Date – Saturday, February 19, 2022
Game Time – Puck drop 7:00 pm
Location – Nicola Valley Memorial Arena, Merritt B.C.
Broadcast – Q101 & BCHLTV
Trail Smoke Eaters – 16-19-2-1
Merritt Centennials – 2-35-2-1
The Merritt Centennials will look to rebound from a poor performance on Friday night as they welcome the Trail Smoke Eaters to the NVMA.
The Cranbrook Bucks came out strong on Friday night and controlled the play for the vast majority of the opening 20 minutes. Cranbrook would work two early powerplay chances in the first, they would fail to convert but at the mid-point of the period, shots were 17-0 in favour of the visitors.
The Cents would finally level their first shot of the period at the 12:00 mark, after 20 the shot clock would only show three for Merritt.
Late in the frame, Cranbrook would turn the puck over and send Luke Pfoh in all alone, Pfoh would beat Hicks on Cranbrook’s 22nd shot of the period to open the scoring.
The Bucks would continue to carry the mail in the middle stanza with three quick goals. First a powerplay marker from Johnny Johnson. Less than two minutes later Declan Ride would score from the point. Then exactly two minutes later it would be Carsyn Good scoring his first in the BCHL top corner past Hicks.
Hicks playing strong, turning aside 42/46 through 40.
No goals would be scored in the final period, with AP rookie goalie Carter Captan earning a 15-save shutout in his BCHL debut. Hicks would have 55 saves goaltender.
The Trail Smoke Eaters have lost six games in a row, including losses to Penticton and Salmon Arm a weekend ago. The team is led offensively by Brady Hunter with 46 points (20G, 26A).
Previous meetings;
The Cents and Smokies have met three times this season, the first matchup was close, the latest two not so much. In November, Merritt lost 2-1 in Trail. At the NVMA it’s been a different story with the Smoke Eaters winning by 9-2 and 8-0 finals.
Blue Paint Battle;
John Hicks has been playing well recently with back-to-back 50-plus save performances and is now 0-11-2 with a .895 SV% and a 5.22 GAA.
Jackson is 0-5 with a .833 SV% and an 8.88 GAA in limited minutes.
According to the BCHL website three Trail goalies are currently injured including their usual starter Evan Fradette, the lone healthy netminder is Bailey Montieth at 1-2, .876 SV% and a 3.87 GAA.
Special Teams Comparison;
Smokies – PP 25.2% (4/18) PK 78.8% (11/18)
Cents – PP 10.8% (18/18) PK 66.7% (18/18)
