Battle for third place continues for Cents this weekend

The drive for positioning continues for the Merritt Centennials.

With ten games left in their inaugural KIJHL season, the Centennials ( 34-20-10-3-1) are in a heated battle for third place in the Bill Ohlhausen Division trailing the Sicamous Eagles (36-20-10-6) by just two points with two games in hand.

“We (the Cents) are trying not to focus on what others are doing in the division,” said head coach Wes McLeod. “We are focused on the games we can control, if we do that, then we will be in good shape.”

If the first round of the playoffs were to begin today, the Cents would face the Princeton Posse. The Centennials have had success against the high octane Posse this season with two wins in three games. Princeton however is in a tight race of their own for top spot in the division with Revelstoke leading the Grizzlies by two points with the Grizz having two games in hand.

“It’s really the tightest division in the KIJHL. ” said Roger White, Centennials broadcaster. “I think everyone believes that the first round series match-up in the Bill Ohlhausen, won’t be decided until the final weekend.”

The Centennials will have a chance to improve on their positioning with a pair of matchups this weekend.

On Friday night, the Creston Valley Thunder Cats (33-12-19-2)  make their first ever appearance at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena for a 7 p.m. contest. The Thunder Cats are also playing for their playoff lives tied with the Golden Rockets in the Eddie Mountain Division with 26 points but with two games in hand.

Friday night’s game is also Literacy Night at the NVMA. Cents fans are encouraged to bring new or used books to the game, which in turn will be donated to Literacy Merritt, which provides free books throughout the city.

On Saturday night, Merritt travels to the South Caribou Rec Center in 100 Mile House for a 7 p.m. contest with the Wranglers. The Wranglers will be looking to exact some revenge for a 4-1 loss on Jan 11 at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena, in a game marred by almost 80 minutes in penalties.

Both games can be heard on Q101 with the Super Save Gas pre-game show set for 6:45 p.m. with Roger White and Jared Thomas.