The Merritt Centennials were spurred on by the play of Ryan Winter in net and Christian Buono up front en route to a 6-2 victory.
Rylan Van Unen started the game off with a bang when he scored 29 seconds in from the corner below the goal line off the pads of Derrick and in to make it 1-0. The Warriors were able to quickly answer to make it 1-1. Ben Ward battled his way to the front and was spotted by Evan Benwell, Ward took a couple cracks and then roofed it to make it 2-1. Joey Berkopec wheeled down the right wing, drove the slot, and put it on a platter for Wyatt Marlow who sniped top corner to make it 3-1 and chase Derrick from the net with under 10 minutes gone in the frame. Coach of the Warriors Brandon West called a time out, swapped goaltenders and the Warriors responded by pushing play for the remainder of the first. The Warriors would score on the powerplay to make it 3-2, but the Cents would escape the first with a lead. Shots after 1 were 16-9 West K.
The second period saw a much more even keeled contest with the Cents regaining their form. Neither team could solve the goalies as Ryan Winter stood on his head making a couple of game changing saves to keep the Warriors at bay. The Cents got an opportunity on the PP late in the frame, and after squandering the first minute thirty they were able to get in on a good final rush. Rylan Van Unen played cross ice for Payton Matsui, who found Christian Buono in front to make it 4-2. Shots after 2 were 28-20 Warriors.
In the third, the Centennials played the right way with the lead. Christian Buono added another powerplay goal after tapping in the back door pass from Joey Berkopec who drove the zone with speed. The Cents had a couple key stops from Winter in the final frame, and Buono added an empty netter shorthanded to complete the natural hat trick and ice the game late. Final Shots were 40-34 West Kelowna.
After the game, Head Coach Derek Sweet-Coulter said the Cents were playing the right way after a shaky first.
“We were running and gunning a bit too much for my liking in the first, but in the second and third we started playing our game and we saw some great stretches of play. We need to bring that confidence tomorrow.”
The Cents get set for the rematch at the NVMA Saturday night at 7pm.
