Merritt Centennials - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Merritt Centennials are a Junior "A" ice hockey

Ice hockey

Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...

team based in Merritt

Merritt, British Columbia

Merritt is a city in the Nicola Valley of the south-central Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Situated at the confluence of the Nicola and Coldwater rivers, it is the first major community encountered after travelling along Phase One of the Coquihalla Highway and acts as the gateway to all...

, British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

. They are members of the Interior Division of the British Columbia Hockey League

British Columbia Hockey League

The British Columbia Hockey League is a Junior "A" ice hockey league from British Columbia under Hockey Canada, a subsection of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Founded in Vernon in 1961, the BCHL now includes 16 teams. These teams play in two conferences, known as the Coastal and the Interior...

(BCHL). The franchise was established in Kamloops in 1961 and moved to White Rock

White Rock, British Columbia

White Rock is a city in British Columbia, Canada, that lies within the Metro Vancouver regional district. It borders Semiahmoo Bay and is surrounded on three sides by the City of Surrey, British Columbia. To the south lies the Semiahmoo First Nation, which is within the city limits of Surrey...

in 1973 when the WCHL

Western Hockey League

The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...

's Vancouver Nats

Vancouver Nats

The Vancouver Nats were a junior ice hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia that played two seasons in the Western Canada Hockey League from 1971–73...

moved to Kamloops and became the Chiefs

Kamloops Chiefs

The Kamloops Chiefs were a junior ice hockey team based in Kamloops, British Columbia that played in the Western Canada Hockey League from 1973–77...

. The Centennials settled in Merritt midway through the 1973-74 season. They play their home games at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena

Nicola Valley Memorial Arena

The Nicola Valley Memorial Arena is a 1,000-seat multi-purpose year-round arena in Merritt, British Columbia, Canada. It is home to the Merritt Centennials ice hockey team, the Merritt Minor Hockey Association, recreational hockey, old-timers hockey, commercial hockey, and First Nations hockey...

.

The Centennials have once finished with the best record in the BCHL, and have qualified for the playoffs in twelve of the last thirteen seasons. They won the Mowat Cup

Mowat Cup

The Mowat Cup is emblematic of the Junior "A" ice hockey Championship of British Columbia .The cup was donated to the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association by Mr...

and BC/Alberta Junior "A" Championship

Doyle Cup

The Doyle Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won through a best-of-7 series, conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The series is played between the Fred Page Cup champions of the British Columbia Hockey League and the Enerflex Cup champions of the Alberta Junior Hockey League...

in 1978.

The Cents, as the team is known, are the longest continuously run franchise in the BCHL. Eleven former Centennials players have gone on to play in the National Hockey League

National Hockey League

The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...

1973–1977

The Centennials started the 1973-74 season in White Rock and finished it in Merritt, however, the franchise turmoil seemed to have an impact on the players as they finished the season last in the Interior Division with a record of 20-42-2. The season wasn't a complete wash as Fred Berry

Fred Berry (ice hockey)

Frederick Allan Berry is a retired National Hockey League forward.During his final year in the BCJHL he potted 60 goals and 136 points in 60 games to lead the league. The following year he moved up to the WCJHL with the New Westminster Bruins where he had 75 points in 69 games...

would be the first Cents player to lead the BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

in scoring with 136 points. That total still stands as a team record for points in a season. Berry

Fred Berry (ice hockey)

and Darrel Zelinski finished 1-2 overall in BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

scoring. The Centennials first playoff in their new city ended in the first round in six games to the eventual BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

champion Kelowna Buckaroos

Kelowna Buckaroos

The Kelowna Buckaroos were a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team from Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. They were a part of the British Columbia Hockey League.-History:...

. At the post season awards, Berry

Fred Berry (ice hockey)

took home rookie of the year while Zelinski was named most sportsmanlike player.

The following season, things got a bit better for the Cents in the standings. Although they finished last in the Interior Division yet again, they managed to avoid the league basement. Merritt

Merritt, British Columbia

went 26-38-2, ending up well ahead of the last place Nanaimo Clippers

Nanaimo Clippers

The Nanaimo Clippers are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...

. Zelinski continued his torrid scoring pace, finishing fifth in league scoring with 50 goals, 61 assists, and 111 points in 66 games. In the playoffs, Merritt

Merritt, British Columbia

once again locked horns with the Kelowna

Kelowna Buckaroos

The Kelowna Buckaroos were a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team from Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. They were a part of the British Columbia Hockey League.-History:...

squad in the first round and again the Buckaroos

Kelowna Buckaroos

The Kelowna Buckaroos were a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team from Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. They were a part of the British Columbia Hockey League.-History:...

proved to be too much, beating the Centennials in seven games.

By the time the 1975-76 season rolled around, the BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

had done away with the Interior and Coastal Divisions and now the league simply comprised eight teams. The Centennials were much improved, finishing two games above .500 for the first time in five years, and fourth in the realigned BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

. Zelinski again finished near the top of the scoring race with 50 goals, 69 assists, and 119 points in 66 games. Merritt

Merritt, British Columbia

locked horns with a team from the former Coastal Division for the first time in the playoffs, and beat the Langley Lords

Westside Warriors

The Westside Warriors are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League and play in the Interior Conference....

in six games in the opening round. In the second round, the Nanaimo Clippers

Nanaimo Clippers

The Nanaimo Clippers are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...

, who had finished second overall in the regular season, bounced the Cents from the post season in seven games, but fans in Merritt

Merritt, British Columbia

had gotten their first taste of playoff success.

The 1975-76 season will also go down in Cents history as forward Greg Agar became the franchise's first player ever chosen in the NHL Entry Draft

NHL Entry Draft

The NHL Entry Draft is an annual meeting in which every franchise of the National Hockey League systematically select the rights to available amateur ice hockey players who meet draft eligibility requirements...

, going in the 10th round, 162nd overall to the California Golden Seals

California Golden Seals

The California Golden Seals were a team in the National Hockey League from 1967–76. Initially named California Seals, the team was renamed Oakland Seals part-way through the 1967–68 season, and then to California Golden Seals in 1970. The Seals were one of six teams added to the league as part of...

. Agar also is the first player chosen directly from a BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

team to the NHL

National Hockey League

.

The Centennials took a bit of a tumble in the 1976-77 season with the graduation of players like Darrel Zelinski, ending up tied for last place in the league with the Kamloops Braves

Kamloops Rockets

The Kamloops Rockets were a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team from Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. They were a part of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League....

. Merritt stayed out of the basement due to the fact that they had more goals-for scored during the season than Kamloops, as both teams had identical records of 23-45-0. The addition of players like Ed Beers

Ed Beers

Edward Joseph "Eddy" Beers is a retired professional ice hockey forward who played 250 games in the National Hockey League. He was nearly a point per game player in his time in the NHL, but his NHL career was cut short by injury....

and Gary Sirkia along with coach Joe Tennant, however, planted the seeds for future success.

1977–1979

The 1977-78 season represents the most significant in Centennials history as the team would experience achievements yet to be matched. Buoyed by the addition of players like Ken Stroud, Rob Polman-Tuin, and Kelly Ferner, and the development of returnees like Beers

Ed Beers

and Sirkia, the Cents rocketed to the top of the BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

standings, finishing the season with a record of 50-15-1 for a franchise record 101 points. That total stands as the fourth most ever points accumulated by one team in a season in BCHL

British Columbia Hockey League

history. The Cents racked up an astonishing 489 goals that season, led by six different players with 90 points or more. Stroud, Ferner, Beers

Ed Beers

, and Sirkia would all wind up in the BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

's top 15 in scoring, each with more than 111 points while Pat Rabbitt and Blake Stephen chipped in with 93 points each. Merritt

Merritt, British Columbia

also had four 50-plus goal scorers in Stroud, Ferner, Beers

Ed Beers

, and Rabbitt. Stroud's 86 assists that season still stands as a team record.

Once the BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

playoffs rolled around, the Centennials were nowhere to be found. Opting to return to the Centennial Cup Junior "A" playoffs, the league decided that Merritt would represent them. While the rest of the BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

teams were partaking in the regular post-season, the Centennials first faced the PCJHL's Richmond Sockeyes

Richmond Sockeyes

The Richmond Sockeyes are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Tom Shaw Conference of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League...

for the Mowat Cup

Mowat Cup

The Mowat Cup is emblematic of the Junior "A" ice hockey Championship of British Columbia .The cup was donated to the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association by Mr...

provincial championship. Merritt swept the best of five series 3-0 and advanced to the BC/Alberta Junior "A" Championship

Doyle Cup

against the Alberta Junior Hockey League

Alberta Junior Hockey League

The Alberta Junior Hockey League is an Alberta-based Junior A hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League . It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. There are currently 16 teams in the league. The regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy...

's Calgary Canucks

Calgary Canucks

The Calgary Canucks are a junior ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Calgary, Alberta, Canada at the Max Bell Centre, capacity 3500....

. The Centennials were too much for the Canucks

Calgary Canucks

The Calgary Canucks are a junior ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Calgary, Alberta, Canada at the Max Bell Centre, capacity 3500....

to handle, and swept them aside in six games. Unfortunately for the Cents and their fans, the Cinderella

Cinderella

"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...

run came to an end in the Abbott Cup

Abbott Cup

The Abbott Memorial Cup, commonly referred to as the Abbott Cup, was awarded annually from 1919 through 1999 to the Junior "A" ice hockey Champion for Western Canada....

Championship against the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League

Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League

The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under Hockey Canada, a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Open to North American-born players 20 years of age or younger, the SJHL's 12 teams play in two divisions: the Bauer and Sherwood conferences...

's Prince Albert Raiders

Prince Albert Raiders

The Prince Albert Raiders are a major junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League. The Raiders play in the East Division of the Eastern Conference. They are based in the Saskatchewan city of Prince Albert...

. The Raiders

Prince Albert Raiders

beat the Centennials 4 games to 1, but the stunning playoff run and successful regular season firmly planted the team in the hearts of hockey fans throughout the Nicola Valley. The team's accomplishments didn't go unnoticed at the BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

's post-season awards either, as Tennant won coach of the year and Polman-Tuin took home the goaltender of the year and best goaltending duo awards.

The 1978-79 season represented another near the top of the BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

for the Centennials. They finished second overall in the league, with 98 points in 62 games. Polman-Tuin lead all BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

goaltenders in goals against average for the second straight year at 2.54 and took home his second straight goaltender and goaltending duo of the year awards. The Cents easily handled Kelowna

Kelowna Buckaroos

The Kelowna Buckaroos were a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team from Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. They were a part of the British Columbia Hockey League.-History:...

in the Interior Division semifinals 4-games-to-2 before being upset by Kamloops

Kamloops Rockets

The Kamloops Rockets were a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team from Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. They were a part of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League....

in the Interior Division Finals 4-games-to-2. The series was considered an upset because Kamloops

Kamloops Rockets

The Kamloops Rockets were a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team from Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. They were a part of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League....

had finished the regular season 24 points behind the first place Merritt squad.

1979–1985

The 1979-80 season for the Centennials saw the team tumble to the bottom of the BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

's Interior Division with a record of 20-38-2, good enough for second last overall in the league. The season also represented the first time since moving to Merritt that the team failed to make the playoffs.

Things improved a little for the 1980-81 season as the Centennials gained seven more wins than the season before and finished fourth in the five team Interior Division. The team also returned to the post season, stretching the regular season champion Kelowna Buckaroos

Kelowna Buckaroos

The Kelowna Buckaroos were a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team from Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. They were a part of the British Columbia Hockey League.-History:...

to seven games in the Interior Division semifinals before bowing out. Dan London

Dan London

Daniel London , a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is an American theater and movie actor.His best known roles have been in the films Patch Adams , Minority Report, and Old Joy, and in the Broadway play Impossible Marriage....

paced the team offensively, finishing third in league scoring with 99 points in 54 games.

The 1981-82 season represented a step back for the franchise as the Cents ended up second to last in the Interior Division with an abysmal record of 11-35-2. Remarkably, the Vernon Lakers had a worse record, finishing three points behind the Centennials. Merritt was overmatched by BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

leading scorer Ray Ferraro

Ray Ferraro

Raymond Ferraro is a retired professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League for the Hartford Whalers , New York Islanders , New York Rangers , Los Angeles Kings , Atlanta Thrashers and St. Louis Blues...

and his Penticton Knights

Penticton Vees

The Penticton Vees are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League...

in the Interior Division semifinals, going out in four straight games.

The 1982-83 season saw things get worse for the Centennials as they lost one more game and finished with four fewer points, ending up last in the entire BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

. The team also set a BCJHL record for fewest goals scored in a 56 game season with 166. The record still stands as the fourth fewest goals scored in any season in BCJHL history. It also marked the first time since the team relocated to Merritt

Merritt, British Columbia

that it missed the playoffs.

Just when things couldn't seem to get any worse coming off a last place overall finish, they did for the 1983-84 season, as the Cents finished with an abysmal record of 8-51-1. The team also set a dubious BCJHL record for the most goals allowed in a season with 543, an average of 9.05 against per game. This despite the fact that forward Brent Demerais set a single season team record that still stands today with 66 goals. His total represents 26.7% of the total goals the team scored that season. In fact, Demerais' point total of 124 was good enough for third overall in the BCJHL, but it was the lone bright spot in a season with very few.

1984-85 was a season of much improvement as the Centennials ended the season third in the BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

Interior Division with a record of 24-27-1. The team was led by the trio of Pat Ryan

Pat Ryan

Patrick J. C. Ryan is a Canadian curler originally from Edmonton, Alberta. Ryan is a former World Champion skip, and three time Brier champion. Ryan currently lives in Toronto....

, Kevin Cheveldave, and Mark Bogoslowski, each of whom placed among the top 15 BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

scorers that season. Ryan

Pat Ryan

Patrick J. C. Ryan is a Canadian curler originally from Edmonton, Alberta. Ryan is a former World Champion skip, and three time Brier champion. Ryan currently lives in Toronto....

finished fourth overall with 116 points, Cheveldave eleventh with 103 points, and Bogoslowski fourteenth with 98 points. The Cents also returned to the post-season where they beat Vernon

Vernon Vipers

The Vernon Vipers are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League . They play their home games at Wesbild Centre.-History:...

in a thrilling seven game series in the Interior Division semifinal before being swept in the Interior Division final by a first place Penticton

Penticton Vees

The Penticton Vees are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League...

squad that lost just five games all season.

1985–1987

1985-86 signified a big change for fans in Merritt as team owners tried to appeal more to the First Nations

First Nations

First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...

population in the Nicola Valley and also identify more with the Merritt Minor Hockey

Minor hockey

Minor hockey is an umbrella term for amateur ice hockey which is played below the junior age level. Players are classified by age, with each age group playing in its own league. The rules, especially as it relates to body contact, vary from class to class...

Association

Voluntary association

A voluntary association or union is a group of individuals who enter into an agreement as volunteers to form a body to accomplish a purpose.Strictly speaking, in many jurisdictions no formalities are necessary to start an association...

. As a result, the team colours became white

White

White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...

, black

Black

Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...

, and yellow

Yellow

Yellow is the color evoked by light that stimulates both the L and M cone cells of the retina about equally, with no significant stimulation of the S cone cells. Light with a wavelength of 570–590 nm is yellow, as is light with a suitable mixture of red and green...

and the team name was changed from the Centennials to the Warriors. The team improved on their record from the previous season, going 27-23-2. The playoff result wasn't much different for the Warriors as the Merritt

Merritt, British Columbia

squad locked horns with Penticton once again in the Interior Division semifinal, only to be swept by the Knights

Penticton Vees

The Penticton Vees are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League...

in four games.

The 1986-87 season represented a step back for the Warriors as the team won just 10 games, but remarkably it was good enough to put them in the playoffs as the Summerland Buckaroos

Kelowna Buckaroos

The Kelowna Buckaroos were a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team from Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. They were a part of the British Columbia Hockey League.-History:...

finished with nine points fewer in last place in both the BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

and the Interior Division. This time it would be Kelowna Packers

Kelowna Spartans

The Kelowna Spartans were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. They were a part of the British Columbia Hockey League.-History:...

who sent the Warriors packing in the Interior semifinals and Merritt was swept in the first playoff round for the second straight season.

1987–1990

A roller coaster decade continued for the franchise as the 1987-88 season began with the team changing its name back to the Centennials. The hockey club also returned to their red

Red

Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye...

, black

Black

Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...

, and white

White

colour scheme. On the ice, the team's record improved by 15 wins and they finished with a record of 25-27-0. The point total of 50 was good enough for fourth in the Interior Division, just eight points behind the second place Kelowna Packers

Kelowna Spartans

The Kelowna Spartans were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. They were a part of the British Columbia Hockey League.-History:...

. Frank Biller, Al Rushton, and Cal McGowan led the team offensively. Biller posted 57 goals and 49 assists for 106 points, sixth overall in the BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

. Rushton chipped in with 87 points and McGowan ended up with 79 points, both good enough to be amongst the top eight scorers in the Interior Division. In the post season, the Cents suffered their third straight series sweep in the first round, this time it was against the first place Vernon Lakers

Vernon Vipers

.

The 1988-89 season represented one of much improvement for the Centennials, as they finished second in the Interior Division. The team chalked up nine more wins than the previous season while Al Rushton continued his torrid scoring pace, notching 48 goals and 53 assists for 101 points. His totals were good enough for fourth overall in the Interior. Goaltender Barry Rysz also played a huge role in Merritt's turnaround as he finished second overall in goals-against-average at 4.39 and was awarded the Best Goaltender of the Year award. Head coach Ed Beers

Ed Beers

was recognized by the BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

with the Coach of the Year award. In the playoffs, the Cents matched up with Salmon Arm in the Interior Semifinals and took the series in five games. For the second season in a row, Merritt met Vernon

Vernon Vipers

in the Interior Conference Finals and for the second straight year, the result was the same—a 4-0 series sweep at the hands of the Lakers

Vernon Vipers

.

In the 1989-90 season, the Cents stumbled to third place in the Interior Division, but finished just three points behind the second-place Kelowna Spartans

Kelowna Spartans

The Kelowna Spartans were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. They were a part of the British Columbia Hockey League.-History:...

. Despite the third-place finish, the Centennials had two players among the top eight Interior Division scorers. Al Rushton with 81 points, ended up tied for third with Vernon

Vernon Vipers

's Duane Dennis

Duane Dennis

Duane Dennis is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player.Dennis attented the Acadia University where he played with the Acadia Axemen men's ice hockey team. For his outstanding play during the 1993–94 season, Dennis was named the CIS Player of the year and was awarded the Senator Joseph A....

, while Paul Gentes tied with Vernon

Vernon Vipers

's Rob Atkinson for fourth with 65 points. In the playoffs, Merritt finished second in the BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

's preliminary round robin series with a record of 3-3. Vernon

Vernon Vipers

ended up winning the Interior Group and advancing to the BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

championship final with a record of 5-2.

1990–2000

The 1990-91 season for the Merritt Centennials was significant in that it was the first time in three years that the team didn't feature a player among the top eight scorers in the Interior Conference, but it also represented a twelve point improvement over the previous season. The Cents claimed the final Interior Division playoff spot with a fourth place finish. The post-season berth wasn't really in doubt as Merritt ended up 33 points ahead of last place Penticton

Penticton Vees

The Penticton Vees are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League...

. In the Interior Division semifinals, the Centennials locked horns with the returning Chilliwack Chiefs, who had finished first in the division during the regular season. The Chiefs proved to be too much for Merritt, as they beat the Cents in six games. It was a close series, with Chilliwack posting 25 goals for and Merritt countering with 24 goals for. At the 1991 NHL Entry Draft

1991 NHL Entry Draft

The 1991 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 22 at the Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York. A total of 264 players were drafted. The draft was famous for the controversy surrounding star first overall draft pick, touted by some observers to be The Next One, Eric Lindros, who was drafted by the...

, the Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...

made Cents defenceman Maco Balkovec the highest player ever drafted directly from the BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

team when they chose him in the fifth round, 110th overall.

The 1991-92 season turned out to be one to forget for the Centennials and their fans as the team stumbled to a record of 19-36-5 and fell to last place in the Interior Division and the BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

with 43 points. It was the first time in seven years that Merritt missed the BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

playoffs. One bright spot for the Cents was the play of rookie Mike Josephson, who was rewarded with the Interior Division rookie of the year award.

1992-93 represented a marked improvement for the Cents as the team garnered 14 more wins than the previous season and wound up with 25 more points. Merritt was powered by the offence of David Green, who finished fourth in the Interior Division with 105 points, and the goaltending of David Kilduff, who was third in the BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

with a 4.03 goals-against-average. A return to the playoffs, however, produced a similar result as in the past as the Centennials faced off against first place Kelowna

Kelowna Spartans

The Kelowna Spartans were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. They were a part of the British Columbia Hockey League.-History:...

in the Interior Division semifinals and lost the series in five games. Brian Barrett, who took over as coach of the team midway through the season, was named BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

coach of the year for the Interior Conference.

The Centennials struggled in the 1993-94 season, one that was truncated by the trade of two of the team's most dynamic offensive players, Bill Muckalt

Bill Muckalt

Bill Muckalt is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. Muckalt played in the National Hockey League for the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators and Minnesota Wild from 1998 until 2003.-Playing career:...

and Joe Rybar, to the Kelowna Spartans

Kelowna Spartans

The Kelowna Spartans were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. They were a part of the British Columbia Hockey League.-History:...

midway through the season.This was a year Merritt would off-load several key players in an effort to rebuild the team. Goaltenders Joe Kennedy and up and coming athletic goaltender Jason Taylor were moved as well along with Rob Szatsmary forward and Ryan Beamin a solid defensemen. Merritt had a tough time, especially after the trades, and finished the regular season at the bottom of both the Interior Division and the BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

with a record of 16-39-5 for just 37 points. The Centennials missed the playoffs while Kelowna Spartans

Kelowna Spartans

The Kelowna Spartans were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. They were a part of the British Columbia Hockey League.-History:...

would go all the way to the Centennial Cup championship, only to lose to the Olds Grizzlys

Olds Grizzlys

The Olds Grizzlys are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Olds, Alberta, Canada at the Olds & District Sports Complex, capacity 2200.The Grizzlys enjoyed a dynasty in the mid 1990s that culminated in a Centennial Cup title as national champions, won on home ice, in...

. At the 1994 NHL Entry Draft

1994 NHL Entry Draft

The 1994 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Hartford Civic Center on June 28–29, 1994.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...

, Muckalt

Bill Muckalt

was chosen in the ninth round, 221st overall by the Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...

. Former Centennial Mike Josephson, who had moved on to the WHL

Western Hockey League

's Kamloops Blazers

Kamloops Blazers

The Kamloops Blazers are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League based out of Kamloops, British Columbia. They play their home games at Interior Savings Centre.-History:...

, was chosen 196th overall by Chicago

Chicago Blackhawks

.

The 1994-95 season was one of marginal improvement by the Cents, as the team wound up with a record of 18-40-2, two wins more than the previous year. Merritt missed the BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

playoffs for the second straight season and also finished in the Interior Division basement for the second year in a row.

Things began to look up for the Centennials in the 1995-96 season as the team jumped to 26 wins and third place in the Interior Division. Buoyed by the offence of John Coyle and Bryan Phillips, who finished sixth and eighth respectively in BCJHL

British Columbia Hockey League

scoring, the Centennials returned to the playoffs with a first round miniseries against the South Surrey Eagles

Surrey Eagles

The Surrey Eagles are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League . They play their home games at South Surrey Arena.-New Westminster:...

. Merritt eliminated the Eagles

Surrey Eagles

2-0 in the best of three series and advanced to the league quarterfinals, where it would face the Chilliwack Chiefs. The Chiefs proved to be too much for the Cents, as they beat Merritt in five games.

Merritt

Merritt, British Columbia

saw its point total drop during the 1996-97 season as the Centennials finished with a 22-34-4 record, good enough for fifth in the Interior Division. The Cents had no players finish in the top ten in BCHL

British Columbia Hockey League

scoring, but still qualified for the playoffs and met Prince George

Prince George Spruce Kings

The Prince George Spruce Kings are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...

, which finished ten points ahead of them in the regular season. Merritt eliminated the Spruce Kings

Prince George Spruce Kings

The Prince George Spruce Kings are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...

in their first round best of three mini series 2-1 and advanced to the league quarterfinals. The Centennials met Vernon

Vernon Vipers

in round two and were promptly swept by the Vipers

Vernon Vipers

in four games. In June 1997, Mike Brown became the first former Centennial to be drafted in the first round of the NHL entry draft

NHL Entry Draft

when Florida

Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...

chose him 20th overall from the WHL

Western Hockey League

's Red Deer Rebels

Red Deer Rebels

The Red Deer Rebels are a Western Hockey League junior ice hockey team based in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. They play their home games at the ENMAX Centrium....

. At the league's post-season awards, Cents goaltender Jason Tapp was chosen as the Interior Division's most valuable player.

The Centennials improved marginally for the 1997-98 season, finishing with a record of 24-32-4, a four point improvement over the previous season. The Cents got a boost offensively when forward Shane Glover was acquired during the season from the Nanaimo Clippers

Nanaimo Clippers

The Nanaimo Clippers are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...

. Glover would finish fifth in BCHL

British Columbia Hockey League

scoring with 94 points in 57 games. For the second season in a row, Merritt

Merritt, British Columbia

faced off against Prince George

Prince George Spruce Kings

The Prince George Spruce Kings are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...

in a first round best of three mini series, but this season the result was different as the Spruce Kings

Prince George Spruce Kings

The Prince George Spruce Kings are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...

knocked off the Centennials 2-1. After the season, Glover was recognized as the Interior Division's most valuable player and most sportsmanlike player. It was first time in franchise history that a Centennials player had claimed the Interior MVP award in two straight seasons.

In the 1998-99 season, the Cents ended up with exactly the same amount of points as the season prior, and in the same position as the season prior, fourth in the BCHL

British Columbia Hockey League

's Interior Division. The 1999 playoffs brought another post-season first round meeting with the Vernon Vipers

Vernon Vipers

for Merritt

Merritt, British Columbia

and a similar result as in past years. The Vipers

Vernon Vipers

took the Centennials out in five games en route to a Royal Bank Cup

Royal Bank Cup

The Royal Bank Cup is an annual ice hockey tournament held to determine the Canadian Junior A champion. The winner of the tournament wins the Royal Bank Cup...

Championship.

Merritt rounded out the 1990s with its best season in eleven years. The Centennials placed fourth in the Interior Division for the third straight year, and their 33-22-5 record for 71 points left them just four points behind second place Vernon

Vernon Vipers

. The Cents success was due in large part to the goaltending of Jamie Holden, who finished fifth in the league with a 3.45 goals against average. In the playoffs, Merritt

Merritt, British Columbia

upset first place Penticton

Penticton Vees

The Penticton Vees are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League...

in six games in the first round and met up with the Vipers

Vernon Vipers

in the Interior Conference finals. Despite a very good effort, the Centennials ultimately fell to Vernon

Vernon Vipers

in game seven. The Cents were also represented at the BCHL

British Columbia Hockey League

's post-season awards, with forward Neil Stevenson-Moore

Neil Stevenson-Moore

Neil Stevenson-Moore is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward.-Playing career:Stevenson-Moore signed with the Edinburgh Capitals of the British Elite Ice Hockey League in September 2005. Prior to his signing he played four seasons for Princeton University where he amassed 21 goals and 45 points to...

sharing the Interior Conference's most sportsmanlike award with Prince George

Prince George Spruce Kings

The Prince George Spruce Kings are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...

's Mike Lalonde.

2000–Present

The 2000-01 season featured a drop of two points for the Centennials, but an improvement in the standings to second in the Interior Division. The Cents wound up with a record of 30-21-9 and 69 points. However, it wouldn't be the regular season that fans in Merritt would remember the most about the year, rather an improbable run to the Fred Page Cup

Fred Page Cup

The Fred Page Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won by tournament, conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The award is given to the winner of a round robin and playoff between the Bogart Cup champions of the Central Junior Hockey League, the Kent Cup champions of the Maritime...

Final. The Cents faced off against Prince George

Prince George Spruce Kings

The Prince George Spruce Kings are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...

in the Interior Division opening round and promptly swept the Spruce Kings

Prince George Spruce Kings

The Prince George Spruce Kings are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...

in four straight. They then met up in the Interior Conference final with the Penticton Panthers, who had finished the season first in the division, 29 points ahead of the Centennials. The first place Panthers proved to be no match for Merritt, as the Cents outscored Penticton 16 to 7 in a four game sweep. Next up, it was the franchise's first appearance in the Fred Page Cup

Fred Page Cup

final, and it would be against the Victoria Salsa. Despite a thrilling seven game series, the Salsa took the BCHL

British Columbia Hockey League

championship on home ice. Forward Mike Ouelette provided a bright spot individually as he won BCHL

British Columbia Hockey League

Rookie of the Year for the Interior Conference.

Fans in Merritt were hoping that the Centennials could build off their playoff run of 2000-01 in the following season, but it wasn't meant to be as the team stumbled to a regular season record of 25-32-3 and 53 points, seventh in the eight team Interior Conference. There were several bright spots, one would be the play of goaltender Stefano Antinori, who statistically finished eighth amongst all BCHL

British Columbia Hockey League

netminders with a 3.36 goals against average. Others included the emergence of Mike Hamilton (Maine Blackbears), Kevin Borba, Shane McCormick, and Cory Graboski. The Centennials also made a coaching change midway through the season that saw Al Glendinning

Al Glendinning

-Career:Glendinning was the head coach of the Merritt Centennials of the British Columbia Hockey League from 2002-2009. He was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the 4th round, 55th overall in the 1976 NHL Entry Draft....

join the team behind the bench taking over from Red Deer native Kevin McKay. Glendinning

Al Glendinning

got the Cents to the playoffs, but they were swept 4-0 in the first round at the hands of the first place Vernon Vipers

Vernon Vipers

. Whom they had a winning record against all year. This also saw the graduation of players such as Kris Heeres, Mike Ouellette, Aaron Winterholt, and Brodie Rutherglen.

2002-03 represented a nine point improvement for the Centennials, as the team went 28-26-4-2 for 62 points. Offensively the Cents were buoyed by the presence of three players in the top fifteen BCHL

British Columbia Hockey League

scorers. Mike Hamilton was sixth overall with 93 points in 56 games, Jordan Emmerson finished eleventh with 85 points in 59 games, and Clayton Lainsbury wound up fifteenth in league scoring with 83 points in 61 games. Despite having Hamilton, Emmerson, and Lainsbury in the lineup, the Centennials proved to be not much of a threat in the post-season as the Trail Smoke Eaters beat Merritt in five games in the first round. At the 2003 NHL Entry Draft

2003 NHL Entry Draft

The 2003 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tennessee on June 21, 2003.Marc-Andre Fleury was selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins, only the third goalie in NHL history selected as the first overall draft choice...

, Mike Hamilton became just the third player in franchise history to be drafted directly to the NHL

National Hockey League

when the Atlanta Thrashers

Atlanta Thrashers

The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...

chose him in the 6th round, 175th overall.

Point-wise the 2003-04 season was identical to the previous season for the Centennials, but the main difference was that the 03-04 Cents didn't feature any player among the top fifteen BCHL

British Columbia Hockey League

scorers. Merritt finished with a record of 29-27-0-4, good enough for 62 points and fourth place in the Interior Conference. The season was highlighted by a trade in January that saw leading scorer Shane McCormick dealt to Penticton for Luke Vanderkerkhove. That same day, Vanderkerkhove was packaged with Jordan Dickson to the Coquitlam Express

Burnaby Express

The Coquitlam Express are a Junior "A" ice hockey team based in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...

in exchange for Bryan Leitch

Bryan Leitch

Bryan Leitch is an Canadian professional ice hockey player who played the 2009-10 season in the ECHL.Raised in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Leitch played three seasons of junior hockey in the British Columbia Hockey League with the Coquitlam Express and Merritt Centennials before attending...

. In the playoffs, the Cents ran into a Cinderella Williams Lake TimberWolves

Williams Lake TimberWolves

The Williams Lake TimberWolves are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada currently suspended from the BCHL . They were part of the British Columbia Hockey League. The team took a leave of absence for the 2007-08 and 2008-2009 seasons to relocate to Wenatchee,...

club that was on its way to the Interior Conference finals. The T-Wolves

Williams Lake TimberWolves

dispatched the Centennials in the first round in five games.

The Centennials took another step back during the 2004-05 season, finishing with five fewer points and a record of 27-30-0-3, sixth in the Interior Conference. For Al Glendinning

Al Glendinning

, it represented the first time he'd finished with a record under .500 since being hired as coach. Bryan Leitch

Bryan Leitch

was a major bright spot, scoring 87 points in 51 games, fifth among BCHL

British Columbia Hockey League

leading scorers. This season also marked the rookie debut of forward Casey Pierro-Zabotel

Casey Pierro-Zabotel

Casey Pierro-Zabotel is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who is currently playing for the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. He is a prospect for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . He was drafted by the Penguins in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, 80th overall, out of the...

. At the trade deadline, Glendinning

Al Glendinning

shook up his team, dealing forwards Bill Vandermeer and Blair Riley to the Nanaimo Clippers

Nanaimo Clippers

The Nanaimo Clippers are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...

for forwards Daryle Hurd, Kevin Lessard, defenceman Rylan Burns, and future considerations. For the fourth straight season, the Centennials were dispatched in the opening round of the playoffs, losing to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks

Salmon Arm Silverbacks

The Salmon Arm Silverbacks are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League.-2010/2011 Player Roster:1 Kris Moore4 Dustin Cave5 Jayson Reardon...

in five games.

Despite a setback the previous season, things began to look up for the Centennials when they acquired forward Brandon Wong for future considerations early the in the off-season from the Powell River Kings. The Cents had a very good 2005-06 regular season, improving on their point total by eighteen and moving up to fourth in the Interior Conference. Their record of 33-18-1-8 included a stretch that saw them lose one regulation game in their final twenty games and their 75 points represented Merritt's best season in 27 years. Wong lead the BCHL

British Columbia Hockey League

in scoring, the first Centennials player to do so since Fred Berry

Fred Berry (ice hockey)

did in the 1973-74 season. In addition to Wong's 116 points, Brandon Campos finished tenth in league scoring with 80 points in 46 games and defenceman Alan Mazur, who was acquired in October 2005 from Burnaby

Burnaby Express

The Coquitlam Express are a Junior "A" ice hockey team based in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...

for defenceman Dave Simoes, set a franchise record for most points by a defenceman with 70. Mazur's 70 points also placed him 20th among all BCHL

British Columbia Hockey League

scorers. Sensing an opportunity for a long playoff run, Glendinning

Al Glendinning

made a huge trade at the January deadline, sending goaltender Cory Grant, forwards Chris Shudo and Greg Tyshynksi, and future considerations to the Spruce Kings

Prince George Spruce Kings

The Prince George Spruce Kings are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...

in exchange for goaltender Brad Thiessen, forward Matt Shuya, and defenceman Brody Mott. In the first round of playoffs, the Centennials were too much for the Trail Smoke Eaters

Trail Smoke Eaters

The Trail Smoke Eaters are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Trail, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League.-History:...

, dispatching them in five games. The Cents locked horns with Penticton

Penticton Vees

The Penticton Vees are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League...

in the second round, but the first place Vees

Penticton Vees

The Penticton Vees are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League...

quickly swept Merritt aside in four games. The Centennials strong season wasn't overlooked at the annual BCHL

British Columbia Hockey League

awards as Wong took home Interior Conference most valuable player and BCHL top scorer, Campos won Interior Conference most sportsmanlike player, and Glendinning

Al Glendinning

Interior Conference coach of the year.

The Centennials had another up and down year in 2006-07, finishing with a record of 25-27-1-7 and 58 points, sixth in the Interior Conference. Merritt was led by the one-two punch of Casey Pierro-Zabotel

Casey Pierro-Zabotel

and Wade MacLeod, who finished third and fourth respectively in BCHL

British Columbia Hockey League

scoring. Zabotel

Casey Pierro-Zabotel

posted 116 points in 55 games while MacLeod chipped in 105 points in 60 games. Zabotel

Casey Pierro-Zabotel

also represented the Centennials on the gold medal winning team at the inaugural World Junior A Challenge

World Junior A Challenge

The World Junior A Challenge is an annual under-20 international ice hockey tournament sponsored by Hockey Canada, the Canadian Junior Hockey League , and the International Ice Hockey Federation . The tournament showcases Junior A level players and is modeled after the IIHF World U20...

. The post-season saw the Cents fight hard only to lose in the seventh game of the opening round against the Trail Smoke Eaters

Trail Smoke Eaters

The Trail Smoke Eaters are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Trail, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League.-History:...

. After the season, Zabotel

Casey Pierro-Zabotel

won Interior Conference most valuable player, marking the first time ever that a Centennials player had claimed that award in back to back seasons. At the 2007 NHL Entry Draft

2007 NHL Entry Draft

The 2007 NHL Entry Draft was the 45th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted at Nationwide Arena in the city of Columbus, Ohio, United States on June 22, 2007. The draft consisted of seven rounds with rounds two through seven taking place on June 23, 2007...

, Zabotel

Casey Pierro-Zabotel

became just the fourth player in franchise history to be drafted directly to the NHL

National Hockey League

when the Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...

chose him in the 3th round, 80th overall. He is the highest player ever drafted directly from the Centennials to the NHL

National Hockey League

.

The 2007-08 season was a struggle for the Cents as they saw their record fall to 13-38-1-8. Their 35 points represented a 33 point decrease and the team finished last in the BCHL

British Columbia Hockey League

. Statistically, the Centennials had just one player finish with a point-per-game average, as Chad Gehon posted 48 points in 45 games after being acquired early in the season from the Cowichan Valley Capitals

Cowichan Valley Capitals

The Cowichan Valley Capitals are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Duncan, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...

. The season marked the first time in 12 years, and first time in seven years under coach Al Glendinning

Al Glendinning

that Merritt missed the playoffs.

Logo

The Cents logo is a red square with a black hockey stick and puck forming the letter "C". The logo lays on a field of white in the middle of the chest on both uniforms.

In 1973-74, the original logo featured a white square with a black hockey stick and puck in it forming the letter "C". The logo laid on a field of red in the middle of the chest. This was prior to having home and away uniforms. In the late 1970s, the logo changed to a red square with a black hockey stick and puck forming the letter "C" with the words "Merritt" above the logo and "Centennials" below the logo. On the home jerseys, the logo laid on a field of white, while on the away jerseys, the logo laid on a field of red.

When the team briefly changed its name to the Warriors for the 1985-87 seasons, the logo changed to a yellow oval with the word "Warriors" written in black cursive font. Following the 1986-87 season, the team name reverted back to the Centennials and the team went back to using the square logo.

Prior to the 1995-96 season, the logo changed to a red maple leaf with the word "Merritt" in small print on the right side of the leaf's stem and the word "Centennials" in larger print directly underneath the maple leaf, overlapping the bottom three lines in the maple leaf's "swoosh".

As part of the Cents 35th anniversary in Merritt, the team's board of directors opted to return to the original square logo, beginning with the 2007-08 season.

Uniforms

The current team colours are red, black and white, and they can be seen on both the home and road uniforms. The home jersey is dominantly white in colour. There are two black stripes and one red stripe across each arm and across the waist. The road uniform is red in colour with a similar design, except that there are two black stripes and two white stripes across the waist and across each arm.

Season-by-season results

This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Centennials. For the full season-by-season history, see Merritt Centennials seasons

Merritt Centennials seasons

This is a list of seasons completed by the Merritt Centennials ice hockey franchise of the British Columbia Hockey League. The list documents the season-by-season records of the Centennials' franchise from 1973 to present, including post-season results. The Cents franchise was founded in 1961 as...

Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Season GP W L T OTL GF GA Points Finish Playoffs
2005-06 60 33 18 1 8 236 205 75 4th BCHL Interior Lost in Quarter-finals
2006-07 60 25 27 1 7 212 259 58 6th BCHL Interior Lost in Preliminary
2007-08 60 13 38 1 8 156 305 35 8th BCHL Interior DNQ
2008-09 60 13 44 0 3 148 288 29 8th BCHL Interior DNQ
2009-10 60 22 36 0 2 215 319 46 7th BCHL Interior Lost in Preliminary
2010-11 60 22 31 1 6 157 216 51 6th BCHL Interior Lost in Preliminary
All-Time Totals 2,257 931 1,203 57 66 9,483 11,221 1,985

Current roster
Updated January 10, 2010.
http://www.merrittcentennials.com/leagues/team_statistics.cfm?clientID=3359&leagueID=8957

Goaltenders
# Player Catches Debut Last Season Hometown
31 Canada Lino Chimienti R 2010-11 Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls Stampede
The Sioux Falls Stampede is a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team playing in the West Division of the United States Hockey League . Based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the Stampede plays its home games at the Sioux Falls Arena....

Laval
Laval, Quebec
Laval is a Canadian city and a region in southwestern Quebec. It is the largest suburb of Montreal, the third largest municipality in the province of Quebec, and the 14th largest city in Canada with a population of 368,709 in 2006...

, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....

35 Canada Tyler Steel L 2010-11 Sicamous
Sicamous Eagles
The Sicamous Eagles are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Sicamous, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Doug Birks Division of the Okanagan/Shuswap Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League...

Vernon
Vernon, British Columbia
Vernon is a city in the south-central region of British Columbia, Canada. Named after Forbes George Vernon, a former MLA of British Columbia who helped found the famed Coldstream Ranch, the City of Vernon was incorporated on December 30, 1892. The City of Vernon has a population of 35,944 , while...

, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

Defencemen
# Player Shoots Debut Last Season Hometown
2 Canada Billy Marshall L 2010-11 Princeton
Princeton Posse
The Princeton Posse are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Princeton, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Okanagan Division of the Okanagan/Shuswap Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League . They play their home games at Princeton & District Multipurpose...

Smithers, British Columbia
Smithers, British Columbia
Smithers is a town located in northwestern British Columbia, Canada, approximately halfway between Prince George and Prince Rupert. Smithers is located in the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako....

3 Canada Reece Willcox L 2010-11 Valley West Hawks
BC Hockey Major Midget League
The BC Hockey Major Midget League or BC MML is the top provincial midget ice hockey league in British Columbia, Canada. Governed by BC Hockey and inaugurated in 2004, the league currently consists of 11 teams. Players range from 15 to 17 years old...

Surrey, British Columbia
Surrey, British Columbia
Surrey is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is a member municipality of Metro Vancouver, the governing body of the Greater Vancouver Regional District...

4 Canada Steve Tresierra R 2008-09 Centennials Golden, British Columbia
Golden, British Columbia
Golden is a town in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, located west of Calgary, Alberta and east of Vancouver.-History:Much of the town's history is tied into the Canadian Pacific Railway and the logging industry...

24 Canada Richard Sabourin L 2010-11 Okanagan Rockets
BC Hockey Major Midget League
The BC Hockey Major Midget League or BC MML is the top provincial midget ice hockey league in British Columbia, Canada. Governed by BC Hockey and inaugurated in 2004, the league currently consists of 11 teams. Players range from 15 to 17 years old...

Kelowna
Kelowna
Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"...

, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

25 Canada Brandon Pfeil L 2010-11 Burnaby
Burnaby Express
The Coquitlam Express are a Junior "A" ice hockey team based in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...

/Grandview
Grandview Steelers
The Grandview Steelers are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Tom Shaw Conference of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League...

West Vancouver, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

28 Canada Kameran Crawford L 2009-10 Centennials Penticton, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

Forwards
# Player Shoots Debut Last Season Hometown
7 Canada Brent Fletcher R 2010-11 Ridge Meadows
Ridge Meadows Flames
The Ridge Meadows Flames are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Harold Brittain Conference of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League...

New Westminster, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

8 Canada Silvan Harper R 2009-10 Centennials Coquitlam, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

9 Canada Evan Stack R 2010-11 Princeton
Princeton Posse
The Princeton Posse are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Princeton, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Okanagan Division of the Okanagan/Shuswap Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League . They play their home games at Princeton & District Multipurpose...

Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...

, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...

10 United States Max Vallis R 2010-11 P.F. Chang's Hockey AAA Santa Clara
Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...

, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

11 Canada Jeff Jones L 2009-10 Centennials Revelstoke, British Columbia
Revelstoke, British Columbia
Revelstoke is a city in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. It is located east of Vancouver, and west of Calgary, Alberta. The city is situated on the banks of the Columbia River just south of the Revelstoke Dam and near its confluence with the Illecillewaet River...

12 Canada Regan Soquila R 2010-11 Vancouver NE Chiefs
BC Hockey Major Midget League
The BC Hockey Major Midget League or BC MML is the top provincial midget ice hockey league in British Columbia, Canada. Governed by BC Hockey and inaugurated in 2004, the league currently consists of 11 teams. Players range from 15 to 17 years old...

Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Maple Ridge is a District Municipality in British Columbia, located in the northeastern section of Metro Vancouver. Maple Ridge has a population of approximately 68,949.-History:...

14 Canada Blaine Bokenfohr R 2010-11 Grande Prairie
Grande Prairie Storm
The Grande Prairie Storm are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada at the Canada Games Arena, capacity 3228, also known as the Crystal Centre....

St. Albert, Alberta
St. Albert, Alberta
St. Albert is a suburban city in Alberta, located northwest of Edmonton, on the Sturgeon River. It was originally settled as a Métis community, and is now the second largest city in the Edmonton area. St...

15 Canada Jakob Reichert R 2010-11 Revelstoke
Revelstoke Grizzlies
The Revelstoke Grizzlies are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Doug Birks Division of the Okanagan/Shuswap Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League . They play their home games at Revelstoke Forum.-History:The...

Langley, British Columbia
Langley, British Columbia (city)
The City of Langley is a municipality in Metro Vancouver. It lies directly east of the City of Surrey, adjacent to Cloverdale, and surrounded on the north, east and south by Township of Langley.-History:...

16 Canada Sean Maktaak R 2010-11 Creston Valley
Creston Valley Thunder Cats
The Creston Valley Thunder Cats are a junior ice hockey team based in Creston, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League...

Penticton, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

17 Canada David Sabey L 2009-10 Centennials Kelowna
Kelowna
Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"...

, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

19 Canada Chad Brears R 2010-11 Princeton
Princeton Posse
The Princeton Posse are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Princeton, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Okanagan Division of the Okanagan/Shuswap Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League . They play their home games at Princeton & District Multipurpose...

Cold Lake, Alberta
Cold Lake, Alberta
Cold Lake is a city in northeastern Alberta, Canada, named after the lake it is situated near.-Geography:The city is situated in Alberta's "Lakeland" district, 300 km northeast of Edmonton, near the Alberta-Saskatchewan provincial border. The area surrounding the city is sparsely populated,...

21 Canada Dustin Lebrun L 2010-11 Vancouver NE Chiefs
BC Hockey Major Midget League
The BC Hockey Major Midget League or BC MML is the top provincial midget ice hockey league in British Columbia, Canada. Governed by BC Hockey and inaugurated in 2004, the league currently consists of 11 teams. Players range from 15 to 17 years old...

Coquitlam, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

22 Canada Stephen Wall L 2009-10 Centennials St. Albert, Alberta
St. Albert, Alberta
St. Albert is a suburban city in Alberta, located northwest of Edmonton, on the Sturgeon River. It was originally settled as a Métis community, and is now the second largest city in the Edmonton area. St...

26 Canada Dylan Playfair L 2010-11 Penticton
Penticton Lakers
The Penticton Lakers are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Okanagan Division of the Okanagan/Shuswap of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League and are part of the Okanagan Hockey Academy...

Fort St. John, British Columbia
Fort St. John, British Columbia
The City of Fort St. John is a city in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. A member municipality of the Peace River Regional District, the city covers an area of about 22 km² with 22,000 residents . Located at Mile 47, it is one of the largest cities along the Alaska Highway. Originally...

NHL Alumni
Four Centennials players have been selected directly from the BCHL
British Columbia Hockey League
The British Columbia Hockey League is a Junior "A" ice hockey league from British Columbia under Hockey Canada, a subsection of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Founded in Vernon in 1961, the BCHL now includes 16 teams. These teams play in two conferences, known as the Coastal and the Interior...

to the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...

. The most recent is Casey Pierro-Zabotel
Casey Pierro-Zabotel
Casey Pierro-Zabotel is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who is currently playing for the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. He is a prospect for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . He was drafted by the Penguins in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, 80th overall, out of the...

, who went in the third round, 90th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft
2007 NHL Entry Draft
The 2007 NHL Entry Draft was the 45th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted at Nationwide Arena in the city of Columbus, Ohio, United States on June 22, 2007. The draft consisted of seven rounds with rounds two through seven taking place on June 23, 2007...

to the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...

. Other Centennials that have been drafted directly to the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...

include Mike Hamilton, Maco Balkovec, and Greg Agar. In fact, Agar was the first player ever chosen directly to the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...

from the then-BCJHL
British Columbia Hockey League
The British Columbia Hockey League is a Junior "A" ice hockey league from British Columbia under Hockey Canada, a subsection of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Founded in Vernon in 1961, the BCHL now includes 16 teams. These teams play in two conferences, known as the Coastal and the Interior...

.

Eleven former Centennials players have gone on to play in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...

. The first was Fred Berry
Fred Berry (ice hockey)
Frederick Allan Berry is a retired National Hockey League forward.During his final year in the BCJHL he potted 60 goals and 136 points in 60 games to lead the league. The following year he moved up to the WCJHL with the New Westminster Bruins where he had 75 points in 69 games...

, who played three games with the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...

in 1976–77.

Jeff Bandura
Jeff Bandura
Jeff Joseph Mitchell Bandura is a retired National Hockey League defenceman.He was drafted in the 2nd round, 22nd overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1977 NHL Entry Draft. He played a few years in the minors before getting called up by the New York Rangers in the 1980–81 season, where he would...

Ed Beers
Ed Beers
Edward Joseph "Eddy" Beers is a retired professional ice hockey forward who played 250 games in the National Hockey League. He was nearly a point per game player in his time in the NHL, but his NHL career was cut short by injury....

Fred Berry
Fred Berry (ice hockey)
Frederick Allan Berry is a retired National Hockey League forward.During his final year in the BCJHL he potted 60 goals and 136 points in 60 games to lead the league. The following year he moved up to the WCJHL with the New Westminster Bruins where he had 75 points in 69 games...

Mike Brown

Ron Flockhart
Ron Flockhart (ice hockey)
Ronald E. "Flockey Hockey" Flockhart is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player.-Playing career:Ron Flockhart scored over 300 NHL points in the 1980s playing mostly with the Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues...

Link Gaetz
Link Gaetz
Link Gaetz, aka "the Missing Link", is a former professional ice hockey player known for his battles when he was an up-and-coming enforcer in the National Hockey League and his troubles on and off the ice while in the minor leagues...

Alan Kerr
Alan Kerr
Alan G. Kerr is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward. He is currently the head coach and general manager of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs BCHL team....

Paul Kruse
Paul Kruse
Paul Johannes Kruse is a former National Hockey League left wing.He is married to Laurie-Anne. He is the father of Mckinley and Sierra...

Bill Muckalt
Bill Muckalt
Bill Muckalt is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. Muckalt played in the National Hockey League for the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators and Minnesota Wild from 1998 until 2003.-Playing career:...

Paul Mulvey
Paul Mulvey
Joseph Paul Mulvey is a retired Canadian ice hockey player.A hard-nosed right-winger, Mulvey played junior hockey with the Edmonton Oil Kings and the Portland Winter Hawks. He was selected in the 1978 NHL Draft by the Washington Capitals and played for parts of three seasons with the Capitals...

Don Nachbaur
Don Nachbaur
Donald Kenneth Nachbaur is a retired professional ice hockey player...

Head coaches
This list does not include the former coaches of the Kamloops Rockets
Kamloops Rockets
The Kamloops Rockets were a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team from Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. They were a part of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League....

.

Career Scoring Leaders
These are the top-ten point-scorers in franchise history. Figures are updated after each completed BCHL
British Columbia Hockey League
The British Columbia Hockey League is a Junior "A" ice hockey league from British Columbia under Hockey Canada, a subsection of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Founded in Vernon in 1961, the BCHL now includes 16 teams. These teams play in two conferences, known as the Coastal and the Interior...

regular season.

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game * = still active with the team

Updated at completion of 2007–08 season

Player Pos GP G A Pts P/G
Darrel Zelinski F 196 160 187 347 1.8
Al Rushton F 165 127 142 269 1.6
Casey Pierro-Zabotel
Casey Pierro-Zabotel
Casey Pierro-Zabotel is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who is currently playing for the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. He is a prospect for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . He was drafted by the Penguins in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, 80th overall, out of the...

C 190 92 118 210 1.1
Bill Muckalt
Bill Muckalt
Bill Muckalt is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. Muckalt played in the National Hockey League for the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators and Minnesota Wild from 1998 until 2003.-Playing career:...

RW 157 103 105 208 1.3
Guy Prince F 160 67 111 178 1.1
Brent Demerais F 103 83 74 157 1.5
Gary Sirkia F 123 52 103 155 1.3
Wade MacLeod F 101 65 81 146 1.4
Ken Stroud F 66 54 86 140 2.1
Kelly Ferner LW 57 56 82 138 1.4

Individual

Most goals in a season: Brent Demerais, 66 (1983–84)

Most assists in a season: Ken Stroud, 83 (1977–78)

Most points in a season: Ken Stroud, 140 (54g, 86a) (1977–78)

Most penalty minutes in a season: Robert Pfoh, 376 (1982–83)

Most points in a season by a defenseman: Maco Balkovec, 78 (14g, 64a) (1990–91)

Team

Most points in a season: 101 (1977–78)

Most wins in a season: 50 (1977–78)

Most goals-for in a season: 489 (1977–78)

Least goals-for in a season: 166 (1982–83)

Least goals-against: 176 (1978–79)

Most goals-against: 543 (1983–84)

BCHL Records

Most shutouts, one season: Rob Polman-Tuin, 5 (1978–79) tied with Surrey
Surrey Eagles
The Surrey Eagles are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League . They play their home games at South Surrey Arena.-New Westminster:...

's Chris Peck (1996–97), Penticton
Penticton Vees
The Penticton Vees are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League...

's David Rathjen (1999–2000), Nanaimo
Nanaimo Clippers
The Nanaimo Clippers are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...

's David LeNeveu (2000–01), and Cowichan Valley
Cowichan Valley Capitals
The Cowichan Valley Capitals are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Duncan, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...

's Tim Boron (2001–02)

Most assists in a single game: Ken Stroud, 9 (1977) tied with Vernon
Vernon Vipers
The Vernon Vipers are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League . They play their home games at Wesbild Centre.-History:...

's Ernie Gare (1971) and Vernon
Vernon Vipers
The Vernon Vipers are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League . They play their home games at Wesbild Centre.-History:...

's Duane Dennis (1989)

Most total points in a single game: Ken Stroud, 12 (1977) tied with Penticton
Penticton Vees
The Penticton Vees are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League...

's Joe Murphy
Joe Murphy (ice hockey)
Joseph Patrick Murphy is a former professional hockey right winger. Murphy grew up and played minor hockey in Newmarket, Ontario. Murphy was on the 1990 Edmonton Oilers when they won the Stanley Cup...

(1985)

Fastest two goals in a game: Carl Poeschek, 6 seconds (1979) tied with Kelowna
Kelowna Rockets
The Kelowna Rockets are a major junior ice hockey team based in Kelowna, British Columbia. The Rockets play in the Western Hockey League , out of the Canadian Hockey League . They play their home games at Prospera Place....

's Bill Haynes (1975) and Langley
Langley Chiefs
The Langley Rivermen are a junior "A" ice hockey team based in Langley, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League . They play their home games at Langley Events Center.-History:...

's Russ Wilderman (1975)

Most seasons played with one team: John "Butch" Tent, 5 tied with Powell River
Powell River Kings
The Powell River Kings are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Powell River, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...

's Heath Dennison.

Most seasons played in the BCHL: John "Butch" Tent, 5 tied with Richard Sloan, Heath Dennison, Clint Black, Pat Hodgins, Brent Berry, Rob Millikin, Sjon Wynia, and Brian Henderson.

Most goals allowed in a season: 543 (1983–84 season) >

Awards and honours
The Merritt Centennials have captured numerous awards during the franchise's history. Centennials players have been named the BCHL Interior Conference most valuable player four times in the past twelve seasons. Forward Brandon Wong won the Interior Conference most valuable player award in 2005–06 along with being the winner of the Brett Hull
Brett Hull
Brett Andrew Hull is a former Canadian-American NHL player and the former Executive Vice President of the Dallas Stars. He is the son of Bobby Hull and nephew of Dennis Hull, both former NHL players. Hull is also known as "The Golden Brett," which is a play off of his father's nickname, "The...

trophy as BCHL Individual Scoring Champion. As a team, the Centennials have won the Interior Conference twice and once been the regular season champion of the BCHL.

BCHL Interior Conference Playoff Champions

2000-01

BCHL Interior Conference Most Valuable Player

Jason Tapp (1996–97)

Shane Glover (1997–98)

Brandon Wong (2005–06)

Casey Pierro-Zabotel (2006–07)

Brett Hull
Brett Hull
Brett Andrew Hull is a former Canadian-American NHL player and the former Executive Vice President of the Dallas Stars. He is the son of Bobby Hull and nephew of Dennis Hull, both former NHL players. Hull is also known as "The Golden Brett," which is a play off of his father's nickname, "The...

Trophy

BCHL Top Scorer

Fred Berry
Fred Berry (ice hockey)
Frederick Allan Berry is a retired National Hockey League forward.During his final year in the BCJHL he potted 60 goals and 136 points in 60 games to lead the league. The following year he moved up to the WCJHL with the New Westminster Bruins where he had 75 points in 69 games...

(136 points - 1973-74)

Brandon Wong (116 points - 2005-06)

Bob Fenton Trophy

BCHL Interior Conference Most Sportsmanlike Player

Darrel Zelinski (1973–74)

Shane Glover (1997–98)

Neil Stevenson-Moore (1999-00)

Brandon Campos (2005–06)

Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy

BCHL Interior Conference Rookie of the Year

Fred Berry
Fred Berry (ice hockey)
Frederick Allan Berry is a retired National Hockey League forward.During his final year in the BCJHL he potted 60 goals and 136 points in 60 games to lead the league. The following year he moved up to the WCJHL with the New Westminster Bruins where he had 75 points in 69 games...

(1973–74)

Mike Josephson (1991–92)

Mike Ouellette (2000–01)

Goaltender of the Year

Lowest Goals Against Average - Regular Season

Rob Polman-Tuin (1977–78)

Rob Polman-Tuin (1978–79)

Barry Rysz (1988–89)

Joe Tennant Award

BCHL Interior Conference Coach of the Year

Joe Tennant (1977–78)

Ed Beers
Ed Beers
Edward Joseph "Eddy" Beers is a retired professional ice hockey forward who played 250 games in the National Hockey League. He was nearly a point per game player in his time in the NHL, but his NHL career was cut short by injury....

(1988–89)

Brian Barrett (1992–93)

Al Glendinning
Al Glendinning
-Career:Glendinning was the head coach of the Merritt Centennials of the British Columbia Hockey League from 2002-2009. He was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the 4th round, 55th overall in the 1976 NHL Entry Draft....

(2005–06)

Distinguished Volunteer Award

BCHL Interior Conference Best Volunteer

Rusty Brewer (1990–91)

Season	GP	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	Points	Finish	Playoffs
2005-06	60	33	18	1	8	236	205	75	4th BCHL Interior	Lost in Quarter-finals
2006-07	60	25	27	1	7	212	259	58	6th BCHL Interior	Lost in Preliminary
2007-08	60	13	38	1	8	156	305	35	8th BCHL Interior	DNQ
2008-09	60	13	44	0	3	148	288	29	8th BCHL Interior	DNQ
2009-10	60	22	36	0	2	215	319	46	7th BCHL Interior	Lost in Preliminary
2010-11	60	22	31	1	6	157	216	51	6th BCHL Interior	Lost in Preliminary
All-Time Totals	2,257	931	1,203	57	66	9,483	11,221	1,985

Goaltenders
#	Player	Catches	Debut	Last Season	Hometown
31	Canada	Lino Chimienti	R	2010-11	Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Stampede The Sioux Falls Stampede is a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team playing in the West Division of the United States Hockey League . Based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the Stampede plays its home games at the Sioux Falls Arena....	Laval Laval, Quebec Laval is a Canadian city and a region in southwestern Quebec. It is the largest suburb of Montreal, the third largest municipality in the province of Quebec, and the 14th largest city in Canada with a population of 368,709 in 2006... , Quebec Quebec Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
35	Canada	Tyler Steel	L	2010-11	Sicamous Sicamous Eagles The Sicamous Eagles are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Sicamous, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Doug Birks Division of the Okanagan/Shuswap Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League...	Vernon Vernon, British Columbia Vernon is a city in the south-central region of British Columbia, Canada. Named after Forbes George Vernon, a former MLA of British Columbia who helped found the famed Coldstream Ranch, the City of Vernon was incorporated on December 30, 1892. The City of Vernon has a population of 35,944 , while... , British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

Defencemen
#	Player	Shoots	Debut	Last Season	Hometown
2	Canada	Billy Marshall	L	2010-11	Princeton Princeton Posse The Princeton Posse are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Princeton, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Okanagan Division of the Okanagan/Shuswap Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League . They play their home games at Princeton & District Multipurpose...	Smithers, British Columbia Smithers, British Columbia Smithers is a town located in northwestern British Columbia, Canada, approximately halfway between Prince George and Prince Rupert. Smithers is located in the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako....
3	Canada	Reece Willcox	L	2010-11	Valley West Hawks BC Hockey Major Midget League The BC Hockey Major Midget League or BC MML is the top provincial midget ice hockey league in British Columbia, Canada. Governed by BC Hockey and inaugurated in 2004, the league currently consists of 11 teams. Players range from 15 to 17 years old...	Surrey, British Columbia Surrey, British Columbia Surrey is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is a member municipality of Metro Vancouver, the governing body of the Greater Vancouver Regional District...
4	Canada	Steve Tresierra	R	2008-09	Centennials	Golden, British Columbia Golden, British Columbia Golden is a town in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, located west of Calgary, Alberta and east of Vancouver.-History:Much of the town's history is tied into the Canadian Pacific Railway and the logging industry...
24	Canada	Richard Sabourin	L	2010-11	Okanagan Rockets BC Hockey Major Midget League The BC Hockey Major Midget League or BC MML is the top provincial midget ice hockey league in British Columbia, Canada. Governed by BC Hockey and inaugurated in 2004, the league currently consists of 11 teams. Players range from 15 to 17 years old...	Kelowna Kelowna Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"... , British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
25	Canada	Brandon Pfeil	L	2010-11	Burnaby Burnaby Express The Coquitlam Express are a Junior "A" ice hockey team based in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League... /Grandview Grandview Steelers The Grandview Steelers are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Tom Shaw Conference of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League...	West Vancouver, British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
28	Canada	Kameran Crawford	L	2009-10	Centennials	Penticton, British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	P/G
Darrel Zelinski	F	196	160	187	347	1.8
Al Rushton	F	165	127	142	269	1.6
Casey Pierro-Zabotel Casey Pierro-Zabotel Casey Pierro-Zabotel is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who is currently playing for the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. He is a prospect for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . He was drafted by the Penguins in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, 80th overall, out of the...	C	190	92	118	210	1.1
Bill Muckalt Bill Muckalt Bill Muckalt is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. Muckalt played in the National Hockey League for the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators and Minnesota Wild from 1998 until 2003.-Playing career:...	RW	157	103	105	208	1.3
Guy Prince	F	160	67	111	178	1.1
Brent Demerais	F	103	83	74	157	1.5
Gary Sirkia	F	123	52	103	155	1.3
Wade MacLeod	F	101	65	81	146	1.4
Ken Stroud	F	66	54	86	140	2.1
Kelly Ferner	LW	57	56	82	138	1.4

1973–1977

1977–1979

1979–1985

1985–1987

1987–1990

1990–2000

2000–Present

Logo

Uniforms

Season-by-season results

Current roster

NHL Alumni

Head coaches

Career Scoring Leaders

Individual

Team

BCHL Records

Awards and honours

External links