The Smoke Eaters hit the road to two games this weekend with stops in Merritt and West Kelowna, looking to come home with all four points despite a depleted line up.
Season series versus Merritt
Nov. 10 Merritt 1 at Trail 2 Final
Dec. 4 Trail 9 at Merritt 2 Final
Jan. 28 Trail 8 at Merritt 0 Final
Feb. 19 Trail at Merritt 7:00 pm PST
Mar. 12 Merritt at Trail 7:00 pm PST
The Smoke Eaters are coming off an overtime loss to the Penticton Vees last Saturday at home, where two points slipped away after the Smoke Eaters let multiple leads slip away over the course of sixty minutes. It was however one of the better the performances the Smoke Eaters were able to put together over the last handful of games given the injuries the team has faced. Now going into the weekend the Smoke Eaters are still without their goaltenders and parts of their forward group. Merritt may not be the most skilled team right now but they are a team that can out work the opposition and if they can keep the score low they can keep the game close. The Smoke Eaters will have to dig deep this weekend and that starts tonight against Merritt. Brady Hunter and Nic Remissong stepped up last game for the Smoke Eaters more than just on the scoreboard. Through tonight and the weekend they’ll be just some of the players relied upon again.
Smoke Eaters Leading scorers:
Hunter (20-26-46)
Michaelis (22-16-38)
Lagerback (16-19-35)
Disher (9-20-29)
Cunningham (7-19-26)
The Centennials are coming off a 4-0 loss to the Cranbrook Bucks on Friday night on their own ice. The Cents, since the coaching change have been a team known to cause other teams problems the following night. For example, last Friday they lost 7-2 to the West Kelowna Warriors, the following night they took the Salmon Arm Silverbacks to overtime, coming backs from a 3-1 deficit to lead briefly 4-3 in the third. They’ve become a team that can respond. meaning they won’t just roll over because the Smoke Eaters are in town. No they’ll have the last defeat of 8-0 just three short weeks ago fresh in their memory for tonight’s game as both teams try to snap a losing streak.
Centennials leading scorers:
Ward (9-8-17)
Carter (3-13-16)
Patella (9-6-15)
Orchard (8-7-15)
Allen (1-14-15)
Tonight’s game will be on BCHLTV only with no away broadcast. Catch all the action as the Smoke Eaters look to get back in the win column against the Merritt Centennials. Puck drop is just after 7pm from Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.
