“Redemption at the NVMA” Merritt Centennials putting on a show at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena

MERRITT — There is no secret the Centennials haven’t exactly put on a show for Merrittonians at the NVMA over the last few seasons.

This season started off looking like it would be more of the same.

After a promising 5-3 win in Merritt’s home opener over the Powell River Kings the Cents got stomped 6-0 by the visiting Penticton Vees, something Cents fans have become all too used to over the past five seasons.

The Cents would drop to 1-3-0-0 on the year after going pointless in a two game road swing.

Merritt would end up losing five of their next seven games at the NVMA, and it looked like it was going to be another long year for Centennials fans.

Since Joe Martin’s Cents went 20-6-2-1 at home in 2018/19 the fans have watched the team get pushed around and dominated since.

“The Miserable Years”

In 2019/20 Cents started off competitive at home going 8-10 but would completely fall off going 9-19-0-1 at home losing 20 of 29 games at the NVMA and 10 of their last 11 games in their own barn.

The following season during Covid was even worse. The Cents would go 0-6 at home during the “Pod Season.”

The 2021/22 Centennials was a year most Merrittonians would love to forget. A 3 win and 51 loss season.

The Cents were an almost automatic loss in their own building going 3-22-1-1. The following season Merritt improved slightly but were still basement dwellers in the BCHL, again starting off competitive but losing 28 of their final 30 games to end the season.

That year they would go 7-18-1-1. They would start the year 5-8-1-1 at the NVMA giving promise of a change around the team then fall off with 10 losses in their final 12 home games.

70 losses in 99 games in Merritt over that span. An average of 7 losses every 10 home games.

After losing 5 of their first 8 games at the NVMA it looked like another long year for Merritt fans. Joe Martin’s Cents seemed to be the last team to show some competitive fire in front of the home side and that was half a decade ago.

this year’s Head Coach Brian Passmore seems to have the boys finally firing on all cylinders as Merritt is slowly becoming a tough place for opposing teams to visit again.

They have beaten top BCHL teams like the West Kelowna Warriors, Victoria Grizzlies and Salmon Arm Silverbacks in Merritt, something that hasn’t happened in quite a while for the Cents.

They even swept the Trail Smoke Eaters in three visits to the NVMA beating them 5-4 in overtime and crushing them 5-1 twice in the other two games.

 

“Redemption: A tough place to play for visiting teams again”

Passmore’s squad is 8-4-1 in their last 13 games at the NVMA and is averaging 4.00 goals per game in their last seven home games.

Opposing goaltenders have been lit up in Merritt with a 3.59 GAA this season as the boys in red and white have given the fans plenty to cheer for of late.

Right now is a good time as any to come see one of the best teams the Centennials have assembled in five years, there are three home games left in the current home stand (March 1st, 2nd and 8th, 2024.)

After a five game road trip the Cents will head back home for two more regular season games against Cranbrook and Prince George (March 28th and 30th) before preparing for the first round of the playoffs.

You can catch Zach Amin and Jared Thomas calling all home games for the rest of the season. With Jared Thomas calling second periods for home games. Zach Amin will have Q 101.1 action and Flohockey for the five game road trip and all road games in the playoffs as well.

Catch the next game Friday, March 1st, 2024 live on Q 101.1 and Flohockey as the Cents wrap up a three game set against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks at the NVMA.