With two wins and as many losses this season, Friday’s (December 1) game was good enough a motivation for the Merritt Centennials to go one-up over West Kelowna Warriors when they clashed at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.
However, what turned out to be was an identical game for both teams as when they last met on November 24.
Just like their last contest, the Cents lost 5-4 to the Warriors in the Over Time 1.
Cents coach Brian Passmore lauded the boys’ efforts despite the loss. “It was a good game. Although the ice was uneven and that had us scrambling in the middle for the puck, we played well. Sometimes the results go in your favor and sometimes not. We were once again better in our power play. Our efforts were there throughout the game. We just need to be more consistent with controlling the puck,” said Passmore.
West Kelowna managed to take the lead with a solo effort from Landen Hilditch in the seventh minute after witnessing some sharp passes. It was a neck-to-neck fight in the opening period with both teams getting 15 shots each on the goal.
The Cents found the equalizer just as the second period got underway with Charles-Thomas Larochelle making full use of his perfect goal-scoring position. The goal also brought much-awaited moment for the Cents fans to send their teddy bears sailing onto the ice.
Cents once again capitalized their power play opportunity with Michael Felsing, who has been selected to feature in the All-Star Game in Penticton, clinically sent the puck in the net after an assistance from Tyler Wishart to make it 2-1.
Jaxson Murray in the ninth minute scored the third goal for the Cents. However, a couple of minutes later Callum Hughes found the net to keep the Warriors in the game with their second goal.
The possibility of losing the lead was looming large once again in the third period after the Warriors equalized just 48 seconds through Johannes Lokkeberg.
Cents fans soon got an opportunity to cheer with Kiernan Poulin scoring the team’s fourth goal with an assist from Charles-Thomas Larochelle in the eighth minute.
With just a couple of minutes remaining in the final period, goalie-less Warriors managed to level the score through Felix Caron to force the game into over time.
Game Coverage and story by Sports Writer Harit Joshi
