Photo Credit: Garrett James Photography
The Merritt Centennials had their best first period of 2019 on route to their first win that didn’t require overtime against the Wenatchee Wild 6-3.
The powerplay was a big question mark coming in going 0/13 the week previous, but the Cents silenced the critics early in that regard. Scoring on their first opportunity just 1:29 in from leading scorer Brad Cocca. Cocca netted the goal off a Nick Wicks feed, and toe-dragged to the slot and sniped it top corner blocker-side to give the Cents the early lead 1-0. They’d keep up the pace with a pretty passing play between Matt Kopperud, Mathieu Gosselin, and Joey Berkopec. Berkopec went to the net with his stick on the ice and finished the play to make it 2-0 8:22 into the frame. The Cents got another PP opportunity, and seized the opportunity at the 12:29 mark. Matt Kopperud loaded up for a point shot that deflected off a defender but Gosselin batted it out of mid-air and past Austin Park to make it 3-0. Austin Roden held the fort in the first, turning aside 12 shots while the Cents had 8.
The second period saw the Cents weather storm on the defensive side of the puck. Wenatchee would score on a PP to make it 3-1, but Daniel Tkac and Payton Matsui teamed up on a two-on-one to restore the 3 goal lead 4-1. Matsui finished off the perfect dish from Tkac. Roden stopped 23/24 through two periods of play.
The Cents were spared the intensity of the ‘minute to win it’ in Wenatchee as they started the period on the powerplay. They wouldn’t convert on that attempt, but when they got another chance after an early Wild penalty in the 3rd they would. Mike Van Unen unleashed a boomer from the point to give the Cents a 5-1 lead. The Wild would cut it down to 5-3 with goals from Murphy Stratton, but with just over two-minutes remaining Kopperud used his speed to beat out an icing call and took the rebound off the end-boards into the net with a quick shot to ice the game 6-3. Roden finished with 27 saves on 30 shots while Park was beaten 5 times on 25 shots.
A week after going 0/13, the powerplay went 3/5 and looked impressive with new units. Head Coach Joe Martin said after the game it was something they put work into.
“Coming into the game, and going down the stretch we know that the powerplay needs to get going. We put the last 2 days into it, with a couple different looks, and got some reps in and it paid off tonight.”
With the win the Cents are now 3 points clear of the Wenatchee Wild, but still trail the Vees by 4 points.
ENERGY PLAYER OF THE GAME: Murphy Stratton 2G 0A
3RD STAR: Mathieu Gosselin 1G 2A
2ND STAR: Matt Kopperud 1G 2A
1st STAR: Austin Roden 27/30
