The Centennials were looking to start the preseason off with a win, but there were plenty of positives in a narrow 3-1 loss against the Vernon Vipers.
Both teams iced a rookie heavy lineup as they continue to gauge their unknowns, but a couple of the known quantities showed up in the first half of the game: the goaltenders. Vincent Duplessis and Aidan Porter were both perfect through their half of the game, and it continued as Jakob Gullmes and Johnny Derrick took over half way through the second.
It wasn’t until the third that pucks started getting past the netminders. Vernon broke the goose egg when Nicholas Wildgoose opened the scoring after a centering feed from Elan Bar-Lev-Wise, and the lead was extended under a minute later by Kyler Shmigelsky.
However, the Cents showed some push back in the final ten minutes of the game and were rewarded for their efforts when Mattias Dal Monte took a feed from Christian Sabin and let loose a cannon from the point that went top shelf. Along with providing some scoring, Dal Monte also provided plenty of sandpaper using his big frame to level attacking Vipers on several occasions.
Ultimately, The Vipers managed to ice the game when Elan Bar-Lev-Wise found the back of the empty net from center with just over a minute to play.
After the game Head Coach and General Manager Joe Martin said that there was a lot to like, but a lot to work on from each player.
“You look up and down the lineup, and I think you can find things that each player did well, but at the same time find something else that they need to work on. Overall, for a first effort I’m very happy with that, and we’ll look to continue to improve as a group as we move on through the preseason.”
Martin added that they will continue to adjust their roster.
“Tomorrow we will see a few more veterans in the lineup, and we will have to make some hard decisions in the morning.”
The changes will come ahead of puck drop against the Vernon Vipers in Vernon tomorrow night at 7pm.
If you didn’t get a chance to pick up your tickets at the door tonight, you’ll be able to during our next home game against the Prince George Spruce Kings on August 31st or at the Centennials Marketing Office.
