Date – Friday, January 21, 2022
Game Time – Puck drop 7:00 pm
Location – South Okanagan Events Centre, Penticton B.C.
Broadcast – Q101 & BCHLTV
Penticton Vees – 21-6-0-2
Merritt Centennials – 2-25-1-0
The Cents are back on the road tonight in Penticton to face the always dangerous Vees at the SOEC. The teams have played twice this year with Penticton winning both in shutout fashion.
The Cents came out strong on Wednesday night versus West Kelowna, but a bad bounce at the blue line would lead to the opening marker for the Warriors.
On the powerplay, Sam Ward would slip and fall at the blue line, allowing Alexis Van Houtte-Cachero to break in all alone beating Jackson Baker on the forehand deke.
Special teams would continue to play a factor in the opening period with West K striking twice on the powerplay. First was Tyson Jugnauth and then the captain Elan Bar-Lev-Wise bulging the twine.
Baker stopped 11/14 in the opening frame. John Hicks would replace Baker to start the second period.
West K would add to their lead with the first even-strength marker of the contest courtesy of Felix Trudeau who made a power move to the front of the net and beat Hicks.
The Cents would respond following a slew of penalties led to a 4-3 powerplay for Merritt, Ryan Mulrenin would slap a one-timer with a juicy rebound finding the stick of Jacksenn Hungle to make it 4-1.
West K would add two more late in the frame from Trudeau and Tyler Cristall finding the back of the net.
Hicks would stop 12/15 in relief.
Only one goal would be scored in the final stanza with Bar-Lev-Wise netting his second of the contest. Make the final 7-1 Warriors.
The Vees enter play losers of three games in a row and still looking for win number 1 in 2022. Last time out the Vees lost 6-2 up in Prince Goerge. Penticton is led by Luc Wilson with 40 points, (15G, 15A) and Josh Nadeau with 22 goals.
Previous meetings;
The Cents and Vees have played twice already this season, once at each team’s home rink but it hasn’t changed the outcome. In both games, Penticton has won by a 8-0 final. The Cents have not yet faced the Vees under new head coach Curtis Toneff however. Merritt has just one win in their last 20 games versus Penticton, coming in 2019 at the SOEC.
Blue Paint Battle;
The goaltending situation in Merritt has been solidified thanks to a deadline move to bring in Jackson Baker. Baker is 0-3 with a .791 SV% and a 10.17 GAA after getting the early hook in back to back games.
John Hicks has returned from injury and is now is 0-4 with a .869 SV% and a 5.32 GAA.
Penticton is led by Kaeden Lane between the pipes. Lane is 15-1-1 with a .906 SV% and a 2.15 GAA.
In recent games, Colin Purcell and Carter Serhyenko have been sharing the crease. Purcell is 4-2 with a.889 SV% and a 2.55 GAA. Serhyenko is 1-2-1 with a .851 SV% and a 3.31 GAA.
Special Teams Comparison;
Vees – PP 26.2% (5/18) PK 84.0% (3/18)
Cents – PP 11.2% (18/18) PK 66.9% (18/18)
