Post Game – The Merritt Centennials (23-26-4-2) beat the Trail Smoke Eaters (30-20-4-1) with a 7-4 final tonight at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.
The Centennials quickly jumped up to a 3-0 lead over the Smoke Eaters in the first period, two of the goals coming on the power play. It was Brendan Schneider that opened the scoring on the power play getting the puck past Tanner Marshall to give the Centennials the 1-0 lead. At the 12:09 mark it was a goal from Christian Sabin to give Merritt a 2-0 lead, the goal was originally called off but the referees called it a good goal just seconds after. With just over two minutes remaining in the first frame Zachary Zorn scored on the power play and give the Centennials the 3-0 lead.
It was Matthew Kopperud who opened up the scoring for the Centennials in the middle frame and to give Merritt a 4-0 lead. The Smoke Eaters got on the board at the 9:46 mark of the second to make the score 4-1 in favour of the Centennials but just a minute and two seconds later Zach Risteau got the puck past Marshall and regain Merritt’s four goal lead. At the 11 minute mark Zorn got his second goal of the game to give the Centennials a 6-1 lead going into the final period.
Trail just exploded with goals in the final frame of the game. Just 15 seconds into the final frame of the game it was the Smokies who scored the first goal of the period to make the game 6-2 in favour of the Centennials. At the 15:11 mark Trail got another goal to make the game 6-3 and just almost two minutes later the Smokies scored once again to make the game 6-4. The Centennials weren’t about to go down without a fight; with just 2:13 left in the game Ashton Stockie scored a beautiful goal to make the score 7-4.
The Centennials next game goes Thursday night as they welcome the Salmon Arm Silverbacks (23-26-3-1) to Merritt.
