Merritt Centennials
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Replacing "of" in month per MOS, Replaced: June of → June using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]]
{{NHL Team | CAN_eng=1
|team_name = Merritt Centennials
|bg_color = #E23E40
|text_color = #211D1E
|logo_image=Cents_New_Logo.gif
|conference = Interior Conference ([[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]])
|founded = 1961
|history = [[Kamloops Rockets]]: 1961–1964 <br /> [[Kamloops, British Columbia|Kamloops]] Kraft Kings: 1964–1967 <br /> [[Kamloops Rockets]]: 1967–1973 <br /> [[White Rock, British Columbia|White Rock]] Centennials: 1973 <br /> Merritt Centennials: 1973–1985 <br /> Merritt Warriors: 1985–1987 <br /> Merritt Centennials: 1987–present
|arena = [[Nicola Valley Memorial Arena]]
|city = [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]], [[British Columbia]]
|media_affiliates = [[CJNL (AM)|Radio NL 1230 AM]] <br /> [[Merritt Herald]] <br /> [[Merritt News]] <br /> [[Shaw TV|Shaw Cable 10]]
|team_colors = [[Red]], [[Black]], and [[White]]
|general_manager = {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Al Glendinning]]
|head_coach = {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Al Glendinning]]
|captain = {{flagicon|CAN}} [[--]]
}}
The '''Merritt Centennials''' are a Tier II Junior "A" [[ice hockey]] team based in [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]], [[British Columbia]]. They are members of the Interior Division of the [[British Columbia Hockey League]] (BCHL). The franchise was established in [[Kamloops, British Columbia|Kamloops]] in 1961 and moved to [[White Rock, British Columbia|White Rock]] in 1973 when the [[Western Hockey League|WCHL]]'s [[Vancouver Nats]] moved to [[Kamloops, British Columbia|Kamloops]] and became the [[Kamloops Chiefs|Chiefs]]. The Centennials settled in [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]] midway through the 1973-74 season. They play their home games at the [[Nicola Valley Memorial Arena]].
The Centennials have once finished with the best record in the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]], and have qualified for the playoffs in twelve of the last thirteen seasons. They won the [[Mowat Cup]] and [[Doyle Cup]] in 1978. <ref name="Playoffs">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/bchl_inter_prov.cfm?leagueid=2393&clientid=1413&link=BCHL| title = BCHL Provincial and Inter-provincial champions| accessdate = 2008-05-16| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref>
The Cents, as the team is known, are the longest continuously run franchise in the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]]. Eleven former Centennials players have gone on to play in the [[National Hockey League]].
== Franchise history ==
=== [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]] ===
====1973–1977====
[[Image:Fred Berry.JPG|right|200px|thumbnail|1973-74 BCJHL Rookie of the Year Fred Berry]]
The Centennials started the 1973-74 season in [[White Rock, British Columbia|White Rock]] and finished it in [[Merritt, British Columbia|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 (ice hockey)|Fred Berry]] would be the first Cents player to lead the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] in scoring with 136 points. That total still stands as a team record for points in a season. <ref name="Teams' Regular Season Record Holders">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/bchl_team_reg_record.cfm?leagueid=2393&clientid=1413&link=BCHL| title = Teams' Regular Season Record Holders| accessdate = 2008-05-20| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref> [[Fred Berry (ice hockey)|Berry]] and [[Darrel Zelinski]] finished 1-2 overall in [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] scoring. The Centennials first playoff in their new city ended in the first round in six games to the eventual [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] champion [[Kelowna Buckaroos]]. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.55)</ref> At the post season awards, [[Fred Berry (ice hockey)|Berry]] took home rookie of the year while [[Darrel Zelinski|Zelinski]] was named most sportsmanlike player. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.70-71)</ref>
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, British Columbia|Merritt]] went 26-38-2, ending up well ahead of the last place [[Nanaimo Clippers]]. [[Darrel Zelinski|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, British Columbia|Merritt]] once again locked horns with the [[Kelowna Buckaroos|Kelowna]] squad in the first round and again the [[Kelowna Buckaroos|Buckaroos]] proved to be too much, beating the Centennials in seven games. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.55)</ref>
By the time the 1975-76 season rolled around, the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] had done away with the Interior and Coastal Divisions and now the league was simply comprised of eight teams. The Centennials were much improved, finishing two games above .500 for the first time in five years, and fourth in the realigned [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]]. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.55)</ref> [[Darrel Zelinski|Zelinski]] again finished near the top of the scoring race with 50 goals, 69 assists, and 119 points in 66 games. [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]] locked horns with a team from the former Coastal Division for the first time in the playoffs, and beat the [[Westside Warriors|Langley Lords]] in six games in the opening round. In the second round, the [[Nanaimo Clippers]], who had finished second overall in the regular season, bounced the Cents from the post season in seven games, <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.56)</ref> but fans in [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]] 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]], going in the 10th round, 162nd overall to the [[California Golden Seals]]. Agar also is the first player chosen directly from a [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] team to the [[National Hockey League|NHL]]. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.75)</ref>
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 Rockets|Kamloops Braves]]. [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]] stayed out of the basement due to the fact that they had more goals-for scored during the season than [[Kamloops, British Columbia|Kamloops]], as both teams had identical records of 23-45-0. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.56)</ref> The addition of players like [[Ed Beers]] 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 [[Ed Beers|Beers]] and [[Gary Sirkia|Sirkia]], the Cents rocketed to the top of the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] standings, finishing the season with a record of 50-15-1 for a franchise record 101 points. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.56)</ref> That total stands as the fourth most ever points accumulated by one team in a season in [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]] history. <ref name="BCHL Regular Season Team Record">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/bchl_team_reg_record.cfm?leagueid=2393&clientid=1413&link=BCHL| title = BCHL Regular Season Team Record| accessdate = 2008-05-20| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref> The Cents racked up an astonishing 489 goals that season, lead by six different players with 90 points or more. [[Ken Stroud|Stroud]], [[Kelly Ferner|Ferner]], [[Ed Beers|Beers]], and [[Gary Sirkia|Sirkia]] would all wind up in the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]]'s top 15 in scoring, each with more than 111 points while [[Pat Rabbitt]] and [[Blake Stephen]] chipped in with 93 points each. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.56)</ref> [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]] also had four 50-plus goal scorers in [[Ken Stroud|Stroud]], [[Kelly Ferner|Ferner]], [[Ed Beers|Beers]], and [[Pat Rabbitt|Rabbitt]]. [[Ken Stroud|Stroud]]'s 86 assists that season still stands as a team record. <ref name="Teams' Regular Season Record Holders">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/bchl_team_reg_record.cfm?leagueid=2393&clientid=1413&link=BCHL| title = Teams' Regular Season Record Holders| accessdate = 2008-05-20| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref>
Once the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] 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, British Columbia|Merritt]] would represent them. <ref name="History of the British Columbia Hockey League">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/bchl_history_bchl.cfm?leagueid=2393&clientid=1413&link=BCHL| title = History of the British Columbia Hockey League| accessdate = 2008-05-20| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref> While the rest of the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] teams were partaking in the regular post-season, the Centennials first faced the [[PCJHL]]'s [[Richmond Sockeyes]] for the [[Mowat Cup]] provincial championship. [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]] swept the best of five series 3-0 <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.72)</ref> and advanced to the [[Doyle Cup]] BC/[[Alberta]] Championship against the [[Alberta Junior Hockey League]]'s [[Calgary Cowboys]]. The Centennials were too much for the [[Calgary Cowboys|Cowboys]] to handle, and swept them aside in six games. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.56)</ref> Unfortunately for the Cents and their fans, the [[Cinderella]] run came to an end in the [[Abbott Cup]] Championship against the [[Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League]]'s [[Prince Albert Raiders]]. The [[Prince Albert Raiders|Raiders]] beat the Centennials 4 games to 1,<ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.56)</ref> 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 [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]]'s post-season awards either, as [[Joe Tennant|Tennant]] won coach of the year <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.70)</ref> and [[Rob Pulman-Tuin|Polman-Tuin]] took home the goaltender of the year and best goaltending duo awards. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.71)</ref>
The 1978-79 season represented another near the top of the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] for the Centennials. They finished second overall in the league, with 98 points in 62 games. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.57)</ref> [[Rob Pulman-Tuin|Polman-Tuin]] lead all [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] goaltenders in goals against average for the second straight year at 2.54 <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.57)</ref> and took home his second straight goaltender and goaltending duo of the year awards. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.71)</ref> The Cents easily handled [[Kelowna Buckaroos|Kelowna]] in the Interior Division semifinals 4-games-to-2 before being upset by [[Kamloops Rockets|Kamloops]] in the Interior Division Finals 4-games-to-2. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.57)</ref> The series was considered an upset because [[Kamloops Rockets|Kamloops]] had finished the regular season 24 points behind the first place [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]] squad. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.57)</ref>
====1979–1985====
The 1979-80 season for the Centennials saw the team tumble to the bottom of the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]]'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, British Columbia|Merritt]] that the team failed to make the playoffs. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.57)</ref>
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]] to seven games in the Interior Division semifinals before bowing out. [[Dan London]] paced the team offensively, finishing third in league scoring with 99 points in 54 games. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.57-58)</ref>
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, British Columbia|Merritt]] was over matched by [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] leading scorer [[Ray Ferraro]] and his [[Penticton Vees|Penticton Knights]] in the Interior Division semifinals, going out in four straight games. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.58)</ref>
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 [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]]. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.58)</ref> The team also set a [[British Columbia Hockey League|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 [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] history. <ref name="BCHL Regular Season Team Record">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/bchl_team_reg_record.cfm?leagueid=2393&clientid=1413&link=BCHL| title = BCHL Regular Season Team Record| accessdate = 2008-05-20| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref> It also marked the first time since the team relocated to [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]] 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. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.59)</ref> The team also set a dubious [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] record for the most goals allowed in a season with 543, an average of 9.05 against per game. <ref name="BCHL Regular Season Team Record">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/bchl_team_reg_record.cfm?leagueid=2393&clientid=1413&link=BCHL| title = BCHL Regular Season Team Record| accessdate = 2008-05-20| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref> This despite the fact that forward [[Brent Demerais]] set a single season team record that still stands today with 66 goals. <ref name="Teams' Regular Season Record Holders">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/bchl_team_reg_record.cfm?leagueid=2393&clientid=1413&link=BCHL| title = Teams' Regular Season Record Holders| accessdate = 2008-05-20| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref> His total represents 26.7% of the total goals the team scored that season. In fact, [[Brent Demerais|Demerais']] point total of 124 was good enough for third overall in the [[British Columbia Hockey League|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 [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] Interior Division with a record of 24-27-1. The team was led by the trio of [[Pat Ryan]], [[Kevin Cheveldave]], and [[Mark Bogoslowski]], each of whom placed among the top 15 [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] scorers that season. [[Pat Ryan|Ryan]] finished fourth overall with 116 points, [[Kevin Cheveldave|Cheveldave]] eleventh with 103 points, and [[Mark Bogoslowski|Bogoslowski]] fourteenth with 98 points. The Cents also returned to the post-season where they beat [[Vernon Vipers|Vernon]] in a thrilling seven game series in the Interior Division semifinal before being swept in the Interior Division final by a first place [[Penticton Vees|Penticton]] squad that lost just five games all season. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.59)</ref>
====1985–1987====
1985-86 signified a big change for fans in [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]] as team owners tried to appeal more to the [[First Nations]] population in the [[Nicola Valley]] and also identify more with the [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]] [[Minor Hockey]] [[Voluntary association|Association]]. As a result, the team colours became [[white]], [[black]], and [[yellow]] 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. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.59)</ref> The playoff result wasn't much different for the Warriors as the [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]] squad locked horns with [[Penticton, British Columbia|Penticton]] once again in the Interior Division semifinal, only to be swept by the [[Penticton Vees|Knights]] in four games. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.60)</ref>
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 [[Kelowna Buckaroos|Summerland Buckaroos]] finished with nine points fewer in last place in both the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] and the Interior Division. This time it would be [[Kelowna Spartans|Kelowna Packers]] who sent the Warriors packing in the Interior semifinals and [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]] was swept in the first playoff round for the second straight season. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.60)</ref>
====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]], [[black]], and [[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 Spartans|Kelowna Packers]]. [[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 [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]]. [[Al Rushton|Rushton]] chipped in with 87 points and [[Cal McGowan|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 Vipers|Vernon Lakers]]. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.60-61)</ref>
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. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.61)</ref> Goaltender [[Barry Rysz]] also played a huge role in [[Merritt, British Columbia|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. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.71)</ref> Head coach [[Ed Beers]] was recognized by the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] with the Coach of the Year award. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.70)</ref> 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]] 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 [[Vernon Vipers|Lakers]]. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.61)</ref>
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]]. 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 Vipers|Vernon]]'s [[Duane Dennis]], while [[Paul Gentes]] tied with [[Vernon Vipers|Vernon]]'s [[Rob Atkinson]] for fourth with 65 points. In the playoffs, [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]] finished second in the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]]'s preliminary round robin series with a record of 3-3. [[Vernon Vipers|Vernon]] ended up winning the Interior Group and advancing to the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] championship final with a record of 5-2. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.61-62)</ref>
====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, British Columbia|Merritt]] ended up 33 points ahead of last place [[Penticton Vees|Penticton]]. In the Interior Division semifinals, the Centennials locked horns with the returning [[Langley Chiefs|Chilliwack Chiefs]], who had finished first in the division during the regular season. The [[Langley Chiefs|Chiefs]] proved to be too much for [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]], as they beat the Cents in six games. It was a close series, with [[Langley Chiefs|Chilliwack]] posting 25 goals for and [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]] countering with 24 goals for. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.62)</ref> At the [[1991 NHL Entry Draft]], the [[Chicago Blackhawks]] made Cents defenceman [[Maco Balkovec]] the highest player ever drafted directly from the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] team when they chose him in the fifth round, 110th overall. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.75)</ref>
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 [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] with 43 points. It was the first time in seven years that Merritt missed the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] playoffs. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.62)</ref> 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. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.71)</ref>
[[Image:1992-93 Merritt Centennials.jpg|left|300px|thumbnail|1992-93 Merritt Centennials team photo]]
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, British Columbia|Merritt]] was powered by the offence of [[David Green (hockey player)|David Green]], who finished fourth in the Interior Division with 105 points, and the goaltending of [[David Kilduff]], who was third in the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] 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 Spartans|Kelowna]] in the Interior Division semifinals and lost the series in five games. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.58)</ref> Brian Barrett, who took over as coach of the team midway through the season, was named [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] coach of the year for the Interior Conference. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.70)</ref>
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]] and [[Joe Rybar]], to the [[Kelowna Spartans]] 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, British Columbia|Merritt]] had a tough time, especially after the trades, and finished the regular season at the bottom of both the Interior Division and the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] with a record of 16-39-5 for just 37 points. The Centennials missed the playoffs while [[Kelowna Spartans]] would go all the way to the [[Centennial Cup]] championship, only to lose to the [[Olds Grizzlys]]. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.63)</ref> At the [[1994 NHL Entry Draft]], [[Bill Muckalt|Muckalt]] was chosen in the ninth round, 221st overall by the [[Vancouver Canucks]]. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.75)</ref> Former Centennial [[Mike Josephson]], who had moved on to the [[Western Hockey League|WHL]]'s [[Kamloops Blazers]], was chosen 196th overall by [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago]]. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.77)</ref>
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, British Columbia|Merritt]] missed the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] playoffs for the second straight season and also finished in the Interior Division basement for the second year in a row.<ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.63-64)</ref>
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 (hockey player)|John Coyle]] and [[Bryan Phillips (hockey player)|Bryan Phillips]], who finished sixth and eighth respectively in [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]] scoring, the Centennials returned to the playoffs with a first round miniseries against the [[Surrey Eagles|South Surrey Eagles]]. [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]] eliminated the [[Surrey Eagles|Eagles]] 2-0 in the best of three series and advanced to the league quarterfinals, where it would face [[Chilliwack Chiefs|Chilliwack]]. The [[Chilliwack Chiefs|Chiefs]] proved to be too much for the Cents, as they beat [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]] in five games. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.64)</ref>
[[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]] 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 [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]] scoring, but still qualified for the playoffs and met [[Prince George Spruce Kings|Prince George]], which finished ten points ahead of them in the regular season. [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]] eliminated the [[Prince George Spruce Kings|Spruce Kings]] in their first round best of three mini series 2-1 and advanced to the league quarterfinals. The Centennials met [[Vernon Vipers|Vernon]] in round two and were promptly swept by the [[Vernon Vipers|Vipers]] in four games. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.64)</ref> In June 1997, [[Mike Brown (ice hockey b. 1979)|Mike Brown]] became the first former Centennial to be drafted in the first round of the [[NHL entry draft]] when [[Florida Panthers|Florida]] chose him 20th overall from the [[Western Hockey League|WHL]]'s [[Red Deer Rebels]]. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.77)</ref> At the league's post-season awards, Cents goaltender Jason Tapp was chosen as the Interior Division's most valuable player. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.70)</ref>
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]]. [[Shane Glover|Glover]] would finish fifth in [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]] scoring with 94 points in 57 games. For the second season in a row, [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]] faced off against [[Prince George Spruce Kings|Prince George]] in a first round best of three mini series, but this season the result was different as the [[Prince George Spruce Kings|Spruce Kings]] knocked off the Centennials 2-1. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.65)</ref> After the season, [[Shane Glover|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. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.70)</ref>
In the 1998-99 season, the Cents ended up with the exact same amount of points as the season prior, and in the same position as the season prior, fourth in the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]]'s Interior Division. The 1999 playoffs brought another post-season first round meeting with the [[Vernon Vipers]] for [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]] and a similar result as in past years. The [[Vernon Vipers|Vipers]] took the Centennials out in five games en route to a [[Royal Bank Cup]] Championship. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.65-66)</ref>
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 Vipers|Vernon]]. 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, British Columbia|Merritt]] upset first place [[Penticton Vees|Penticton]] in six games in the first round and met up with the [[Vernon Vipers|Vipers]] in the Interior Conference finals. Despite a very good effort, the Centennials ultimately fell to [[Vernon Vipers|Vernon]] in game seven. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.66)</ref> The Cents were also represented at the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]]'s post-season awards, with forward [[Neil Stevenson-Moore]] sharing the Interior Conference's most sportsmanlike award with [[Prince George Spruce Kings|Prince George]]'s [[Mike Lalonde]]. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.70)</ref>
====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. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.66)</ref> 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]] Final. The Cents faced off against [[Prince George Spruce Kings|Prince George]] in the Interior Division opening round and promptly swept the [[Prince George Spruce Kings|Spruce Kings]] 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 [[Penticton Panthers|Panthers]] proved to be no match for Merritt, as the Cents outscored [[Penticton Panthers|Penticton]] 16 to 7 in a four game sweep. Next up, it was the franchise's first appearance in the [[Fred Page Cup]] final, and it would be against the [[Victoria Salsa]]. Despite a thrilling seven game series, the [[Victoria Salsa|Salsa]] took the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]] championship on home ice. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.67)</ref> Forward [[Mike Ouelette]] provided a bright spot individually as he won [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]] Rookie of the Year for the Interior Conference. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.71)</ref>
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. One of the lone bright spots would be the play of goaltender Stefano Antinori, who statistically finished eighth amongst all [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]] netminders with a 3.36 goals against average. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.67)</ref> The Centennials also made a coaching change midway through the season that saw [[Al Glendinning]] join the team behind the bench. [[Al Glendinning|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]]. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.67)</ref>
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 [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]] 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. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.68)</ref> At the [[2003 NHL Entry Draft]], Mike Hamilton became just the third player in franchise history to be drafted directly to the [[National Hockey League|NHL]] when the [[Atlanta Thrashers]] chose him in the 6th round, 175th overall. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.76)</ref>
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 [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]] 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 Panthers|Penticton]] for Luke Vanderkerkhove. That same day, Vanderkerkhove was packaged with Jordan Dickson to the [[Burnaby Express|Coquitlam Express]] in exchange for Bryan Leitch. <ref name="2003-04 BCHL Transactions">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/transactions.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413| title = 2003-04 BCHL Transactions| accessdate = 2008-06-07| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref> In the playoffs, the Cents ran into a Cinderella [[Williams Lake TimberWolves]] club that was on its' way to the Interior Conference finals. The [[Williams Lake TimberWolves|T-Wolves]] dispatched the Centennials in the first round in five games. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.69)</ref>
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]], it represented the first time he'd finished with a record under .500 since being hired as coach. Bryan Leitch was a major bright spot, scoring 87 points in 51 games, fifth among [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]] leading scorers. This season also marked the rookie debut of forward [[Casey Pierro-Zabotel]]. <ref name="2004-05 Merritt Centennials Player Statistics">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/stats_1team.cfm?leagueID=2393&teamID=41841&clientID=1413| title = 2004-05 Merritt Centennials Player Statistics| accessdate = 2008-06-07| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref> At the trade deadline, [[Al Glendinning|Glendinning]] shook up his team, dealing forwards Bill Vandermeer and Blair Riley to the [[Nanaimo Clippers]] for forwards Daryle Hurd, Kevin Lessard, defenceman Rylan Burns, and future considerations. <ref name="2004-05 BCHL Transactions">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/transactions.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413| title = 2004-05 BCHL Transactions| accessdate = 2008-06-07| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref> For the fourth straight season, the Centennials were dispatched in the opening round of the playoffs, losing to the [[Salmon Arm Silverbacks]] in five games. <ref name="2005 Merritt Centennials Playoff Schedule">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/schedules.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413&selectedMonth=3&selectedYear=2005| title = 2005 Merritt Centennials Playoff Schedule| accessdate = 2008-06-07| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref>
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 [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]] in scoring, the first Centennials player to do so since [[Fred Berry (ice hockey)|Fred Berry]] 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 Express|Burnaby]] for defenceman Dave Simoes, <ref name="2005-06 BCHL Transactions">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/transactions.cfm?leagueid=2393&clientid=1413&link=BCHL| title = 2005-06 BCHL Transactions| accessdate = 2008-06-07| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref> set a franchise record for most points by a defenceman with 70. Mazur's 70 points also placed him 20th among all [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]] scorers. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.48)</ref> Sensing an opportunity for a long playoff run, [[Al Glendinning|Glendinning]] made a huge trade at the January deadline, sending goaltender Cory Grant, forwards Chris Shudo and Greg Tyshynksi, and future considerations to the [[Prince George Spruce Kings|Spruce Kings]] in exchange for goaltender Brad Thiessen, forward Matt Shuya, and defenceman Brody Mott. <ref name="2005-06 BCHL Transactions">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/transactions.cfm?leagueid=2393&clientid=1413&link=BCHL| title = 2005-06 BCHL Transactions| accessdate = 2008-06-07| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref> In the first round of playoffs, the Centennials were too much for the [[Trail Smoke Eaters]], dispatching them in five games. The Cents locked horns with [[Penticton Vees|Penticton]] in the second round, but the first place [[Penticton Vees|Vees]] quickly swept Merritt aside in four games. <ref name="2006 Merritt Centennials Playoff Schedule">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/schedules.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413&selectedMonth=3&selectedYear=2006| title = 2006 Merritt Centennials Playoff Schedule| accessdate = 2008-06-07| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref> The Centennials strong season wasn't overlooked at the annual [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]] awards as Wong took home Interior Conference most valuable player and BCHL top scorer, Campos won Interior Conference most sportsmanlike player, and [[Al Glendinning|Glendinning]] Interior Conference coach of the year. <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.50)</ref>
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]] and Wade MacLeod, who finished third and fourth respectively in [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]] scoring. [[Casey Pierro-Zabotel|Zabotel]] posted 116 points in 55 games while MacLeod chipped in 105 points in 60 games. <ref name="BCHL League Leading Players">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/stats_hockey.cfm?leagueid=2393&clientid=1413&link=BCHL| title = BCHL League Leading Players| accessdate = 2008-06-07| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref> [[Casey Pierro-Zabotel|Zabotel]] also represented the Centennials on the gold medal winning team at the inaugural [[World Junior A Challenge]]. <ref name="BCHL Players Named to Team West">{{cite web |url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/newsletter.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413|title=BCHL Players Named to Team West |accessdate=2008-06-08 |publisher=B.C. Hockey League |date=2006-10-15}}</ref> The post-season saw the Cents fight hard only to lose in the seventh game of the opening round against the [[Trail Smoke Eaters]]. After the season, [[Casey Pierro-Zabotel|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. <ref name="BCHL League Awards">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/custom_page.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413&pageID=154| title = BCHL League Awards| accessdate = 2008-06-07| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref> At the [[2007 NHL Entry Draft]], [[Casey Pierro-Zabotel|Zabotel]] became just the fourth player in franchise history to be drafted directly to the [[National Hockey League|NHL]] when the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] chose him in the 3th round, 80th overall. <ref name="2007 NHL Draft Third Round Picks">{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page&page=DraftStats&year=2007&round=3|title=2007 NHL Draft Third Round Picks |accessdate=2008-06-08 |publisher=National Hockey League |date=2007-06-22}}</ref> He is the highest player ever drafted directly from the Centennials to the [[National Hockey League|NHL]].
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 [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]]. <ref name="2007-08 BCHL Regular Season Standings">{{cite web |url=http://bchl.bc.ca/leagues/standings.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413|title=2007-08 BCHL Regular Season Standings |accessdate=2008-06-22 |publisher=BC Hockey League |date=2007-06-22}}</ref> 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]]. <ref name="2007-08 Merritt Centennials Player Statistics">{{cite web |url=http://bchl.bc.ca/leagues/stats_1team.cfm?leagueID=2393&teamID=125511&clientID=1413|title=2007-08 Merritt Centennials Player Statistics |accessdate=2008-06-22 |publisher=BC Hockey League |date=2007-06-22}}</ref> The season marked the first time in 12 years, and first time in seven years under coach [[Al Glendinning]] that Merritt missed the playoffs.
== Team Colours and Mascot ==
===Logo===
[[Image:Old Cents.JPG|right|thumb|300px|The old maple leaf style jerseys used from 1996 to 2007]]
[[Image:New Cents.JPG|right|thumb|300px|The current jerseys used since 2007]]
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.
===Mascot===
The current mascot is "Rhockey", a 7-foot tall bull who plays into the ranching and cattle industry in Merritt and the Nicola Valley. Rhockey keeps the crowd excited, participates in entertainment during the intermissions, skates across the ice, and runs throughout the aisles of the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena to high five fans.
== 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]]''
'''''Note:''' GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against''
{|class="wikitable"
|- align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd"
| '''Season''' || '''GP ''' || ''' W ''' || ''' L ''' || ''' T ''' || '''OTL''' || '''GF ''' || '''GA ''' || '''Points''' ||'''Finish''' || '''Playoffs'''
|- align="center"
| 2003-04 || 60 || 29 || 27 || 0 || 4 || 221 || 249 || 62 || 4th BCHL Interior || Lost in Preliminary
|- align="center"
| 2004-05 || 60 || 27 || 30 || 0 || 3 || 210 || 223 || 57 || 6th BCHL Interior || Lost in Preliminary
|- align="center"
| 2005-06 || 60 || 33 || 18 || 1 || 8 || 236 || 205 || 75 || 4th BCHL Interior || Lost in Quarter-finals
|- align="center"
| 2006-07 || 60 || 25 || 27 || 1 || 7 || 212 || 259 || 58 || 6th BCHL Interior || Lost in Preliminary
|- align="center"
| 2007-08 || 60 || 13 || 38 || 1 || 8 || 156 || 305 || 35 || 8th BCHL Interior || DNQ
|- align="center"
| '''All-Time Totals''' || '''2,077''' || '''874''' || '''1,092''' || '''56''' || '''55''' || '''8,963''' || '''10,398''' || '''1,859''' || ||
|}
== Franchise records ==
===Scoring leaders===
These are the top-ten point-scorers in franchise history. Figures are updated after each completed [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]] 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''
{| class="wikitable"
|- align="center" style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#dddddd;" |
| align="left" | Player || Pos || GP || G || A || Pts || P/G
|- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| align="left" | [[Darrel Zelinski]] || F || 196 || 160 || 187 || '''347''' || 1.8
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Al Rushton || F || 165 || 127 || 142 || '''269''' || 1.6
|- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| align="left" | [[Casey Pierro-Zabotel]] || C || 190 || 92 || 118 || '''210''' || 1.1
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Guy Prince || LW || 160 || 67 || 111 || '''178''' || 1.1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| align="left" | Brent Demerais || F || 103 || 83 || 74 || '''157''' || 1.5
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Gary Sirkia || F || 123 || 52 || 103 || '''155''' || 1.3
|- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| align="left" | Wade MacLeod || F || 101 || 65 || 81 || '''146''' || 1.4
|- align="center"
| align="left" | Ken Stroud || F || 66 || 54 || 86 || '''140''' || 2.1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| align="left" | Kelly Ferner || LW || 57 || 56 || 82 || '''138''' || 1.4
|- align="center"
| align="left" | [[Fred Berry (ice hockey)|Fred Berry]] || C || 64 || 60 || 76 || '''136''' || 2.1
|}
===Franchise Records===
====Regular season====
*Most goals in a season: Brent Demerais, 66 (1983–84) <ref name="BCHL Teams Regular Season Record Holders">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/bchl_reg_record.cfm?leagueid=2393&clientid=1413&link=BCHL| title = BCHL Teams Regular Season Record Holders| accessdate = 2008-05-18| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref>
*Most assists in a season: Ken Stroud, 83 (1977–78) <ref name="BCHL Teams Regular Season Record Holders">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/bchl_reg_record.cfm?leagueid=2393&clientid=1413&link=BCHL| title = BCHL Teams Regular Season Record Holders| accessdate = 2008-05-18| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref>
*Most points in a season: Ken Stroud, 140 (54g, 86a) (1977-78) <ref name="Ken Stroud Career Statistics">{{cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=45744| title = Ken Stroud Career Statistics| accessdate = 2008-07-07| publisher = Hockey DB}}</ref>
*Most penalty minutes in a season: Robert Pfoh, 376 (1982–83)
*Most points in a season by a defenseman: Alan Mazur, 70 (15g, 55a) (2005-06)
====Team====
*Most points in a season: 101 (1977-78) <ref name="BCHL Regular Season Champions">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/bchl_regular.cfm?leagueid=2393&clientid=1413&link=BCHL| title = BCHL Regular Season Champions| accessdate = 2008-05-18| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref>
*Most wins in a season: 50 (1977-78) <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.56)</ref>
*Most goals-for in a season: 489 (1977-78) <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.56)</ref>
*Least goals-for in a season: 166 (1982-83) <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.58)</ref>
*Least goals-against: 176 (1978-79) <ref>2006-07 BCHL Annual Guide & Record Book (p.57)</ref>
*Most goals-against: 543 (1983-84) <ref name="BCHL Regular Season Team Record">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/bchl_team_reg_record.cfm?leagueid=2393&clientid=1413&link=BCHL| title = BCHL Regular Season Team Record| accessdate = 2008-05-18| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref>
==BCHL Records==
*Most shutouts, one season: Rob Polman-Tuin, '''5 '''(1978-79) tied with [[Surrey Eagles|Surrey]]'s Chris Peck (1996-97), [[Penticton Vees|Penticton]]'s David Rathjen (1999-2000), [[Nanaimo Clippers|Nanaimo]]'s David LeNeveu (2000-01), and [[Cowichan Valley Capitals|Cowichan Valley]]'s Tim Boron (2001-02) <ref name="BCHL Individual Regular Season Records">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/bchl_indiv_records.cfm?leagueid=2393&clientid=1413&link=BCHL| title = BCHL Single Game Records| accessdate = 2008-05-17| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref>
*Most assists in a single game: Ken Stroud, '''9''' (1977) tied with [[Vernon Vipers|Vernon]]'s [[Ernie Gare]] (1971) and [[Vernon Vipers|Vernon]]'s Duane Dennis (1989) <ref name="BCHL Single Game Records">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/bchl_sing_game_records.cfm?leagueid=2393&clientid=1413&link=BCHL|
title = BCHL Single Game Records| accessdate = 2008-05-17| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref>
*Most total points in a single game: Ken Stroud, '''12''' (1977) tied with [[Penticton Vees|Penticton]]'s [[Joe Murphy]] (1985) <ref name="BCHL Single Game Records">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/bchl_sing_game_records.cfm?leagueid=2393&clientid=1413&link=BCHL| title = BCHL Single Game Records| accessdate = 2008-05-17| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref>
*Fastest two goals in a game: Carl Poeschek, '''6 seconds''' (1979) tied with [[Kelowna Rockets|Kelowna]]'s Bill Haynes (1975) and [[Langley Chiefs|Langley]]'s Russ Wilderman (1975) <ref name="BCHL Single Game Records">{{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/bchl_sing_game_records.cfm?leagueid=2393&clientid=1413&link=BCHL| title = BCHL Single Game Records| accessdate = 2008-05-17| publisher = B.C. Hockey League}}</ref>
==Players==
===Current roster===
<small>Updated [[June 25]], [[2008]].
[http://www.merrittcentennials.com/leagues/team_statistics.cfm?clientID=3359&leagueID=8957]</small>
{| width=90%
!colspan=6 |<center><big>Goaltenders
|- bgcolor="#dddddd"
!width=5%|#
!width=5%|
|align=left!!width=15%|'''Player'''
!width=8%|Catches
!width=9%|Debut
!width=20%|Last Season
!width=30%|Hometown
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|'''30'''
|align=center|{{flagicon|CAN}}
|Shane Mainprize
|align=center|L
|align=center|2007-08
|align=center|[[Prince George Spruce Kings|Prince George]]/Cents
|[[Valemount, British Columbia]]
|-
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|'''35'''
|align=center|{{flagicon|CAN}}
|Graeme Gordon
|align=center|L
|align=center|2007-08
|align=center|[[Salmon Arm Silverbacks|Salmon Arm]]/Cents
|[[North Vancouver, British Columbia]]
|-
{| width=90%
!colspan=6 |<center><big>Defencemen
|- bgcolor="#dddddd"
!width=5%|#
!width=5%|
|align=left!!width=20%|'''Player'''
!width=8%|Shoots
!width=9%|Debut
!width=20%|Last Season
!width=30%|Hometown
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|'''3'''
|align=center|{{flagicon|CAN}}
|Ryan Moir
|align=center|L
|align=center|2007-08
|align=center|Cents
|[[Calgary, Alberta]]
|-
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|'''5'''
|align=center|{{flagicon|CAN}}
|Ryan Bradley
|align=center|L
|align=center|2008-09
|align=center|[[Nanaimo Clippers]]
|[[Nanaimo, British Columbia]]
|-
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|'''7'''
|align=center|{{flagicon|CAN}}
|Michael Naito
|align=center|R
|align=center|2006-07
|align=center|Cents
|[[Kelowna, British Columbia]]
|-
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|'''8'''
|align=center|{{flagicon|CAN}}
|Cody Kightley – '''[[Captain (ice hockey)#Alternate captains|A]]'''
|align=center|L
|align=center|2007-08
|align=center|Cents
|[[Merritt, British Columbia]]
|-
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|'''17'''
|align=center|{{flagicon|CAN}}
|Cameron Brodie
|align=center|R
|align=center|2008-09
|align=center|[[Trail Smoke Eaters]]
|[[White Rock, British Columbia]]
|-
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|'''27'''
|align=center|{{flagicon|CAN}}
|Jordan Wilkins
|align=center|R
|align=center|2007-08
|align=center|[[Kootenay Ice]]/Cents
|[[Penticton, British Columbia]]
|-
|}
{| width=90%
!colspan=7 |<center><big>Forwards
|- bgcolor="#dddddd"
!width=5%|#
!width=5%|
|align=left!!width=34%|'''Player'''
!width=5%|Shoots
!width=9%|Debut
!width=20%|Last Season
!width=30%|Hometown
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|'''11'''
|align=center|{{flagicon|CAN}}
|Tyler Barr – '''[[Captain (ice hockey)#Alternate captains|A]]'''
|align=center|L
|align=center|2006-07
|align=center|Cents
|[[North Vancouver, British Columbia]]
|-
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|'''12'''
|align=center|{{flagicon|CAN}}
|Jordan Grant
|align=center|L
|align=center|2007-08
|align=center|Cents
|[[Ladysmith, British Columbia]]
|-
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|'''14'''
|align=center|{{flagicon|CAN}}
|Brian Kang
|align=center|R
|align=center|2007-08
|align=center|Cents
|[[North Vancouver, British Columbia]]
|-
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|'''16'''
|align=center|{{flagicon|CAN}}
|Dylan Herold
|align=center|R
|align=center|2008-09
|align=center|[[Trail Smoke Eaters]]
|[[Tsawwassen, British Columbia]]
|-
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|'''18'''
|align=center|{{flagicon|CAN}}
|Brad Davis
|align=center|L
|align=center|2008-09
|align=center|[[Penticton Vees|Penticton]]/[[Trail Smoke Eaters|Trail]]
|[[Quesnel, British Columbia]]
|-
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|'''--'''
|align=center|{{flagicon|CAN}}
|Justin Taylor
|align=center|L
|align=center|2007-08
|align=center|[[Cowichan Valley Capitals|Cowichan Valley]]/Cents
|[[White Rock, British Columbia]]
|-
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|'''20'''
|align=center|{{flagicon|CAN}}
|Dustin Johnson
|align=center|R
|align=center|2008-09
|align=center|[[Summerland Sting|Summerland]]/[[Penticton Vees|Penticton]]/[[Nanaimo Clippers|Nanaimo]]
|[[Penticton, British Columbia]]
|-
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|'''21'''
|align=center|{{flagicon|USA}}
|H.T. Lenz
|align=center|L
|align=center|2007-08
|align=center|Cents
|[[Vienna, Virginia]]
|-
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|'''25'''
|align=center|{{flagicon|CAN}}
|Paul Forster
|align=center|L
|align=center|2008-09
|align=center|[[Westside Warriors|Westside]]/[[Nanaimo Clippers|Nanaimo]]
|[[North Vancouver, British Columbia]]
|-
|}
===Honoured personnel===
Four Centennials players have been drafted directly from the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]] to the [[National Hockey League|NHL]]. The most recent is [[Casey Pierro-Zabotel]], who went in the third round, 90th overall in the [[2007 NHL Entry Draft]] to the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]]. [[Casey Pierro-Zabotel|Zabotel]] has played for the Centennials since the 2004-05 season. Other Centennials that have been drafted directly to the [[National Hockey League|NHL]] include [[Mike Hamilton]], [[Maco Balkovec]], and [[Greg Agar]]. In fact, [[Greg Agar|Agar]] was the first player ever chosen directly to the [[National Hockey League|NHL]] from the then-[[British Columbia Hockey League|BCJHL]].
The Centennials have also had four players win [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]] Interior Conference Most Valuable Player. [[Casey Pierro-Zabotel|Zabotel]] in 2006-07, [[Brandon Wong]] in 2005-06, [[Shane Glover]] in 1997-98, and [[Jason Tapp]] in 1996-97.
Four Centennials coaches have won [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]] Coach of the Year. Current coach [[Al Glendinning]] did in 2005-06, [[Brian Barrett]] in 1992-93, [[Ed Beers]] in 1988-89, and [[Joe Tennant]], whom the [[British Columbia Hockey League|BCHL]] Coach of the Year award is named after, won in 1977-78.
== Head coaches ==
[[Image:Glendinning 1.jpg|right|100px|thumbnail|Current Merritt Centennials head coach and general manager, [[Al Glendinning]]]]
<div style="float:left; margin-right:0.5em;">
*Gord MacBeth, 1973-74
*Fred Switzer, 1974-75
*Don Prowal/Gary Swanson, 1975-76
*Gary Swanson, 1976-77
*[[Joe Tennant]], 1977-79
*Brian Barrett, 1979-82
*Len McNamara, 1982-83
*Enio Saccialotto/Roddy Rodgers/Chuck Tapp, 1983-84
*Chuck Tapp, 1984-86
*Brian Barrett, 1986-87
</div><div style="float:left;">
*[[Ed Beers]], 1987-89
*John "Butch" Tent, 1989-91
*Tim Clayden/Shawn Dineen, 1991-92
*Scott Farrell/Brian Barrett, 1992-93
*Wes Phillips/[[Ryan Stewart (ice hockey)|Ryan Stewart]], 1993-94
*Dave Shyiak, 1994-95
*Bryant Perrier, 1995-97
*[[Ed Beers]]/Brian Barrett, 1997-98
*Mike Vandekamp, 1998-01
*Kevin MacKay/[[Al Glendinning]], 2001-02
*[[Al Glendinning]], 2002-''present''
</div><br clear="all">
''This list does not include the former coaches of the [[Kamloops Rockets]].
==NHL Alumni==
* [[Jeff Bandura]] ([[New York Rangers]])
* [[Ed Beers]] ([[Calgary Flames]]/[[St. Louis Blues (hockey)|St. Louis Blues]])
* [[Fred Berry (ice hockey)|Fred Berry]] ([[Detroit Red Wings]])
* [[Mike Brown (ice hockey b. 1979)|Mike Brown]] ([[Vancouver Canucks]]/[[Florida Panthers]]/[[Anaheim Ducks]]/[[Chicago Blackhawks]])
* [[Ron Flockhart]] ([[Philadelphia Flyers]]/[[Pittsburgh Penguins]]/[[Montreal Canadiens]]/[[St. Louis Blues (hockey)|St. Louis Blues]]/[[Boston Bruins]])
* [[Link Gaetz]] ([[Minnesota North Stars]]/[[San Jose Sharks]])
* [[Alan Kerr]] ([[New York Islanders]]/[[Detroit Red Wings]]/[[Winnipeg Jets]])
* [[Paul Kruse]] ([[Calgary Flames]]/[[New York Islanders]]/[[Buffalo Sabres]])
* [[Bill Muckalt]] ([[Vancouver Canucks]]/[[New York Islanders]]/[[Ottawa Senators]]/[[Minnesota Wild]])
* [[Paul Mulvey]] ([[Washington Capitals]]/[[Pittsburgh Penguins]]/[[Los Angeles Kings]])
* [[Don Nachbaur]] ([[Hartford Whalers]]/[[Edmonton Oilers]]/[[Philadelphia Flyers]])
==References==
===General===
* {{cite web|url=http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/bchl_record_book.cfm?leagueid=2393&clientid=1413&link=BCHL
|title=BCHL Record Book|publisher=B.C. Hockey League|access date=2007-08-18}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com|title=History of the National Hockey League Entry Draft|publisher=Hockey Draft Central|access date=2007-08-18}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/teamseasons.php?tid=2316|title=Merritt Centennials BCJHL Season statistics and Records|publisher=Internet Hockey Database|access date=2007-08-18}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/teamseasons.php?tid=2952|title=Merritt Centennials BCHL Season statistics and Records|publisher=Internet Hockey Database|access date=2007-08-18}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/teamseasons.php?tid=4327|title=White Rock/Merritt Centennials BCJHL Season statistics and Records|publisher=Internet Hockey Database|access date=2007-08-18}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/tsport2u/BCJHL.html|title=Kamloops (BCJHL) Junior "A" Hockey History|publisher=Kamloops Hockey History|access date=2007-08-21}}
* {{cite web|url=http://members.shaw.ca/vernonfranchise/|title=Vernon Jr. 'A' Franchise Season History|publisher=Paul C. Beugeling|access date=2008-01-07}}
===Footnotes===
{{Reflist|2}}
== See also ==
* [[List of ice hockey teams in British Columbia]]
== External links ==
{{Portal|Hockey|break=yes}}
* [http://merrittcentennials.com/ Merritt Centennials Website]
* [http://www.bchl.bc.ca/ B.C. Hockey League Website]
<br clear=right>
{{BCHL}}
[[Category:British Columbia Hockey League teams]]
[[Category:Merritt Centennials]]
[[Category:Sports clubs established in 1973]]