Date – Thursday, March 10, 2022
Game Time – Puck drop 6:00 pm (Pacific)
Location – Western Financial Place, Cranbrook B.C.
Broadcast – Q101 & BCHLTV
Cranbrook Bucks – 25-19-2-2
Merritt Centennials – 3-39-2-1
The Merritt Centennials begin a three game road trip this evening in Cranbrook. The trip will see the Cents play twice here at Western Financial and then once in Trail to wrap up the weekend set.
The Cents have played well against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks this season, but it appeared the team truly missed their 20-year old forward Ben Ward Saturday night. Ward received a two-game suspension prior to the game for a hit to the head versus Vernon.
Salmon Arm would take advantage of the short forward group, with Captain Daniel Panetta scoring the first of the game just over 2 minutes in.
Zack Smith would tally the next two for the Backs with the second coming on the powerplay. Salmon Arm would add a fourth with just 19 seconds left in the frame.
Peyton Trzaska got the start for Merritt stopping 17/21 in the first. Jackson Baker would start the second period for Merritt but Salmon Arm would continue to pile on.
With the Cents on a powerplay, Daniel Panetta would get two breakaway chances, converting on his second to stretch the lead.
Merritt would then respond with a lovely pass from Josh Olson to Jacksenn Hungle who beat Liam Vanderkooi to make it 5-1.
The Backs would then add two more including a hat-trick goal from Panetta to make it 7-1 after 40 minutes.
The Cents would add two more in the final period with Conner Farren and Jackson Krill scoring, but it would be to little to late in a 9-3 loss to Salmon Arm.
The Cranbrook Bucks are 3-2 in their last five games and 6-4 over their past 10. Most recently the Bucks played a pair south of the border versus Wenatchee, winning 4-2 on Saturday before losing 3-0 on Sunday.
Leader scorer Tyson Dyck has 31 goals and 33 assists and was named the second star of the week with five goals in his last three games including two game-winners.
Previous meetings;
The Cents and Bucks have played three times so far this season, with Cranbrook being one of the three teams Merritt has beat. That game came back in January at the NVMA with Ben Ward scoring the overtime winner. In the Bucks two wins, the Cents have failed to score, with 4-0 and 8-0 losses.
Blue Paint Battle;
John Hicks had a shaky game last night at home, getting pulled after allowing 7 goals. Hicks is now 0-13-2 with a .892 SV% and 5.33 GAA.
Jackson Baker is 0-7 with a .851 SV% and a 7.91 GAA after an outstanding performance last time out versus Penticton.
Also joining the Cents for the stretch run is AP goalie Payton Trzaska. The goalie played for the Princeton Posse this season in the KIJHL, posting a 10-8 record with a 3.20 GAA and .914 SV%. With Merritt he is 0-1, 6.79 GAA and a .887 SV%.
Cranbrook has been led by Nathan Airey this season, posting a 17-11-4 record with a .909 SV% and a 2.76 GAA. Evan Gartner is 7-8 with a .888 SV% and a 3.33 GAA in a backup role.
Special Teams Comparison;
Bucks – PP 16.1% (17/18) PK 78.1% (12/18)
Cents – PP 11.2% (18/18) PK 67.1% (18/18)
