Vernon’s Tyler Steel didn’t get a whiff of action in the Merritt Centennials’ opening B.C. Hockey League playoff series.
Playing a backup role to Lino Chimienti, the second-year netminder watched from the bench as the Cents swept the Prince George Spruce Kings in four straight games.
When Merritt stumbled in their Round 2 opener against the powerhouse Penticton Vees Tuesday night, Steel stepped in to record 11 saves in relief, allowing one goal in a 5-0 loss.
Merritt head coach Luke Pierce rewarded the 19-year-old tender with the start in Game 2 Wednesday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre, and he responded with a first-star, 29-save outing, by backstopping the Cents to a 4-3 win.
“It felt good after not getting to play in the first series,” said Steel.
Wednesday’s loss was Penticton’s first home defeat in regulation all season (they also lost once in overtime), and the Centennials were one of just four teams to beat the Vees all season. After watching the Chilliwack Chiefs force Penticton to six games in their first-round series, Steel says the Centennials feel they can grind out a series win.
“It just shows us that the giants of the league aren’t unbeatable,” he said. “We’ve got to be pretty confident for the rest of the series, and we’ve just got to play our game.”
Travis St. Denis, with the first of two goals, pegged Penticton to an early lead with a powerplay goal at the 2:27 mark, assisted by Mario Lucia and Mike Reilly.
The Cents responded with four unanswered goals in the second period, including three in a four-minute span, to take control. Chad Brears, Silvan Harper, Evan Stack and Brent Fletcher, with a great individual effort, handled the Merritt scoring.
“Even after they scored that first goal I was confident we could score some goals,” said Steel, who is supported by rookie Armstrong defenceman Dylan Chanter. “I knew if I could make some saves we could come back and score some goals and get me some support.
“Team defence played really well and kept the puck to the outside for the most part. They got a couple chances but for the most part I made the first save and they cleared the rebounds.”
St. Denis, later in the second period, and Steven Fogarty, in the third frame, completed Penticton’s attack.
Hard-working Vees’ forward Bryce Gervais was disappointed with his team’s performance.
“We just didn’t bring it for the full 60,” said Gervais, whose Twitter handle is @gervechkin. “We had a bad hiccup there for about seven or eight minutes in the second period. We had a great third period but you can’t be doing that in the playoffs. It’s definitely frustrating, but the best thing about this game is it’s short memory.”
Games 3 and 4 are slated for tonight and Saturday night respectively at Nicola Valley Arena.
“Hopefully with the series turning in our favour coming home, we can roll with it,” said Steel.
In the Coastal Conference championship, the Surrey Eagles brushed back the Powell River Kings 2-1 in Game 2 Wednesday night on the Sunshine Coast to even the series 1-1. Powell River iced the Eagles 3-0 in Game 1.
