The Smokies are 0 for 3 vs Merritt this season as they lost a 4-2 decision to the Centennials on Wednesday night in the Cominco Arena. Jacob Berger, the Centennials goaltender, held off a third period barrage by the Smoke Eaters to preserve the win for the Centennials. Michael Regush of the Centennials scored an empty net goal at 19:08 of the third to seal the win for Merritt.
Merritt jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Cade Gleekel and Zach Court.
Joshua Lamframboise of the Smoke Eaters cut the lead in half at 10: 48 of the second. Mitchell Stapley and Connor Brown Maloski assisted on the goal.
Chase Bell of the Centennials put the visitors up 3-1 at 1:28 of the third period before Trail fired 18 shots at Berger in the Merritt net but could only muster a single marker at 3:43 of the period. Connor Brown Maloski scored with assists going to Ross Armour and Braeden Tuck. The Smoke Eaters pulled Dyment late in the third for an extra attacker in an effort to tie the game but Michael Regush potted an empty net goal at 19:08 to preserve the win.
On the night Trail outshot the Centennials 38-32 with 18 of those shots coming in the third period. The Smokies went 1/6 on the power play and Merritt were 1/3. Joshua Lamframboise was named Fortis Energy Player of the Game. Chase Bell of the centennials was named first star of the game, Connor Brown Maloski of the Smokies was named second star and Jacob Berger of the Centennials was named third star.
The Smokies are on the road this wekend with stops in Nanaimo of Friday, Cowichan on Saturday and Langley on Sunday. They return home for two games against Salmon Arm on Wednesday, October 12 and Nanaimo on Friday, October 14. Game time on Wednesday is 7:00 PM and Friday 7:30 PM.
