Date – Saturday, March 12, 2022
Game Time – Puck drop 7:00 pm
Location – Cominco, Trail B.C.
Broadcast – Q101 & BCHLTV
Trail Smoke Eaters – 18-25-2-2
Merritt Centennials – 3-41-2-1
The Merritt Centennials will look to salvage a win versus the Trail Smoke Eaters as they wrap up their three-game road trip following back-to-back losses in Cranbrook.
The Cents would take advantage of an early powerplay opportunity on Friday night, with Zeth Kindrachuk off for tripping, goaltender Evan Gartner would fire into the crowd, putting Merritt up 5-on-3. A Geoff Bjarnason shot from the point would result in a juicy rebound for Ben Ward who made no mistake to put Merritt up 1-0. Ward making an immediate impact in his return from suspension.
Jackson Baker would stand call in the Merritt crease stopping all 14 shots he faced in the opening frame.
The Bucks would finally solve Baker in the early second period with Brendan Rogers funding a cutting Jarrod Smith who fired past the cents netminder to level the score.
Merritt would respond with yet another rebound goal on the powerplay. This time it was a Liam Davidson point shot and Davide Patella cleaning up the garbage to restore the lead.
Late in the frame, Cranbrook would find two quick markers to take a 3-2 lead into the room. Tyson Dyck and Luke Pfoh the goal scorers.
The Cents would again level the score in the third with Connor Farren sniping blocker side to make it 3-3.
From that point on Cranbrook would start to pour on the offense, netting two more past Baker plus an empty netter to seal the deal and win 6-3.
Trail would have arrived in town after Merritt last night as they were in Salmon Arm where the Backs defeated the Smokies 2-1. Trail has just one win in their last five games.
Brady Hunter leads the team offensively with 56 points, 21 goals/35 assists.
Previous meetings;
The Cents and Smokies will conclude the season series tonight in Trail. Over the first five meetings of the year, Trail is 3-1. Last time out, Merritt beat an injury-riddled Smokies roster 5-3.
Blue Paint Battle;
John Hicks allowed six goals on Thursday 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 .858 SV% and a 7.44 GAA.
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%.
Trail has had injury problems in the crease lately. Bailey Monteith is the only goalie listed as healthy online, he’s 1-2 with a .876 SV% and a 3.87 GAA.
Special Teams Comparison;
Bucks – PP 21.9% (9/18) PK 77.1% (13/18)
Cents – PP 12.2% (18/18) PK 66.7% (18/18)
