Cents Game Day – Merritt vs Wenatchee – March 10/23

Date – Friday, March 10, 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 – 11-30-3-2

Wenatchee Wild – 24-21-1-2

Previous Meetings;

The Merritt Centennials and the Wenatchee Wild have played each other three times this season. The Cents are yet to win in this matchup this season.

November 4^th @ Wenatchee: Cents lose 5-4 OT

February 3^rd VS Wenatchee: Cents lose 4-3

February 25^th VS Wenatchee: Cents lose 3-1

Over the past five seasons, the Centennials have won six times in 20 games in this matchup.

Blue Paint Battle;

Connor Sullivan has taken over the starting job for this Centennials team due to an injury to Johnny Hicks. In 18 games played, Sullivan has a 3-14 record with a 0.868 SV% and a 5.73 GAA Before the injury, Hicks made 27 appearances putting up an 8-10-3 record with a 0.917 SV% and a 3.53 GAA.

The Wild have really used a two-goalie rotation throughout the season. Andy Vlaha has 30 games played with a 14-12 record and a 0.901 SV% and a 3.04 GAA. Owen Millward is the other goalie on this roster. He has a 10-9-1 record in 24 games played, putting up a 0.890 SV% and a 3.55 GAA.

Special Teams Comparison;

Cents – PP 17.4% (28/161) *16^th best in the league PK 75.9% (161/212) *13^th best in the league

Wild – PP 22.0% (41/186) *5^th best in the league PK 79.6% (121/152) *7^th best in the league

Players to Watch;

It took Aidan Lindblad 12 games to get his first goal as a Merritt Centennial, but now he has two in a row. Lindblad scored the lone goal against the Penticton Vees and then the overtime winner against the West Kelowna Warriors last weekend. He now has five points (2G,3A) in 14 games with the Cents.

The Wild quietly have a dynamic duo on their second line, who have torched the Cents this season and are coming off a big game. Micah Berger and Luke Weilandt have a combined 9 points (5G,4A) in the 12 total goals the Wild have scored in three games against the Cents. Even the Wilds last game against the Chilliwack Chiefs, Weilandt scored two, whereas Berger had a goal and an assist.