Photo Credit: Garrett James
The Cents talked about having a strong start to the game, but for the 3rd time this season they’d fall behind by a big margin in the first and be unable to come back falling 6-1 against the Penticton Vees.
The first period started out well for the Cents, but the Vees would score on their first chance with extended zone time with James Miller making it 1-0. Ryan Sandelin would add another goal against the grain just over a minute later to give the Vees as 2-0 lead. Miller would add his second of the game on the powerplay after a parade to the box by the Cents to make it 3-0. Jack LaFontaine would stop all 15 shots after 1, while Austin Roden allowed 3 goals on 11 shots.
The Cents didn’t come out with a lot of fire to start the second and fell flat on their first full powerplay allowing a shorthanded goal to Eric Linell. James Miller would complete the hat trick on the powerplay 9 minutes into the second period by picking the top corner through a screen. Roden didn’t see through the screen, and he didn’t see any more time in the game getting pulled after stopping 11/16 shots against with the Cents in a 5-0 hole. The Cents would get opportunities after the Vees paraded to the box, but could only capitalize once on a full two minute 5-on-3 advantage with Rylan Van Unen poking the puck across the line after Matt Kopperud beat LaFontaine with a one-timer in his first game back from injury. Shots after two were 25-20 in favour of the Merritt Centennials.
In the third, Head Coach Joe Martin put the lines in a blender but it didn’t produce any results as Linell would have the only goal of the 3rd to make it a 6-1 final. The Cents outshot the Vees 33-32, but the shot quality wasn’t there. Vincent Duplessis stopped 15/16, LaFontaine stopped 32/33. The Cents are still looking for their first win over the Vees in nearly two seasons.
After the game Assistant Coach Brandon Shaw said the Cents need to get back to their identity.
“We’ve gotten away from team defense and hard work which are really the tenets of the Centennials. We get back to shutting things down in our end and the offense will come.”
The Cents will look to turn things around tomorrow night when they host the Victoria Grizzlies and NHL prospect Alex Newhook.
