The Merritt Centen-nials announced this week the signing of another American-born player for the 2014-15 BCHL season.

Nineteen-year-old netminder Anthony Pupplo, from Shirley, New York, has committed to play for the Centennials beginning this fall. Two weeks ago, it was announced that forward Michael Ederer, 19, from Lancaster, New York would be making his way west to play junior hockey in Merritt starting in September.

The two off-season signings brings the number of U.S. players on the Cents team to four, as both forward Adam Tracey and defenceman Jake Clifford are expected to return for another BCHL season. The maximum number of import players allowed on one team is five.

Pupplo attended Merritt’s spring camp in April and impressed Cents head coach and GM Luke Pierce.

“He was arguably the best goalie there,” Pierce said. “He’s very calm and composed.”

The native of Long Island played hockey last season for the P.A.L. Islanders, an 18-and-under team belonging to the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). In 19 starts for the Isles, he recorded a goals-against-average of 3.76 and a .898 save percentage.

Contacted by phone earlier this week, Pupplo said he is excited to be heading to British Columbia in just over a month’s time.

“I’ve heard nothing but good things about the BCHL. It’s certainly one or two levels above what I’ve been playing. It’s a big opportunity for myself. I hope to contribute as much as I can and just have a great year.”

“I know that Luke and the rest of the coaching staff in Merritt have done a great job of getting players exposure and bringing them to the next level which is Division 1 college hockey. That’s definitely where I want to go.”

Asked how he came to chose Merritt for a tryout, Pupplo said, “I made a recruiting video and posted it on Youtube. The coaches in Merritt saw it and they reached out to me through my agent. It wasn’t specifically my intention to play in the BCHL this year. I just knew I wanted to play tier one or tier two junior hockey somewhere.”

Pupplo said that he models his game after Carey Price of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens.

“”I like to be very technical and make saves look as easy as possible. I try to be always in the right position and control my rebounds. At the same time, I can be athletic when I need to be.”

Pupplo has just returned from one week at the New York Islanders’ development camp.

“It went extremely well, and was a great experience. It sure showed me what it takes to play at that level.”

Pupplo will fly to Edmonton in mid-August to work with Merritt’s goalie coach Jamie McKague and help the former Centennial with a goalie camp he is running for minor hockey players. Afterwards, Pupplo and his agent will drive to Merritt for the Cents’ main camp which begins on August 29.