Centennials strike out over the weekend going 0-3

The Merritt Centennials had a busy weekend, playing three games in two and a half days.

The Cents weren’t able to come away with a win, dropping all three. Friday (February 25) night the Cents were in Salmon Arm against the Silverbacks, before returning home against the Wenatchee Wild on Saturday (February 26). To finish up the weekend, the Centennials played an afternoon game in West Kelowna against the Warriors on Sunday (February 27).

Friday, February 25: Merritt Centennials @ Salmon Arm Silverbacks

The first period started off slow as both teams were feeling each other out only trading a couple of penalties. Late in the opening frame, Carter Schmidt was sent to the penalty box for tripping at the 17:42 mark, sending the Salmon Arm Silverbacks to the powerplay. With eight seconds left before Schmidt was set to step out of the box, Brandon Santa Juana would score a powerplay goal, getting the Silverbacks on the board. Final after the first, 1-0.

To start of the second period, it was the Centennials quickly back to the penalty kill. Eight minutes in, Dylan Emerson was shipped to the sin bin for hooking, which made the Silverbacks hungry for their second powerplay goal. This one came from an Ethan Ullrick wrist shot for his 18th of the season. Former Merritt Centennial Tristan Allen would help out his old team by taking a tripping call at 11:45. While Allen was stepping out of the box, Diego Johnson found the back of the net, barely making it in time to be classified as a powerplay goal. Final after the second, 2-1.

The offence of the Silverbacks came to life in the third, exploding for quick goals. Two and a half minutes in, Casy Laylin finished off a sweet two-on-one, with the feed from Hayden Stavroff, for a much needed insurance goal. Four minutes later, Ryan Spinale would be sent off for two minutes after taking an interference call. It only took Nathan Mackie 37 seconds of powerplay time to extend the lead even further, giving the Silverbacks their third powerplay goal of the game. 25 seconds later, Stavroff would stop with the slick passes and elect to score one for himself, widening the lead to four. For the rest of the final frame, the Centennials would not be able to capitalize on a couple of more powerplay opportunities. Final score, 5-1.

Connor Sullivan would make 34/39 saves in the losing effort.

Saturday, February 26: Merritt Centennials VS Wenatchee Wild

The game was pushed back a couple minutes due to a pre-game ceremony for mental health awareness night in support of the Ty Pozzobon Foundation. The Centennials were able to fight off two penalties in the opening frame before cracking open the scoring late in the period. Jaxson Murray found a wide open Jackson Krill in the slot who riffled it home for his 17th of the season. Final after the first, 1-0.

The Centennials held onto the lead until the later half of the second period. At the 12:58 mark of the middle period, Luke Weilandt tied up the game at one a piece with his 16th goal of the season. Six minutes later, Micah Berger scored his 19th goal of the year to grab the lead for the Wild. Final after the second 2-1.

A physical third period led to lots of penalties on either side of the ice. There was six calls combined between both teams, four of which were coincidental roughing calls. The biggest back breaking penalty came in the last minute by Jackson Murphy-Johnson. Down by one, with the Cents looking to pull the goalie for an extra attacker, JMJ fell to an unfortunate call. Looking to lay a hit, the forward for the Wild turned his back and Murphy-Johnson was shown the box for boarding. 45 seconds left in the game, the Centennials evened up the skaters on the ice by pulling the goalie, but it back fired quickly. Parker Murray scored the empty net goal on the powerplay. Final score, 3-1.

Connor Sullivan took the lose while making 39/41 saves.

Sunday, February 27: Merritt Centennials @ West Kelowna Warriors

The last time these two teams met, the West Kelowna Warriors trounced the Cents 9-1, and the offence of the Warriors were up for the same task again. Two and a half minutes into the game, the Warriors jumped out to a quick lead with Chris Duclair hitting double digits with his 10th goal of the season. Right before the BCHL media timeout, Jackson Murray found the soft spot in front of the net, took a pass from Maddix McCagherty on the tape, and fired it top corner, tying the game up at one. The first shift after the timeout, the Warriors answered quickly. It was Nic Porchetta’s turn to reach his 10th goal of the season. Final after the first, 2-1.

The Warriors would increase the lead further with three back-to-back-to-back goals. With seven minutes left in the middle frame, Brennan Nelson would just on the offense train, scoring his 10th goal of the season. Less than two minutes later, Jaiden Moriello connected with Ben MacDonald with a full ice pass off the boards, sending the speedy MacDonald on the breakaway. MacDonald made no mistake, going backhand tucking it over the shoulder. Off the ensuing face-off, Michael Salandra would grab the puck in the offensive zone, pulling off a beautiful toe-drag, and sniping the top corner, making it a four goal lead. Final after the second, 5-1.

Looking to score nine again, the Warriors came up just short in the final frame. In the final half of the period, at the 10:19 mark, the penalty kill for the Centennials would be tasked once again with Carter Schmidt in the box for interference. A minute in, Rylee Hlusiak would tuck home the powerplay goal for his 15th marker of the season. The Cents would fall victim to another quick barrage, as Chris Duclair scored his second goal of the season just 40 seconds after the Hlusiak goal. Final score, 7-1.

A few Centennials would hit some milestones in this game. Making their BCHL debuts, hometown Merritt boy Jalen McRae and goalie Nathan Preston. On the other end of the spectrum, veteran Jackson Krill would suite up for his 100th career BCHL game.

Preston, making his debut, would stop 42/49 in the losing effort.

The Centennials next game is Friday (March 3) back home at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena against the Penticton Vees.