PREVIEW: The Merritt Centennials, (15-16-2-1), open the 2018 year on the road over in Coquitlam as they take on the Express, (8-25-1-2) on Wednesday, January 3rd.
The last time that the two teams met was just before the new year, on the 29th of December when the Cents dropped that game 5-2, it was also a very late game with a 9:15 puck drop as the Express were stuck on the Coquihalla highway, what was supposed to be a three hour bus trip, turned into a seven and a half hour trip. The late game didn’t seem to slow the Express down as they quickly jumped up to a 2-0 lead, before taking an even bigger lead, 3-0. The Cents got onto the board thanks to Ashton Stockie who was set up from Joey Berkopec, Stockie getting his sixth of the season.
The Express look to forward Eric Linell to help get the win; Linell currently has 19 goals and 14 assists and is the top leader for the forwards, on the back end for the Express, it’s Troy Robillard who leads defenseman, with one goal and 16 assists.
The Centennials will look to Zach Zorn and Henry Cleghorn who are leading the forwards in points, Zorn having 14 goals and 20 assists, and Cleghorn has 15 goals and 18 assists. On the backend, it’s captain Tyrell Buckley who leads with six goals and 17 assists. Rookies Jackson Munro and Joey Berkopec are both making their way up with points, Munro having one goal and 14 assists, and Berkopec having four goals and six assists.
The next game action for the Cents after the Express game is against the Vernon Vipers, (26-8-1-4), over in Vernon. The next home game goes Saturday January 6th when the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, (13-21-3-0), visit the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.
Q101 will have the game as always, pregame goes at 6:45 with puck drop at 7 with Jared Thomas having the call.
You can get tickets for the next home game over at the Centennials marketing office or at the arena on game nights.
