Coming off back to back wins against the Wenatchee Wild, the Smoke Eaters will be excited to see a new team as they head to Merritt to take on the Centennials on Friday night.
Season series versus Merritt
Sep. 24 Trail 7 at Merritt 4 Final
Oct. 28 Merritt 1 at Trail 5 Final
Nov. 19 Merritt 1 at Trail 3 Final
Dec. 9 Trail at Merritt 7:00 pm PST
Dec. 16 Merritt at Trail 7:00 pm PST
The Smoke Eaters will be happy to see a new set of teams as they head into the second weekend of December and their second last before the Christmas break. The Smoke Eaters faced the Wild for four straight games, losing the first in regulation but taking 5 of 6 points over the next three games only losing in a shootout, after turning over a 3-0 deficit. The Smoke Eaters watched a lead of their own slip away on Friday, as they stormed out to a 4-0 lead, but over the next 40 minutes saw that lead slip away till the game was tied 5-5 part way through the third. But the resilience that had been shown over the previous weekend in Wenatchee came forward again as the Smoke Eaters earned a 6-5 regulation win thanks to a late Adam Parsons goal. The Smoke Eaters now head to Merritt for the final time this regular season, looking to make it four straight wins against the Centennials, who have managed just one goal a game against the Smoke Eaters in their last two meetings.
Smoke Eaters leading scorers:
Hunter (7-14-21)
Cobetto-Roy (7-12-19)
Fechko (7-12-19)
Bushy (3-16-19)
Parsons (9-9-18)
The Centennials are winners of two of their last three, getting an overtime win over the Salmon Arm and then beating Powell River last Friday before a 7-3 loss to the Island Conference leading Nanaimo Clippers the following night. Merritt are 4-7-1 on home ice this season and have made life difficult for most teams who come in. As the halfway mark of the BCHL season approaches, the Centennials are in the mix for a playoff spot, a welcomed change from the teams that have struggled over the past few seasons. A few more bounces there way and the Cents could be in the that final playoff spot. Merritt had a hot start in the first meeting between these two sides back in September as they jumped out to an early 3-0 lead inside the opening ten minutes, but the Smoke Eaters would charge back for a 7-4 win.
Centennials leading scorers:
Krill (13-12-25)
Murray (7-17-24)
Erickson (10-8-18)
Allen (1-15-16)
Lowe (7-7-14)
Puck drop from the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena is 7pm as the Smoke Eaters make their final trip to Merritt this season, looking to make it three wins in a row, setting up a big game on Saturday back on home ice against West Kelowna. Catch all the action with Smoke Eaters broadcster Ben Phillips on Mixlr.com or watch on HockeyTV
