The Merritt Centennials (5-14-1) get set to take on a team they’re chasing in the standings in the Victoria Grizzlies (7-19) tonight.
The Cents are looking to carry the momentum from last weekend after taking 3 of 4 points from one of the top teams in the league in the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. In game one of the home and home double header, the Cents were able to battle back in a hard fought game in Salmon Arm. Joey Berkopec tied the game at ones with a drive down the left wing side, and was able to collect his own rebound. The Cents went into the third trailing 3-1, but thanks to an effort out of the corner by Jake McLean and Payton Matsui, Matsui was able to backhand it past Langenegger to get the Cents within one. Then with 23 seconds remaining in the game and the net empty, Talon Zakall unleashed a blast that sent the game to overtime. Unfortunately, in the extra frame the Silverbacks would take advantage of a play that wiped Ryan Winter out of the net to take the game 4-3 in OT. The following night at the NVMA the Cents had one of their best efforts of the year and set a new high water mark in terms of goals scored with 6. The teams went toe to toe throughout the game matching shot for shot, goal for goal, but it was the Cents who padded the lead enough to survive a barn burner 6-5. The Cents got goals from Wyatt Marlow, Thomas Manty, Joey Berkopec, and Payton Matsui while Brett Roloson scored a pair to edge the Silverbacks.
The Victoria Grizzlies come into the game on a 8 game losing streak where they’ve only scored 9 goals over that span. November hasn’t been kind as they’ve lost by scores of 1-0, 4-0 and 5-3 to Nanaimo the last two times out, 2-1 to Cowichan, 4-1 to Penticton and 5-2 to the Vernon Vipers. Despite the losses piling up the Grizzlies have been managing to keep respectable special teams numbers and have just recently acquired Vincent Nardone from the Penticton Vees in exchange for Darwin Lakoduk in an attempt to bolster their offense.
The Cents and Grizzlies will meet for the 2nd and final time this season, and they managed to take game 1 of the season series by a score of 5-1 early on in the season. At that time, Barry Wolff was still tinkering with the roster and two of the teams top scorers for the Cents didn’t dress in Brett Roloson and Daniel Tkac. The Cents only managed a goal from Olson Werenka, albeit on the powerplay and ran into the hot goaltending of Joe Howe. The Grizzlies got goals from Fischer, Amousse, Monds, McInnis and Biester on route to the vicory.
The Cents continue to lean on Josh Kagan up front who has 20 points, but beginning to surge now are Payton Matsui and Daniel Tkac with 14 points.
The Grizzlies are led by Henri Schreifels with 20 points, Cody Monds has 17, while veterans Marty Westhaver and Nico Somerville have 16 points.
The Cents are looking to improve on special teams as they tallied a powerplay goal on the weekend, and didn’t allow a powerplay goal in 12 opportunities from Salmon Arm.
Powerplay: Penalty Kill:
Cents – 6.6% (17th) Cents – 71.4% (16th)
Grizz – 14.9% (13th) Grizz- 83.5% (5th)
The goaltending duel sees both Cents netminders starting to heat up, but Tanner Marshall will get the call with Ryan Winter nursing a minor lower body injury. Marshall is 3-6 with an .884 SV% and a 4.49 GAA. Affiliate Carter Woodside will be joining the Cents for the road trip. Woodside is the backup with the KIJHL’s Princeton Posse and has played spectacular in every game he’s been in going 3-0 with a .943 SV% and a 1.33 GAA.
Last time out the Cents ran into the hot play of Joe Howe who’s been the go to guy in Victoria with a 5-12 record, a .903 SV%, a 3.69 GAA and 1 shutout. Blake Wood has served as the backup and is 2-6 with an .891 SV% and a 4.02 GAA.
Head Coach Derek Sweet-Coulter says the Cents need to continue to bring the compete, and feel the urgency.
“We had a lot of positives last weekend, but the biggest thing is the compete level. We need that to be there in full force, and playing a team we are chasing in the standings we need to realize how big this game can be.”
The Cents will look to compete their way to the win tonight.
Puck drop 7pm from the Q Centre in Victoria. Pre-Game 6:45 with Jared Thomas on Q101 and Hockey TV.
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