For the second time in as many games the Smoke Eaters found themselves down going into the third, and for the second time in a row they came back to win.
As the Smoke Eaters kicked off 2020 in Merritt they found themselves down 2-0 through the opening period. As both teams shook off some rust it was AP Brett Mero, who plays in the KIJHL with Kamloops, who scored on his BCHL debut to make it 1-0 just 3:19 in. The Cents doubled their lead on a turnover that Christian Buono made the most of beating Logan Terness short side just past the halfway mark of the first period. The Smoke Eaters would out shoot the Cents 18-14 but trailed by a pair.
In the second the Smoke Eaters would get on the board courtesy of Philippe Lapointe’s 15th of the year as he took the pass from Kent Johnson to make it 2-1. The Smoke Eaters got caught killing penalties in the second but held the Cents off the board while also being denied by Tanner Marshall to tie the game up at 2.
The third period started with a bang as the Smoke Eaters score 20 seconds in on a goal from Johnson. They allowed the Cents to retake the lead however just 27s later as Ben Ward made it 3-2 moments later. Cody Schiavon added his name to the score sheet with a goal at 4:15 to make it 3-3 with a rocket from the blue line. Johnson then added the game winner with just over four minutes left on a scramble at the side of the Merritt net to make it 4-3. Carson Briere added some insurance with his first BCHL goal just a minute later making it 5-3 and then Owen Ozar put the icing on the cake to make it 6-3 at 17:49 of the third.
Terness made 42 saves on the night for his 17th win as the Smoke Eaters now reset for Saturday night back at home when they host these dame Merritt Centennials.
