The Merritt Centennials will have to wait until next week to get their first win of the season after the Victoria Grizzlies and their goaltender stole a game at the NVMA 5-1.
The first period saw the Cents open the scoring on the powerplay for yet another game. Olson Werenka took a shot through the crowd to get his first of the season. The lead wouldn’t last as Cody Monds managed to even things up with the Grizzlies on a powerplay of their own with Olson Werenka in the box to make it 1-1. Ryan Winter made some spectacular saves early to keep the Cents in the game after getting outshot 18-8 in the first period.
In the 2nd it was all Centennials as they pushed the pace and were getting chances all over the place, but after the Cents got a 4 minute man advantage a blocked shot led to a 2-on-0 breakaway that Chase McInnis finished off to beat a sprawled out Winter. The Cents then went on a full 2 minute two-man advantage, but couldn’t make good to find the equalizer and then it was Joe Howe’s time to shine. The VIctoria Grizzlies netminder turned away 20 shots from Merritt throughout the 2nd, and some of the best chances saw the Cents mishandle the puck in the final moments. Shots after 2 were 29-28 in favour of the Grizzlies.
The final frame saw the Cents once again jump out hot, but on a miscued pass it found the stick of a streaking Benjamin Biester who broke in alone and beat Winter up high blocker side to give the Grizzlies a two goal edge. The Cents continued to press, but a knuckling backhander from Andrew Amousse fooled everyone and beat Winter down low to make it 4-1. The Cents didn’t give up as Head Coach Barry Wolff pulled the goalie late to try and find some momentum with a powerplay late, but a long dagger found the back of the net to ice the game 5-1. Final shots were 40-39 for the Grizzlies.
After the game Assistant Coach Derek Sweet Coulter said that the boys are a bounce away from breaking a game open.
“We are having some pretty bad puck luck out there, and we are getting the chances, but the boys are squeezing the sticks a little too tight. We are learning as a group and we are learning new systems, there’s no one that wants it more than the boys in the locker room.”
The Cents will try and turn their fortunes next Friday against the West Kelowna Warriors.
ENERGY PLAYER OF THE GAME – Olson Werenka 1G
3rd Star – Ryan Winter 35/39
2nd Star – Michael Hoekstra 1A
1st Star – Joe Howe 38/39
