Centennials lose fourth straight at home

The Merritt Centennials welcomed in the lone American team, the Wenatchee Wild, to the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena and dropped their only weekend game in a tight battle.

It was the Centennials who came out flying in the first period. Three and a half minutes in, Ryan Spinale snipped home his sixth of the season to give the Cents the early 1-0 lead. On the goal, Maddix McCagherty got an assist for his first career BCHL point. The lead wouldn’t last long as the Wild answered back halfway through the period. Luke Weilandt scored his 11th of the season. With 29 seconds left in the period, Carter Schmidt took a cross-checking penalty, forcing the Cents to finish off the frame and potentially start off the second down a man. Final after the first, 1-1.

Both teams found the scoreboard quickly in the second. With the Wild on the powerplay still, Jason Stefanek scored his fourth of the season just 33 seconds into the middle frame. Looking for an answer, Schmidt tipped in the centering pass for his third goal of the season. Another back to back goals came from both teams later in the period. At the 14:04 mark, Mark Thurston grabbed the puck to the side of the net and caught the goalie off guard, giving the Centennials the lead again. 14 seconds after the Cents take the lead, Christian Lowe gets caught with a cross-checking penalty, sending the Wild to the powerplay once again. It only took 37 seconds for Stefanek to score his second powerplay goal of the game. Final after the second, 3-3.

The third period started with a great opportunity for the Centennials. Dane Westen was sent to the box for a boarding penalty within the first minute. The Cents were not able to capitalize on the early man advantage opportunity. With less than five minutes left in the game, the Wild came storming down the ice, leading to a scramble in front. The puck found the stick of Weilandt who tapped in his second of the game and the eventual game winner. Final score, 4-3.

Johnny Hicks stopped 49/53 in the losing effort.

The Merritt Centennials are back in action on the weekend. Friday (February 10) and Saturday (February 11) in Prince George for back-to-back games against the Spruce Kings.