Centennials hope fans pack the NVMA for Friday’s Teddy Bear Toss Game

MERRITT — The Cents hope Merrittonians come out in droves for the annual Teddy Bear Toss Game.

The West Kelowna Warriors will be in town for Friday’s game. Last season the Centennials got their biggest win of their season, a 6-0 victory over the visiting Cowichan Valley Capitals. This year’s game should be a lot closer with the Warriors and Cents splitting the season series so far.

West Kelowna won the first matchup 6-4 at the NVMA then dropped the next game in Merritt by the same score. The Cents would steal a 4-3 win in West Kelowna in the third meeting. The Warriors would exact revenge in a 4-3 overtime victory in West Kelowna on November 24th. The season is tied with Merritt getting the one extra point. So the Cents havn’t lost in regulation against West Kelowna since the first game between both teams.

For those who have yet to go to a Teddy Bear Toss, the fans all bring teddy bears to the game and will toss them onto the ice after the Centennials score their first goal of the game, whenever that is.

Merritt will be in tough the next night hosting Penticton, looking for their first win over the Vees in five years. The Cents head to Penticton Wednesday to finish off a home-and-home series before a rare coastal trip to Cowichan Valley and Alberni Valley.

The team hopes fans pack the NVMA and litter the ice with teddies!