Foster, Cents look to continue dominance over Kelowna in KIJHL action this weekend

Even though the Merritt Centennials secured a playoff spot last Friday night, head coach Wes McLeod is not taking anything for granted as he prepares his team for a Saturday night game in Kelowna in the teams only game of the weekend.

The Centennials have three victories over Kelowna this season with every game decided by one goal.

McLeod and his Centennials have won seven out of their last ten games and an astonishing 17 wins in their 25-games played since November 1, only losing back-to-back once during that period, Nov. 22 and 23 to the Sicamous Eagles.

“Making the playoffs was a goal we ( management) set this year, however it wasn’t the only goal we had for our first year in the league,” said McLeod last week. “We want to make a deep playoff push this year and I really think we have the horses to do that. We need to play  the Merritt Centennials brand of hockey and I have full confidence in the group of guys in the locker room that we can make that happen.”

The Centennials currently occupy the third seed in the Bill Ohlhausen division with 50 points thanks to a record of 23-12-3-1 in 39 games. The Cents do have an outside chance at finishing second in the division, however they would have to win the remaining five games of the regular season and have Revelstoke lose their remaining six games including the last game of the season against the Centennials on Feb. 22 in Revelstoke.

“There will be no nights off for our guys, “McLeod noted.”   They know how important it is to build momentum  heading into the post season and with every game left against division rivals, we have to be ready.”

Centennials sniper Steve Foster continues to garner awards this season. After being awarded the top KIJHL forward of the month for December, Foster this week was named top forward for his five points registered in the Cents three games in four night last week against Osoyoos, Williams Lake and Kamloops. Foster’s 49 points this season places him eighth in league scoring, just one point behind line mate Sam Giangulano who has 50 points this season sitting in sixth.

Game time Saturday night is 7 p.m. from the Rutland Arena in Kelowna and can be heard on Q101 with the Super Save Gas pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.