GAME DAY: Penticton Vees (17-1-2-2) at Merritt Centennials (9-10-3-1)

Merritt Centennials – (9-10-3-1)

It seems every game is an emotional nail biter for the Merritt Centennials. Last night was no different as they nearly got the win but couldn’t hang on. The Cents only suffered one blow out loss in game two of the season against Penticton, a much different Merritt team than today’s.

They are 0-3 against the Vees this season but their one saving grace is the fact that Penticton is not as good on the road as at home. Believe it or not the Vees are 6-5 on the road. But only one of those losses was in regulation, the first game of the season in West Kelowna. 

Penticton Vees – (17-1-2-2)

There may be a lack of goal calls today. The Vees have surrendered one or less goal in 4 of their last five games as both goaltenders shared back-to-back shutouts. Penticton has also dominated the Cents at the NVMA with 6-0 and 5-2 wins outsourcing them 11-2. But even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while so stay positive folks! Saturday is a good day as any for the Cents to end the streak of doom!

Previous Meetings;

A 6-0, 6-4 and 5-2 win for the Vees in the season series. 

The Cents have lost 28 games in a row against Penticton with their last win being about five years ago, a 4-2 home loss to the hands of Merritt. 

Their last home win was a 3-2 wim in January of 2017 so it has been almost seven years since Penticton left the NVMA with a loss. Unbeeeeeei-LEEVABLE!  

Special Teams Comparison;

Cents –      19/87(24.4%)    (5th) PK 16/85 (80.5%) (5th)

Vees –      16/60 (34.7%) (1st) PK 16/60 (73.3%) (15th)

Players to Watch;

Michael Felsing is on a 7 game point streak with 10 points in 7 games and two goals in two. He is now tied for the 2nd best player in the BCHL points wise and is only three points shy of the leading scorer in the BCHL Nicholas Beneteau who had 3 apples in a 10-1 dominating win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals. 

Jaxson Murray is on a 5 game goal scoring streak and 8 game point streak. Murray has only gone pointless in one game against Vernon in his 12 games since returning to Merritt. His return has sparked the powerplay which is now 5th in the league. 

For the Vees Callum Arnott has been hot of late with 3 goals and 4 assists, good for 7 points in 6 games. Arnott had three assists last night in a 4-0 win over the visiting Prince George Spruce Kings. The defense and goaltending in general has been hot as well with two straight shutouts. Scoring against the Vees has become almost impossible of late. Fred Harbinson has his team putting up a big blue wall against the opposition.

Keys to Victory; 

Key number 1 – Discipline. 

You’re amongst the leaders in the BCHL for penalties taken and this is the top power play in the league. This is really simple. Don’t hand the game over with undisciplined plays. Especially in the offensive zone. The team has to control their defensive side of the game without going too far.

Key Number 2 – Play a full sixty minutes. The Cents are getting an identity as a team that either comes out hot and fizzles late or comes out slow and pushes back late. It would be nice to see them consistent throughout an entire game, there hasn’t been a lot of games where you could say the team was good from start to finish.

Key number 3 – Home cooking. 

Last home game before three in four nights on the road and a big Coastal trip. The Vees had to travel over while the Cents woke up in their own beds. Penticton is 6-5 on the road this isn’t david vs goliath this is a .500 road team. If the team believes in themselves they will win.

Centennials Bench | Connor Logan