LAST GAME: 3-2 loss in Nanaimo on Sunday
Penticton: 37-3-0-2 (76 pts) - 1st in Interior
LAST GAME: 3-1 win over Prince George on Sunday (won 25 in a row... you read that right)
Season Series: Merritt 1-3-0-1 (Penticton has outscored them 21-10)
THE MOST HYPED GAME OF THE SEASON IS FINALLY HERE!
- this is the first real "stumble" in quite some time for Merritt, as they are coming off 2 losses in their last 3 games during the island road trip. Overall, the last 4 games (including the 2-1 win over Westside one week ago) have had something missing and left something to be desired. Every season has it's speedbumps, but coming into a game with a team that's won 25 straight and easily the best team in the country, this stumble definitely comes at the wrong time
- for a long time, especially during their 7 game winning streak, Merritt was finding ways to win in various ways (mostly through balanced scoring and contributions from everyone, including dmen). Now they appear to be lacking that confidence and swagger, that winning feeling. It's tough to get that back in time for tonight's game, but if they manage to upset the Vees, there's no question they'll have more swagger and confidence than they probably did after 7 straight wins
- one of the biggest things missing in the last 4 games is that "depth". The 1st line has scored 9 of the last 10 goals during these 4 games (including Soquila setting up Mancuso for his first of the BCHL in Victoria), but tonight that will have to change, since Soquila (league's 8th leading scorer) is not playing due to a charlie horse suffered on his left leg in Nanaimo on Sunday
- without Soquila, other lines will need to step up and not only play hard, but contribute tonight. Chances are, Merritt might need at least 4-5 goals to win this game. Why? The Vees are an offensive machine with 6 of the top 7 scorers in the league and 7 of the top 9. But number 7 and 8 on the list are both out of the lineup with injuries tonight, that being Soquila for Merritt and Mike Reilly for Penticton. They're both tied with 56 points, but Mike Reilly has done it in 10 less games (35 vs 45). Needless to say, Mike Reilly is easily the biggest offensive threat from the blueline in the league and has burned Merritt many times, so the Centennials will definitely be helped out with not having him in the lineup. It's a pretty fair trade, but the loss of Soquila means much more to Merritt, because they are nowhere near as deep offensively as the Vees
- Penticton not only has 25 straight wins and are the top ranked team in the country, but they also have the best power play and penalty kill in the league, and by far the top ranked goaltender (Michael Garteig) who has 10 more wins (31) than the next closest goalie, and by far the best goals against average and save percentage. They have a league-leading 15 division 1 scholarship commitments, including 3 NHL draft picks (who have all played like it this season)
- based on all the circumstances, Merritt will definitely need to come up with their best game of the season: they have to show discipline and stay out of the box (don't want to tempt fate with a 32% power play), they have to play with the urgency and desperation of a game 7 of the Fred Page Cup. It will take every guy digging in (especially without Soquila) and finding an extra gear to keep up with the Vees. Lino Chimienti is scheduled to get the start, and there's no question that with as much firepower as the Vees have, he will have to be the 1st star in this game and outplay Garteig
- you might think that with the Vees having all but mathematically secured 1st place in the BCHL regular season, they might not have much motivation, but that's definitely not true. Head coach Fred Harbinson always keeps them on their toes and makes sure they never take their foot off the gas pedal. But right now, the motivation is there without their coach saying a word. The Vees are just 4 wins shy of tying the all time BCHL record of most consecutive wins (29) set by the New Westminster Royals in 1989-90. Believe me that with most of the team having scholarships and 1st place secured, this is the one unifying goal that keeps them jacked up every game, and every player on that team will want to be a part of history. So Penticton will come out as hungry as ever tonight
*So the lineups for Merritt change a bit with the absence of Regan Soquila, and Luke Pierce will give Jakob Reichert a chance to finally break out to his potential by playing on the top line with Stack and Brears. Here's how the lineups shape up for both teams:
MERRITT:
Evan Stack (91) Chad Brears (91) Jakob Reichert (93)
Silvan Harper (92) Brandon Bruce (93) Carter Shinkaruk (91)
Tyler Martin (93) Brayden Low (94) Sean Maktaak (92)
Payton Schaefer (93) Brent Fletcher (92) Brendan Lamont (94)
Reece Willcox (94) Brandon Pfeil (92)
Richard Sabourin (92) Dylan Chanter (95)
Billy Marshall (91) Ross Mancuso (92)
Lino Chimienti (91)
Tyler Steel (93)
SCRATCHES:
Regan Soquila (93) INJ
PENTICTON:
Mario Lucia (93) Travis St.Denis (92) Connor Reilly (91)
Joey Benik (92) Steven Fogarty (93) Bryce Gervais (92)
Logan Johnston (91) Ryan Reilly (91) Wade Murphy (93)
Curtis Loik (93) Grant Nicholson (93) Cody DePourcq (95)
Kyle Beaulieu (91) Troy Stecher (94)
Nick Buchanan (91) DJ Jones (92)
Chad Bannor (92) Zach Urban (93)
Michael Garteig (91)
Chad Katunar (93)
SCRATCHES:
Mike Reilly (93) INJ
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