Submitted by Fraser Rodgers.
It took six tries but the Merritt Centennials finally got the better of the Penticton Vees Friday night, in a 3-2 win at Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.
Zach Risteau scored a pair of power-play goals as the Cents’ built up a 3-0 lead, before hanging on in the final five-minutes of regulation to snap a five-game losing streak against Penticton. Zach Court scored the other Cents’ goal and Tyler Ward chipped in with three assists as they bumped a two-game losing skid.
Merritt got a strong performance in goal from 19-year-old Jacob Berger, who stopped 34 of 36 shots, including 18 of 20 in the third period and was named the third star.
Owen Sillinger and Taylor Sanheim scored goals to give the Vees some late life. Mat Robson took the loss, stopping 21 of 24 shots before being replaced early in the third period by Nolan Hildebrand.
It was an eventful first period as Chris Klack had a chance to open the scoring half a minute into the game but mishandled the puck with an open net in front of him. Jamie Armstrong came close too, as he fired a wrist shot off the cross-bar from the right wing.
READ MORE: Cruikshank nets two in Vees win over Centennials.
The Centennials thought they had the go ahead goal on their first power-play in the back half of the first but it was waved off; the puck had slid underneath the side of the net after it momentarily lifted up off the ice. Merritt eventually broke the scoreless tie with just over a minute left in the first period. The Vees turned the puck over behind their net and Tyler Ward passed out front to Court, who wired a wrist shot over Robson’s glove at 18:43.
The Cents’ nursed the 1-0 lead into the back half of second period before the Vees ran into penalty-trouble. Merritt, who owns the BCHL’s best power-play percentage, spent nearly half the second on the man-advantage and they eventually cashed in on one of their three chances.
Penticton finally got on the scoresheet when Owen Sillinger pounced on a rebound off the goalie’s pad at 15:51; his 14th of the season. The goal seemed to spark Penticton as they quickly turned up the pressure.
With the goalie pulled in favour of the extra attacker, the Vees made things interesting with just over 33 seconds left. It was a case of follow the bouncing puck as Grant Cruikshank’s point-shot skipped towards the net, before Sanheim alertly batted it out of the air at the side of the net; his second coming at 19:26.
Vees notes: Nolan Hildebrand stopped all 11 shots he faced in under 19 minutes of action. Merritt’s two power-play goals ended a run of 17 straight penalties killed-off by the Vees dating back to Dec. 30. It was Merritt’s first win against Penticton since Feb. 26 of last season. Penticton has now lost three straight road games dating back to Nov. 30.
It’s a quick turnaround for the Vees (30-9-0-1) as they host the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (13-20-2-5) at the SOEC at 6 p.m. Saturday is Valley First’s annual Feed the Valley Night as fans are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to the game, in exchange for a $5 ticket. All donations are going to the Salvation Army Food Bank. Tickets are available at the Valley First box office (at the SOEC).
