18 • THURSDAY, January 20, 2022
SPORTS
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Past Cents earn Hobey Baker noms
Jake Courtepatte NEWSROOM@ MERRITTHERALD.COM
A pair of ex-Merritt Centennials have the chance to win college hockey’s most prestigious individual trophy. Zach Metsa and Matthew Kopperud, who would have skated together shortly in the BCHL’s 2016-17 season as Cents, have both been nominated for the Hobey Baker Award. They are on a shortlist of 19 players up for the trophy, which is given annually to NCAA hockey’s top player and is based on strength of character, on-ice performance and academic achievement. Kopperud, a forward from Denver, was a staple on the Centennials’ front end from 2016 through to 2019, earning a scholarship to Arizona State University after a breakout final season with the Cents that saw him pot 51 points in 49 games. Metsa, a defenseman, spent just one season with the Cents, though it was a TOP: Hobey Baker nominee Zach Metsa while skating with the Merritt Centennials in the 2016-17 BCHL season. BOTTOM: Matthew Kopperud celebrates a memorable one - while manning the blue goal for the Centennials in the 2018-19 BCHL season. File photos line, he also managed to post 27 points in his 57 games played, before heading off to one of the top-ranked college hockey schools in North America, Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. Cents fans can vote for each alumni to win the award at www.hobeybaker.com.
BC Winter Games cancelled More than 1,800 athletes were given the news on Jan. 14 that the BC Winter Games this year has been cancelled. Set for Vernon next month, organizers made the announcement that the Games would not proceed due to a number of reasons, chief being the ongoing pandemic and external factors like wildfires and floods.
Merritt Centennials vs
JAN. 22 - SALMON ARM SILVERBACKS: 7:00 P.M. JAN. 25 - VERNON VIPERS: 7:00 P.M. AT THE NICOLA VALLEY MEMORIAL ARENA!
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