Press Release

The Merritt Centennials are pleased to announce their initial roster for the 2012-13 BCHL season and their 40th anniversary season.

The roster currently consists of 23 players - 15 forwards, 6 defencemen and 2 goaltenders. The BCHL maximum number of players on an active roster is 22.

“We are very happy with the group we have arrived with today," said Cents GM & Head Coach Luke Pierce. "The decisions were extremely difficult this year, which speaks to all the hard work that was put in during the off-season to build the best team possible."

"Because of the short-length of training camp we have decided to carry some extra bodies with us to this weekend’s BCHL Showcase and hopefully arrive at our final 22 following the weekend," Pierce continued. "Our forward group is at 15, including 18-year-old Kurtis Klinger signed as an affiliate player to start the season."

"We have 6 players on defence as we await a decision on 17-year-old Dane Birks, who is still skating with the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL," Pierce added. "Rounding out our roster is two goaltenders in Tyler Steel and local-product Russell Sanderson."

In addtion to Steel, the Centennials line-up is buoyed by the return of forwards Brandon Bruce, captain Brent Fletcher, Silvan Harper, Brendan Lamont, Sean Maktaak, Payton Schaefer and Regan Soquila, plus defencemen Dylan Chanter, Tyler Martin and Richard Sabourin.

Off-season acquisitions Derek Huisman and Sebastien Pare and recruit Diego Cuglietta add to what should be a formidable forward group for Merritt.

Pierce concluded, "We are looking forward to what should be an extremely exciting but busy weekend and will be making any final roster decisions after the two games in Chilliwack.”

The Cents begin the season with only five of the allowed six overage spots filled with Fletcher, Harper, Sabourin, Huisman and Maktaak.

To view the current roster, click here.

 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)