over 1,400 minutes of hockey, 1,412 to be exact. Hicks has put up an 8-8-3-2 record with a 0.919 SV% and a 3.36 GAA. Back-up Connor Sullivan has a 1-8 record in nine games with a 0.869 SV% and a 5.49 GAA.

With 28 appearances this season, Matthew Tovell has most of the playing time this season. In those 28 games, Tovell has a 13-12-2-1 record while putting up a 0.920 SV% and a 2.78 GAA. Back-up Carter Richardson has played well in his outings. Playing in 12 games, having a 4-2-1 record with a 0.887 SV% and a 3.29 GAA.

Special Teams Comparison;

Cents – PP 18.9% (25/132) *12^th best in the league PK 81.5% (137/167) *6^th best in the league

Silverbacks – PP 16.4% (19/116) *16^th best in the league PK 76.3% (86/118) *15^th best in the league

Players to Watch;

Throughout the month of January, Jaxson Murray has solidified himself as the Cents top scorer. Through six games played this month, Murray has seven points, six of those are goals. Last game out against the Silverbacks, Murray scored himself a hat-trick. After this recent hot stretch, he finds himself in 13^th in the league in scoring.

Three Silverbacks were busy over the All-Star weekend. Matthew Tovell, Nathan Mackie, and Owen Beckner participated in numerous events at the festivities. Tovell played in All-star tournament along with his teammates. Playing in the Tops Prospects game was the two forwards, with Mackie going on to compete in and win the Puck Control Relay event of the skills competition.