The Merritt Centennials showed signs of life in the first game under new head coach Curtis Toneff on Wednesday.
It was a back and forth effort between the Cents and the Salmon Arm Silverbacks on Dec. 29 at Nicola Valley Memorial Arena, with the Cents returning home for the first time since the holiday break.
Colton Phillips-Watts earned the crease for the Centennials, with he and his Salmon Arm counterpart Liam Vanderkooi stopping each puck they saw in the first period.
The shutout was broken just under five minutes into the second period, when Phillips-Watts was beaten by Salmon Arm’s Lucas Matta. Salmon Arm doubled their lead later in the frame just seconds into a Ben Ward minor for tripping.
Centre Davide Patella cut the lead in half with his fourth of the season at the 15:30 mark of the second period, though league-leading scorer Simon Tassy put the Silverbacks up 3-1 with a shorthanded goal in the final minute.
Both sides traded goals in the third, with Patella picking up another, for a 4-2 final in favour of the Silverbacks.
Phillips-Watts made 32 saves on 36 shots, while the Cents threw 30 shots on the Silverback net.
The homestand continues on Jan. 2 with an afternoon matinee against the Cranbrook Bucks. Puck drop is set for 2p.m. at the NVMA.
