26 • THURSDAY, December 30, 2021
SPORTS
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New Cents coach looks to right the ship Jake Courtepatte NEWSROOM@ MERRITTHERALD.COM There’s a new sheriff in town for the Merritt Centennials. The Cents have parted ways with Head Coach and General Manager Dave Chyzowski, around the midway mark of his first season on the job and with just one win under his belt. “We had our evaluation meeting with the Board of Directors and it was decided to relieve Dave of his duties and move in a different direction, and that’s what we’ve done,” said Centennials President Kelly Bartch. Taking up the job will be Curtis Toneff, a young, but experienced ex-junior player himself and former assistant
coach of the Humboldt Broncos. “There is an incredible opportunity for me to help the Merritt Centennials get steered back in the right direction as a franchise, and it was one I couldn’t turn down,” said Toneff in a Broncos media release. “I’m excited and humbled at the chance given to me by the organization.” The 28-year old Nanaimo native spent his playing days bouncing around junior leagues across Saskatchewan, Alberta, and BC, including a stint with the Trail Smoke Eaters in the 2013-14 BCHL season. Upon retirement, he has held coaching jobs with teams like Trail, the Nanaimo Buccaneers of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League, and most
recently Humboldt in Saskatchewan. Toneff took over behind the bench for the first time after the holiday break on Dec. 29, when the Cents hosted the Salmon Arm Silverbacks at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena following press time. The coaching change will hopefully light a spark under a Cents team that has gone 1-20 in the first half. “He’s got playing and coaching experience in the BCHL and (had) some very good success coaching at the junior B level,” said Bartch. “We think Curtis will be a good fit (with the organization) and he’s going to fit into the community. He’s going to reside here (in Merritt) and we look forward to having him on board.”
BCHL cancels All-Star festivities Jake Courtepatte NEWSROOM@ MERRITTHERALD.COM
The BCHL will not be celebrating its 60th anniversary in Penticton in the new year, with the recent cancellation of the All-Star
festivities. The event was to host an All-Star game, skills competition, alumni game, and a Top Prospects game, all on a newly-built outdoor arena. “We are extremely disappointed to announce today’s news that, in the interest of public safety, we have decided to postpone our 60th Anniversary event
to next year,” said BCHL Commissioner Chris Hebb on Dec. 23. “We are disappointed for our loyal fans that were planning on attending the event, but we feel the worst for the 50 players who were set to participate in the weekend’s festivities. “We are grateful to all our event and league partners who supported us and are eager to work with them again next year to make the event even bigger and better.” The Merritt Centennials’ Tristan Allen was pencilled in to skate with the Interior All-Stars, while
Merritt Centennials vs
defencemen Tristan Allen and Jacob Dewitt were scheduled to compete in the Top Prospects game. “We are disappointed that the BCHL 60th Anniversary celebration and Save Pond Hockey event is unable to go ahead in January, but understand that with current pandemic restrictions and conditions it is the right thing to do,” said John Vassilaki, Mayor of Penticton. “We look forward to supporting the event in January 2023 at our new outdoor rink.”
COME KICK OFF THE NEW YEAR WITH THE MERRITT CENTENNIALS AT NICOLA VALLEY MEMORIAL ARENA! JAN. 2 CRANBROOK BUCKS, 7:00P.M. JAN. 5 - WEST KELOWNA WARRIORS, 7:00P.M.
FOR TICKETS DROP BY 2001C VOGHT ST, OR CALL JARED AT 250-378-3604
