16 • THURSDAY, December 9,
2021
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SPORTS
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Cents find first win in return to NVMA Jake Courtepatte NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM In their first home game in three weeks, the Merritt Centennials returned to the reopened NVMA on Friday to earn their first win of the season. The junior A squad entered the game at a distinct disadvantage to the Wenatchee Wild, having been displaced from their homes and billet homes since Nov. 15 when the City of Merritt was placed on Evacuation Order. It was also the first night that the Cents were
without longtime veteran, and hometown player, Talon Zakall, who was shipped to the Vernon Vipers just days earlier. His old teammates, however, were able to pick up the slack against the Wild. Levi Carter notched his first goal in a Centennials uniform in the first period to give the home team a 1-0 advantage after twenty minutes. Wenatchee bounced back in the second, throwing puck after puck at Cents goaltender Keegan Maddocks in a 24-shot period and taking a 2-1 lead, though a late goal by Ben Ward had the teams tied heading into the
final frame. The teams traded goals in the third, including Ward with his second of the game, to send it to overtime at 3-3. It was just under four minutes into the extra frame that Ward capped off the hat trick, giving Merritt its first win of the season. The three stars of the game was an all-Merritt roster. For his efforts Ward took first star, Maddocks took second in stopping a whopping 50 of 53 Wenatchee shots, and Will Bowman rounded it out with a pair of assists.
NVSC returns to in-person competition Jake Courtepatte NEWSROOM@ MERRITTHERALD. COM
skates and attire.” Valleyview, Kamloops and Salmon Arm Skating Club all The Nicola reached out offerValley Skating Club ing practice time. was back in com“It was a really petitive action on good sports-like the ice in Kamloops gesture to offer fellate last month, low competitors a for the first time place to train,” said since the pandemic Lorenz. struck. Evacuated It was a welcome sense of normalcy for those that were evacuated out of their own rink. “Our skaters and community have - Abby been through so Thoms - 3rd much these past few Place Bronze weeks,” said Coach medal in STAR Diana Lorenz. “We didn’t even 3, 13+ know where every- Sophie one had landed Thuveson after being evacuSilver Assessment ated and whether STAR 1 elements skaters would con- Everley tinue to participate, Russell - Silver or even had their Assessment
skaters gathered from Kelowna, Kamloops & Merritt. Lorenz added that she was “extremely proud.” “...so wonderful to see them shine considering the circumstances.” NVSC is back with regular season programs for this
week and next. They are holding registration after Dec. 11 for winter sessions, and hoping to have a family & friend Christmas skate. The next competition is in February for Regional Championships in Armstrong.
NVSC results
Photos submitted
Merritt vs Centennials
STAR 1 elements - Jayda Starrs - Silver Assessment STAR 3 - Kate van Rensburg - Bronze Assessment STAR 3 - Frances Reid - Silver
Assessment STAR 1 elements - Marissa Ouimet - Bronze Assessment STAR 2 - Avery Starrs - Gold Assessment STAR 1 elements
PENTICTON VEES, DECEMBER 7 AT 7:00 P.M., NICOLA VALLEY MEMORIAL ARENA WEST KELOWNA WARRIORS, DECEMBER 10 AT 7:00 P.M., ROYAL LEPAGE PLACE WENATCHEE WILD, DECEMBER 11 AT 7:00 P.M., NICOLA VALLEY MEMORIAL ARENA
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