It was a bittersweet end to the Merritt Centennials season, as Merritt won its last game of the regular season 4-3 against the Wenatchee Wild but found out that it would be the last game of their season.
The Cents needed for Vernon to lose their game against the Trail Smoke Eaters – Vernon ended up winning 7-2. With both teams finishing the year with the same amount of points, the tie break fell to Vernon’s extra win.
Cents goalie Cole Kehler notched the win on 40 saves while Garrett Nieto saved 22 for the loss.
The Wild and the Cents played a decently wide open first period for the smaller ice surface on the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena. There were plenty of chances in front of both Nieto and Kehler, both making frequent glove saves through the opening frame. Merritt notched the first goal when Nick Fiorentino shot a rocket through a crowd in front of Garrett Nieto. There were no penalties in the first period.
The second period was a more physical one. Merritt wanted to clog the ice and throw the body early, and was able to in the middle frame. Wenatchee found a way when former Centennial Daniel Nachbaur scored a gorgeous goal. Merritt answered right back with a clutch Zach Court goal just two minutes later. Only a minute after that, Wenatchee pushed the game to 2-2 on a Kyle Stephan goal. The Cents managed to grind down the Wild after that, and took the lead when Brett Jewell scored his 13th from Nick Jermain and Henry Cleghorn. Each team was awarded a powerplay with Henry Cleghorn getting charged for interference, while the Wild’s Charlie Combs took a slashing call.
Off the rush, the Wild tied the game at 0:30 of the third period. Wild captain Mike Coyne ripped a wrist shot past Cole Kehler. The Cents and Wild would play a furious third, a mixture of a few open chances in the first and the physical grind of the second period. The Wild took three penalties in the third period while Merritt took two, as there were more penalties in the third period than in the first two combined. Late in the game and with their season potentially on the line, the Cents Nick Jermain secured the win for his club in their last home game of the regular season. With the win, Merritt finishes the season with 23 wins, 30 losses, and four overtime losses. The Cents finish above the Trail Smoke Eaters, who finish last in the Interior Division. The Cents look forward to next year with a young core still intact.
