PREVIEW: The Merritt Centennials, (17-22-3-1), have a full weekend up ahead of them starting tomorrow as they travel down to Wenatchee, Washington to take on the Wenatchee Wild, (29-12-3-1) for a double header.
The last time that these two teams met was back on the 16th, with the Wild taking that game with a 4-3 final. It was a close game but the Cents fell short. Austin Roden got the start in net for the Cents while Seth Eisele got the nod for the Wild. The Wild were the ones to open up the scoring, just 5:27 in the first period, that goal coming from the Wild’s top defenseman Cooper Zech; Zech currently has 11 goals and 42 assists in just 45 games, the Cents have to watch out for him on the backend. At 12:17 of the first is when the Cents tied things up, that goal coming from Matthew Kopperud, and the assist coming from AP call up Frazer Dodd. Just a few minutes later, at the 16:06 mark, it was Sam Hesler that retook the lead for the Wild.
At the 1:25 mark of the second period, it was Cooper Zech once again lighting up the scoreboard for the Wild, having the Wild jump up to a 3-1 lead, that goal, being a powerplay goal. At 12:24 of the second period, it was newest/oldest Cents player Zach Risteau getting the Cents close to tying the game up, Risteau’s goal was set up from Jackson Munro and Cents leadings scorer Henry Cleghorn, that goal also being a powerplay goal.
At the 10:53 mark of the third, Henry Cleghorn tied things up at three, Cleghorn’s goal being set up from Mathieu Gosselin and Jackson Munro; Cleghorn now has 18 goals and 23 assists in 42 games. The Wild made it a heartbreaking ending with just a few minutes remaining in the game as Jasper Weatherby got the puck past Roden after being set up by Murphy Stratton and Cooper Zech.
The Cents are hoping to get four points this weekend as they are currently battling the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, (19-23-3-1), for sixth in the Interior Division. The Wild have already secured their playoff spot for the 2017-18 season.
You can listen live on Q101 with Jared Thomas as he has the pregame show starting at 6:45 with puck drop at 7:00. Make sure to follow the Centennials on Twitter, their handle being @BCHLCentennials
