(Image Credit: KIJHL)

By Victor Kaisar

In the KIJHL

Merritt Centennials climb to top spot in KIJHL Week 18 power rankings

Jan 26, 2026 | 11:41 AM

MERRITT — The Merritt Centennials ongoing 10-game point streak has taken them to the top of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League’s (KIJHL) latest power rankings, for the week ending Jan. 25.

The Centennials are 8-0-2 in their last 10 games going back to Dec. 12, and they went a perfect 2-0 this past weekend. They beat the Chase Heat 4-1 on Sunday (Jan. 25) and the Princeton Posse 5-4 in a shootout on Saturday (Jan. 24).

Saturday night at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena, the Centennials trailed 4-0 just eight minutes into their game against the Posse. They scored four unanswered goals to force a shootout against their divisional rival, which they won.

Troy Horn scored the shootout winner, while Sam Saskiw stopped 23 of 24 shots in regulation and overtime, as well as both shots he faced in the shootout.

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On Sunday, the Centennials scored another four unanswered goals to beat the Heat in regulation. Kaden Wilkins led the way with two goals while Saskiw made 15 saves in net.

The Centennials (19-11-2-1) are fourth in the Bill Ohlhausen Division with 41 points from 33 games. The Posse (24-8-0-3) are in second place with 51 points from 35 games. Merritt is tenth in the overall KIJHL standings while Princeton is fifth.

The Kamloops Storm (27-7-1-1) – who made it to the top of the power rankings last month – lead the league with 56 points from 36 games.

Merritt has 11 games to go in the 2025-26 KIJHL regular season, with two more scheduled this month. They’re hosting the Sicamous Eagles on Friday (Jan. 30) before heading to Revelstoke the following night to play the second-place Grizzlies.

The Storm have eight game left, and they’re set to host the (26-5-1-2) Grizzles on Friday before heading to Williams Lake to face the Mustangs on Saturday.