Date – Friday, March 11, 2022
Game Time – Puck drop 6:00 pm (Pacific)
Location – Western Financial Place, Cranbrook B.C.
Broadcast – Q101 & BCHLTV
Cranbrook Bucks – 26-19-2-2
Merritt Centennials – 3-40-2-1
The Merritt Centennials will look for revenge this evening versus the Cranbrook Bucks as they conclude the season series. A night ago it was a lopsided final score, but a much closer contest overall.
The Cents would strike first on Thursday night in Cranbrook, with the Captain setting up Levi Carter with a beautiful one-handed pass. The Patella feed would send Carter in alone where he beat Nathan Airey up high.
Following the opening goal, Cranbrook would find an extra gear and pot two quick ones to take the lead.
First Liam Hansson turned a puck over and passed to Johnny Johnson for his 18th of the year. Then Carter Schmidt was first to a loose puck in neutral ice, he would open up John Hicks’ five-hole. After 20 minutes, 2-1 Bucks.
The second period would see the Bucks come out strong with a number of quality chances. The Cents would bend but not break in the frame and hold the score line at 2-1 after 40.
Hicks stopped 34/36 through two.
Cranbrook would finally solve the Merritt defence in the third period scoring four times in the final 20 minutes to balloon the score to a 6-1 final. Goals came from Tyson Dyck, Zeth Kindrachuk, Kellan Hjaartarson and Hayden Gelbard.
Hicks deserved a better fate stopping 48/54 in the losing effort.
Good news for the Cents, Ben Ward is set to return from suspension and Will Bowman will hopefully be good to go after missing last night’s game with an illness.
Previous meetings;
The Cents and Bucks have played four 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 first two wins, the Cents have failed to score, with 4-0 and 8-0 losses. Last night was game four with Cranbrook winning 6-1.
Blue Paint Battle;
John Hicks allowed six goals a night ago but deserved a better fate. Hicks is now 0-14-2 with a .892 SV% and 5.37 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 lead by Nathan Airey this season, posting a 18-11-4 record with a .910 SV% and a 2.71 GAA. Evan Gartner is 7-8 with a .888 SV% and a 3.33 GAA in a backup role.
Special Teams Comparison;
Bucks – PP 16.4% (17/18) PK 78.2% (12/18)
Cents – PP 11.5% (18/18) PK 67.1% (18/18)
