Pregame Preview: Vernon (8-4-0-0) at Merritt (5-6-1-1)

Merritt Centennials – (5-6-1-1)

Coming off a huge 6-2 win yesterday it was one of the best games the Centennials have played all season with the scouts in the crowd. The Cents were extremely close to sweeping the weekend but couldn’t hold a 3-1 lead heading to the third period, their worst period so far this season. It’s an area Brian Passmore wants to focus on improving. Being the most traveled team in the BCHL team could be a factor in why they haven’t been able to play a full 60. 

Vernon Vipers (8-4-0-0)

The Vernon Vipers came out flying to start the year with an 8-2-0-0 record, since then the team has lost two straight to two top teams in the BCHL. A 7-3 loss at the hands of Surrey and a 5-3 loss Friday in Penticton. 

The Vipers will be hungry to get back in the win column so expect them to come out on a mission. Merritt has to be ready for a dangerous team in Vernon.

Previous Meetings;

The Vipers won the only meeting between these two teams 4-2 back in late September in Vernon. The Centennials came out strong in the first as Zach Losier opened the scoring on the PP and Easton Ryan gave the visitors a 2-1 lead after one period of play.

The Vipers would tie the game in the second and then pull away in the third. Since that game Merritt has had a huge turnover on offense and a couple of changes on the back line. Meszargs was in net for that game, he won’t play this time.

Vernon is 16-1-0-0 against the Centennials the last five seasons with their only loss occurring last season.  

Blue Paint Battle;

Beau Lane gets the start in net. He played one game so far and had 40 plus saves in a 3-2 shootout loss in Langley. Lane was incredible that game, making a couple of saves in overtime as well.  

Expect Lane to be fired up with his family in the crowd.

Special Teams Comparison;

Cents – 9/45  (20 %) (10th) PK 9/51 (82.35%) (3rd)

Vipers–       13/42 (30.95%) (2nd) PK 8/40 (80 %) (6th)

Players to Watch;

CT Larochelle has three goals in five games he has been hot since returning from injury. No one is hotter than Michael Felsing who now leads the team in points and is on a bit of a hot streak of his own. Jaxson Murray has 2 points in 2 games since returning and nearly had the winner last game on an overtime breakaway. 

The Vipers are led by Owen Kim. The Vancouver native has 15 points in 12 games with Vernon this season. Anthony Cliche is also a point per game player on the back end for the Vipers. 

Keys to Victory:

Key number 1 – Play a full sixty. Third periods have not been the Cents area of strength this season. They gave up a 3-1 lead in the third and lost in their last game of the showcase. They gotta tighten that up and play the whole game through.

Key Number 2 – Respect your opponent. This team has a 16-1-0-0 record over Merritt over the last five years. No games are easy in the BCHL and this should be another big test for the Centennials.

Key number 3 – Special Teams – Don’t let the 2nd best PP in the league burn you. Even though the Cents PK is amongst the leaders giving this team plentiful powerplays will prove costly so limit penalties.