POST GAME: The Merritt Centennials, (17-19-2-1) shut out the Vernon Vipers, (23-15-3-2) with a 5-0 win in Merritt.
The Cents came out strong and opened up the scoring just 1:10 into the game, Colton Gerblig getting that goal and Zach Court drawing the assist. Just a few minutes into the game, Mathieu Gosselin scored and made it 2-0 for the Cents, the game not even being five minutes old. Mathieu Goesselin is currently on a hot streak having scored four goals in the last three games.
The second period was quiet on goals, but not penalties. At 9:39 of the second period, it was the Vipers Shane Kelly that came off the bench and took a couple of shots at Merritt’s Zach Court, Kelly’s night ended early, getting himself a five minute major for fighting and a game misconduct. At 15:18 of the second, Chris Jandric went off for tripping, while Tyrell Buckley went off for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Cents managed to get a power play goal, going one for three, while the Vipers went zero for four.
Just 57 seconds into the third period, Joey Berkopec went off for tripping but the Centennials managed to kill that penalty as well. At 3:07 of the third, Bradley Cocca made it 3-0 for the Cents getting the puck past Vipers goalie Anthony Yamnistky. Brad Cocca got another one past Yamnistky but the goal was called off due to goaltender interference; but just a few minutes later, it was Christian Sabin that managed to get the puck past the Vipers netminder, this time without goalie interference and make it 4-0 for the Cents.
With just a few minutes left in the game, it was the Centennials leading scorer, Henry Cleghorn going top shelf and making it 5-0 for the Cents. The assists from the goals from tonight came from, Zach Court, Nick Wicks, Matthew Kopperud, Mathieu Gosselin and newest/veteran Zach Risteau.
Austin Roden faced 24 shots turning them all away, and earning his first shutout of the season, while Yamnistky faced 24 shots as well.
The next game day action for the Cents goes tomorrow night as they travel to Trail to take on the Smoke Eaters, (25-13-3-1). The Smokies are coming off a 2-2 tie with the Penticton Vees, (25-9-2-3).
