General Game Notes: Tonight was a high scoring overtime hockey game where the score literally went back forth till the end. All goals in the second period was some type of special teams goal, showing both the offensive and defensive capacity with both teams. Both power play and short handed goals were scored. The Centennials were able to come out wit the victory only thirty seconds into overtime.
| Sam Grabner | Merritt Centennials | BCHL | L | D | 6’4″ | 213 | Ottawa, ON | 2004 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Grabner was the hero tonight notching the overtime winner and adding an assist to his game as well. Grabner was able to control and cross ice pass and beat the goalie pretty easily with a one timer shot from the tops of the circles. His ability to get up and join the play left a defender back in his own zone and ultimately created an odd man rush in over time. He picks and chooses spots to be a part of the offensive carefully and tonight in this moment, it worked out well for him. During regulation he did the same types of move where he would move the puck first, then not afraid to jump up into the play.
| Aidan Lindblad | Merritt Centennials | BCHL | L | LW | 6’0″ | 183 | Salmon Arm, BC | 2004 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: A
Comments: With two goals on the night, Lindlbad was great in the offensive zone. He was flying down the wall tonight when entering the offensive zone. He does a good job at stopping on a dime forcing space between himself and the defender. His shifty play style, like cutting back on players and going head on one on one, makes him hard to play against. He is a much more noticeable player in the offensive zone than his own. He anticipates pucks coming to him rather than creating turnovers on his own.
| Kiernan Poulin | Merritt Centennials | BCHL | R | D | 5’9″ | 151 | UMass Amherst | 2025 | Norwell, MA | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Poulin uses his feet well to get up and down the ice and go back for pucks dumped in his corner. When going back for pucks, he likes to play tight to forwards that are looking to apply him pressure, he had an easier time escaping off of them right when he would possess the puck. Offensively he disrupts with his feet again, using the whole zone to be creative. His mobility along the blue line and without the puck make him a threat with time and space in zone.
| Dylan Lariviere | Merritt Centennials | BCHL | R | RW | 6’4″ | 195 | RPI | 2025 | Welland, ON | 2005 | 2023-2024: C 2022-2023: C |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: One thing that Lariviere did well was support his teammates in breakouts and in the neutral zone. He was consistently below the puck and low in his own end staying available and making it easier on defenseman usually. Because of this support, he had the puck on his stick more and used that time to make plays happen. He had a tendency to try and go through players tonight rather than around them, using his feet more to expand space would help his game go a long way. Picked up a couple assists that started in his own end creating turnovers with an active stick.
| Michael Felsing | Merritt Centennials | BCHL | R | C | 5’11” | 185 | Robert Morris | 2024 | Pittsburgh, PA | 2003 | 2023-2024: Free Agent |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: With scoring a goal tonight, Felsing was very much a part of the offense. He does a good job at creating scoring chances and attacking seams, like he did on his power play goal. After the centerman dished a seam pass, he pick up a loose puck that was created from a rebound, then tucked it right under the bar, beating a sprawling goaltender. Felsing showed tonight that he has the time and patients to make plays happen and snaps passes is confident with the puck. He does not double think his plays, he sees them develop, and attacks what is open.
| Jaxson Murray | Merritt Centennials | BCHL | L | LW | 5’9″ | 175 | Waterloo, ON | 2003 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Murray opened the scoring tonight only two minutes into the game, showing his preparation for the match. His speed through the neutral zone and ability to get up in the play pushed back the defenseman and he was able to capitalize at the net. Murray is a smaller player but has the fight in him that shows up when he stops at the net and initiates contact on bigger defenseman for loose pucks. He is a disrupter and showed this first shift of the game.
| Michael Stenberg | Merritt Centennials | BCHL | R | C | 6’0″ | 197 | Needham, MA | 2004 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: B
Stenberg was a machine while killing penalties. He played in straight lines while directing traffic and he was able to get 200′ clears when he had the opportunity. In our notes he had six blocked shots with three coming by getting big low to eat the puck (one being a one-timer) and another three coming by baiting his opponent into thinking he had a shooting lane only for Stenberg get his stick in the lane to deflect the puck away from the net. In the offensive zone he was strong on the puck looking to attack the crease whenever possible. Physically he engaged whenever possible and he had a beautiful reverse hit in the second period that literally knocked his opponent off his feet.
| Tyler Wishart | Merritt Centennials | BCHL | L | RW | 5’9″ | 171 | Cornell | 2024 | Pound Ridge, NY | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: What Wishart lacks in size, he makes up for in smarts and competitiveness. He showed tonight that he creates momentum with how hard to works with and without the puck. His skating is also high-end as he is quick and fast, making quick turns or lateral shifts as well as generating impressive straight speed. Multiple times tonight he would change his speeds when ragging the puck around the zone or on entries and take defenders off guard. He is not an overly physical guy, but does not afraid to at least be involved in the mix.
| Dylan Wegner | Merritt Centennials | BCHL | R | RW | 6’1″ | 187 | Michigan State | 2024 | Nashville, TN | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Wegner is a force on the ice, when he wants to be. He has a unique first couple steps combined with is size that defenseman have a tendency to get rid of pucks quicker. When he wants to play physical he has the size and strength to be a disrupter on the forecheck and in the defensive zone, the problem was tonight he did not do that as much. As he flew by a couple checks that he could have created turnovers and led to more possession time, the other team was able to gain entry or sit back with the puck. When he plays hard, it all leads to more puck time for him.
| Alec Whipple | Trail Smoke Eaters | BCHL | R | D | 6’0″ | 181 | Far Hills, NJ | 2004 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Whipple has solid footwork and skating ability to be offensive. Mulitple times tonight he would start rushes by being first on the puck and pushing the pace up the ice. The problem was the next play as he tends to want to do everything himself when moving the puck is a fine option. He gets into trouble when he runs out of space to work with. He can skate well and when he has time and space attacks open ice quickly, but he needs to find ways to move pucks then join or at least create a second option up the ice to have an out when the coverage looks to squeeze him off.
| Mathieu Cobetto-Roy | Trail Smoke Eaters | BCHL | L | C | 5’11” | 174 | RIT | 2024 | Montreal, QC | 2003 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: A-
Comments: Cobetto-Roy make smart plays with the puck on the breakout showing tonight the patients it takes to let a couple players drift by then regroup and start the rush again. While most players are throwing pucks up the wall, … showed the awareness to hand on the puck. His game is a little slower due to this but, once in zone, he tends to turn it on. Uses the same type of vision in the offensive zone attacking seams and creating small area two on ones with some skilled saucer passes.
| Ridge Dawson | Trail Smoke Eaters | BCHL | L | LW | 5’8″ | 150 | Kelowna, BC | 2004 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Dawson is one of the more skilled guys on the ice each and every shift. He was not able to get on the board tonight but had some clearly close chances. He did a good job tonight at creating chances on his own by drawing defenders in both in the offensive zone and on entries. He sucks coverages in looking to dish aground them opening up ice for his teammates, that is something it is easy to tell when he is on the ice, the ice shrinks around him quickly, but opens up around his teammates.
| Lucas Marshall | Trail Smoke Eaters | BCHL | L | D | 5’10” | 170 | Newport Beach, CA | 2004 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: B+
Comments: Marshall showed tonight that his game is in his own end and showed this by defending and closing quickly, using size and reach to break up pucks and eliminate guys along the wall with pins and winning 50/50 puck battles. Is not afraid to put a knee down and block a shot, on the penalty kill did this a couple times and it was really effective. Makes a first hard pass and kept it simple but effective tonight. Was able to pick up a goal in the first period simply getting a shot through at the point unassisted capitalizing on a turnover, showing that he does have some offense tonight to his game.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images