The Merritt Centennials training camp is well underway and the first round of cuts for the 2010-11 roster has already passed.

Cents head coach and general manager Luke Pierce said Tuesday afternoon that the team would begin cutting players on Wednesday morning.

The camp opened on Monday morning with 94 rookies between 16 and 19 years old who were divided into six teams for a series of scrimmages.

By Wednesday, Pierce said, “We'll be between…50 and 60, probably 60” players.

“Come Wednesday afternoon, we'll have our returning players join the group.”

So far, nine Cents veterans are coming back for the 2010-11 season: Austin Baecker, Silvan Harper, Jeff Jones, Dustin Johnson, Alexander MacMillan, David Sabey, incoming captain Steve Tresierra, Stephen Wall, and Jeff Zmurchyk.

Net-minders Keith Hamilton and Cole Holowenko are currently at WHL training camps. Depending on their performance at those camps, they may or may not return to the Cents this season.

“We could find out next week (or) we could never know,” said Pierce. “We're still kind of waiting to see.”

If they are not signed on to the WHL, though, “They'd be welcome back and we'd have to figure it out from there.”

In the meantime, Jared Andersen, a trade from Grande Prairie, Alta., will be minding the net.

“We're hoping to provide some stability to our group to get started.”

The returning players are playing with the rookies remaining after the first round of cuts on four teams. The second round of cuts will take place on Friday and the Cents will make its final selections following the intrasquad game that afternoon.
“When we finish, 23 has to be our maximum” including the returning Cents, said Pierce.

Many of the rookies have performed strongly at the camp, though only a few will make the final cut.

“We're pretty happy with the large group and we know we'll have some tough choices ahead.

“We're pretty impressed with a lot of kids.”

Among the standouts are Dustin Lebrun of Coquitlam, who last played for the Vancouver North East Chiefs, and Sean Maktaak, a Penticton boy who was playing with the Creston Thundercats.

Lebrun's Chiefs teammate, Regan Soquila of Maple Ridge, is also at the Centennials camp. Soquila's older brother, Jordan, was the Cents captain last year.

“Regan is going to be a very promising player,” said Pierce.

“You can see a lot of his brother in the way he plays and he's got a really bright future ahead of him.”

Asked if any Merritt players were likely to make the team, Pierce said the locals are strong but added coyly, “It's dangerous to name any names.

“I think they've all done well.

“We're looking forward to seeing some more of them the rest of the week.”

The local players at the camp are: Payton Schaefer, Russel Sanderson, Daylan Robertson, Eric Schmidt, Cole Fex, Brendan Colter, Michael Desimone, River Lafferty, and Briar McNaney.

Lafferty was last playing with the Carlyle Cougars and McNaney was a member of the Columbia Valley Rockies. The other locals are midget-level players with the Merritt Minor Hockey Association.

Steve Tresierra, the assistant captain last season, has succeeded Jordan Soquila as Cents captain. The elder Soquila has accepted a hockey scholarship and will study at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont. starting in September.

The new assistant captain has not been determined.

Once the lineup is finalized, Cents new and old will be getting ready for a series of exhibition games against Salmon Arm, which start on Sunday.

“We'll do a little bit of preparation Saturday, then head to Salmon Arm,” said Pierce.

Current Roster:

Team White

Forwards
Jeff Jones (91) - Merritt Centennials (BCHL)
Kyle Clerke (92) - Okanagan Rockets (BCMML)
Evan Stack (91) - Princeton Posse (KIJHL)
Jakob Reichert (93) - Revelstoke Grizzlies (KIJHL)
Brandon Briere (92) - Chase Chiefs (KIJHL)
Dylan Playfair (92) - Penticton Lakers (KIJHL)
Ben Reinbolt (92) - Princeton Posse (KIJHL)
Brendan Colter (93) - Merritt Midget Rep
Chris Williamson (91) - HC Ambri-Priotta U20 (SUI)
Daylan Robertson (94) - Merritt Midget Rep

Defence
Kameran Crawford (91) - Merritt Centennials (BCHL)
Corey Dubbledam (93) - Vancouver NE Chiefs (BCMML)
Brandon Pfeil (92) - Grandview Steelers (PIJHL)
Billy Marshall (91) - Princeton Posse (KIJHL)
Daniel Buchanan (93) - Thompson Blazers (BCMML)

Goaltenders
Ryan Garber (91) - Grand Forks Border Bruins (KIJHL)
Dylan Quinn (93) - Prince George Midget AAA
Michael Hails (94) - Vernon Midget AAA

Team Black

Forwards
Dustin Johnson (90) - Merritt Centennials (BCHL)
Brett Orser (92) - Mission Icebreakers (PIJHL)
Caleb Staniland (92) - Aldergrove Kodiaks (PIJHL)
Jordan Salahor (93) - Okanagan Rockets (BCMML)
Max Vallis (91) - PF Changs U18 AAA
Colten Defrias (91) - Chase Chiefs (KIJHL)
Briar McNaney (93) - Columbia Valley Rockies (KIJHL)
Brent Baltus (92) - North Island Silvertips (BCMML)
Dane Carlson (93) - Cranbrook Ice AA
Jeffrey Coates (91) - Okanagan Hockey Academy Prep AAAA

Defence
Austin Baecker (92) - Merritt Centennials (BCHL)
Richard Sabourin (92) - Okanagan Rockets (BCMML)
Taylor Greatrex (92) - North Okanagan Knights (KIJHL)
Conor McCoach (93) - Vancouver North East Chiefs (BCMML)
Tim Martens (92) - Princeton Posse (KIJHL)

Goaltenders
Jared Andersen (90) - Grand Prairie Storm (AJHL)
Layne Swier (91) - Blackfalds Wranglers (HJHL)

Team Red

Forwards
Stephen Wall (91) - Merritt Centennials (BCHL)
Silvan Harper (92) - Merritt Centennials (BCHL)
Brad Robinson (92) - Kerry Park Islanders (VIJHL)
Dustin Lebrun (92) - Vancouver North East Chiefs (BCMML)
Chad Brears (91) - Princeton Posse (KIJHL)
Dylan Sahara (93) - Penticton Midget AAA
Eric Schmidt (93) - Merritt Midget Rep
Brent Fletcher (92) - New Westminster Midget Royals
Brock Wellicome (93) - Valley West Hawks (BCMML)
Josh McSkimming (93) - Cranbrook Ice AA

Defence
Jeff Zmurchyk (90) - Merritt Centennials (BCHL)
Lucas Hildebrand (91) - Grand Forks Border Bruins (KIJHL)
Adrian Coulter (93) - Fort St. James Midget Stars
Doug Chadwick (92) - Chase Chiefs (KIJHL)
Brandon Parmar (93) - South Island Thunderbirds (BCMML)

Goaltenders
Mitchell Sheridan (92) - Princeton Posse (KIJHL)
Jared Rathjen (94) - Cariboo Cougars (BCMML)

Team Blue

Forwards
Alexander MacMillan (90) - Merritt Centennials (BCHL)
David Sabey (91) - Merritt Centennials (BCHL)
Colton Schell (92) - Penticton Lakers (KIJHL)
Sean Maktaak (92) - Creston Thundercats (KIJHL)
Regan Soquila (93) - Vancouver North East Chiefs (BCMML)
Kevin Kassulat (91) - MN Flying Aces (MNJHL)
Payton Schaefer (93) - Merritt Midget Rep
Joshua McGladdery (92) - Notre Dame Argos Midget AAA
River Lafferty (94) - Carlyle Cougars
Marco Finucci - (91) - Squamish Wolf Pack (PIJHL)

Defence
Steve Tresierra (90) - Merritt Centennials (BCHL)
Brett Defrias (93) - Kamloops Storm (KIJHL)
Ryan Skinner (92) - Kamloops Storm (KIJHL)
Mitchell Hewson (93) - Okanagan Rockets (BCMML)
Tyler Jones (92) - Castlegar Rebels (KIJHL)

Goaltenders
Dusty Hyde (91) - Cold Lake Ice (NEAJBHL)
Cole Buckley (92) - Revelstoke Grizzlies (KIJHL)
Russel Sanderson (94) - Merritt Midget Rep