Posse Nets 2-0 Start On Opening Weekend

Submitted by W. George Elliott

Copyright 2017 Similkameen Gazette

Used by Permission

Posse Nets 2-0 Start On Opening Weekend

   The Princeton Posse regular season for the 2017/18 KIJHL campaign started with a pair of home games. The first one, on Friday, September 8 was against North Okanagan Knights. The Posse organization hosted a Tailgate Party outside Princeton Arena prior to the opening face-off. The Princeton Community Band filled two rows in the stands and they played O’ Canada in addition to the Hockey Night in Canada Theme Song to set the tone for the evening.

  Following player introductions, long-time Posse Volunteer Paul Gabriel was given the honour of a ceremonial puck drop to mark his 50^th birthday.

  Then it got real.

  The Knights scored first at 14:40 of the first period on the power play. Credit went to Brady Marzocco with assists going to Jason Shaigec and Jeff Schlenker. The Knights added to their lead at 12:56 with another power play goal. Tyler Olsen earned that one with help from Levi Harris and Carl Main.

  It took until 5.3-seconds were left in the second period before Princeton got onto the scoreboard. Nicholas Graham took a pass for Drew Carter and popped it into the Knight net. Kirt Fortney also received an assist on the play.

  In the third period Princeton tied the game at 2-all with 3:53 to play. Nicholas Graham got that one and had help from Owen Hart and Caymen Froude.

  Neither team pulled their goalie for an extra man and the game reached the end of regulation time deadlocked at 2-2. The first 5-minute overtime period sailed by and just 21-seconds into the second OT frame Princeton’s Drew Carter raced the puck to the Knight goal and flipped it up into the top corner for the win.

  Final Score: Princeton 3, North Okanagan Knights 2 (OT). Shots on Goal: Princeton 44, North Okanagan 38.

  The following night Princeton hosted 100 Mile House Wranglers.

  The Posse scored first in this match at 16:44 of the first period. Philippe Lam got the unassisted marker. Princeton added another goal at 5:21 (Linden Gove from Ethan Schmor and Chad Kimmie) and another one at 2:47 (Ethan Schmor from Chad Kimmie and Linden Gove). When the period ended, Princeton had a 3-0 lead.

  Owen Hart made it 4-0 at 18:18 of the second period. Cameron McAllister and Caymen Froude each earned assists. The Wranglers responded at 17:56 with a goal by Justin Bond. Assists went to Garrett Hilton and Jacque Gilkerson. The Wranglers added another one – on the power play – at 8:30 (Justin Bond from Nick Nordstrom and Frazer Dodd).

  The Posse added another of their own at 6:35 (Tristyn Olsen from Kole Halvorson and Nicholas Koch). The score after two periods was 5-2 in favour of the Posse.

  The third period saw both teams not letting up and Princeton widened their lead at 14:56 with a goal by Owen Hart. He had help from Riley Cousins and Dawson Jenner.

  Final Score: Princeton 6, 100 Mile House Wranglers 2. Shots on Goal: 100 Mile House 38, Princeton 32.

  Princeton’s next home game is Friday, September 15 against Kelowna Chiefs.