The Merritt Centennials (10-24-1-3) begin the new year against a tough test with a home and home series against the Trail Smoke Eaters (23-13-2-1) that starts tonight.
The Cents come in refreshed after the holidays, but in their crazy schedule leading up to the break come into the game going 1-4 in their last 5 outings. Daniel Tkac had some success with Team Slovakia, but will most likely be unavailable heading into this trio against one of the leagues top teams. The Centennials will have to be at their best to repel the strong attack of the Trail Smoke Eaters who have gotten the best of them so far this season. The Cents need to set the tone for the new year, and set the tone against a team that they will see 3 times in a row and 4 times in January.
The Smoke Eaters came into the break on a tear winning 4 of their last 5 with the return of their top guns after they returned from the World Junior A Challenge. Trail won 4-3 against the Cowichan Valley Capitals heading into the break, 4-1 against the Vernon Vipers, lost in a barn burner 7-4 to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, and picked up a pair of wins against the West Kelowna Warriors 3-1 and 4-3. For the Smoke Eaters it starts with solid offense and special teams play, but is supplemented with good defense and great goaltending as well.
The season series hasn’t been kind to the Merritt Centennials who are 0-2 against Trail. Falling by scores of 9-2 and 7-1 for a combined 16-3 over two games. Kent Johnson has 9 points in 2 games played, wing man Michael Collela has 6 points, and Phillipe Lapointe has 5 points in just a game. The Centennials will need to bring their very best, and hope that Trail comes in a little over confident to start the new year.
Christian Buono comes into the new year as the reigning BCHL Player of the Week and leads the Cents with 30 points, Payton Matsui matches the number on the back of his jersey with 25, and Captain Rylan Van Unen has shot up to 18 points. Hunor Torzsok was also an honorable mention for BCHL Player of the Month in December with 10 goals and an assist in 11 games played.
Kent Johnson stirs the drink for the Smoke Eaters with 69 points this year, the next closest player is his wing man Collela with 47, and Owen Ozar has 46.
The special teams battle sees the Cents going up against the BCHL’s best.
Powerplay: Penalty Kill:
Cents – 11% (17th) Cents – 72.7% (17th)
Trail – 26.2% (1st) Trail – 85.5% (4th)
The goaltending duel sees the Cents looking to start the new year strong. Ryan Winter came in at number five on the top ten saves of the year so far from the BCHL and is 3-11-2 with a .902 SV%, a 4.08 GAA, and 1 shutout. Tanner Marshall is 6-11-1 with an .884 SV% and a 4.52 GAA.
Logan Terness has stolen the number one job in Trail and ran with it as the young netminder is 16-7-2 with a .932 SV%, and a 2.38 GAA. Matteo Paler-Chow is 9-10-1 with an .881 SV% and a 3.56 GAA.
Head Coach Derek Sweet Coulter says it’s a new year and it’s time to set the tone.
“We’re coming out of the break fresh, and it’s time to look forward with a fresh outlook.”
The Cents will look to set the tone for the year with a win tonight.
Puck drop 7pm. Pre-Game 6:45 on Q101 and HockeyTV with Jared Thomas and Michael Reeve.
