Posse Split Weekend 1-1

Submitted by W. George Elliott

Copyright 2018 Similkameen Gazette

Used by Permission

Posse Split Weekend 1-1

  The Princeton Posse hosted Kelowna Chiefs January 19 in Princeton Arena. The home team was on a 5-game losing skid having not won a game yet in 2018. 

  The Chiefs scored first at 18:25 of the first period (Brody Dale from Zach Erhardt and Devon Baird) to set the tone early in the game. Princeton tied the match shortly after that opening goal when Ethan Schmor swooped out from behind the Kelowna net and popped the puck just past the goal post. The unassisted marker was at 17:43. Then the game started to tilt slightly to one end of the arena. Kelowna took back the lead at 16:47 (Brett Witala from Zach Erhardt and Brody Dale) and widened it to 3-1 at 11:27 (Zach Erhardt from Rhys Colpron and Brett Witala). By this time the Posse had switched goalies. Princeton managed a short-handed goal at 9:58 scored by Justin Fodchuk. An assist went to Jonathan Lee. Then Kelowna fired the after burners and added two more goals on the power play. The first one was at 7:11 (Juanre Naude from Brett Witala and Aidan Bar-Le-Wise) and the second was at 2:14 (Juanre Naude from Brett Witala and Zach Erhardt). At the end of the period Kelowna was leading 5-2 and had out-shot the Posse 16-12.

  The second period was tamer on the scoreboard but a little more hostile in the stands with fans objecting to many calls – several missed ones as well. Kelowna widened their lead further at 12:15 on the power play (Lane Paddison from Devon Baird and Aidan Bar-Lev-Wise). Princeton responded at 6:41 with a power play goal scored by Jonathan Lee with an assist from Tristyn Olsen. With just 1:16 left in the frame the Chiefs popped in another goal. It was credited to Zach Erhardt with assists going to Brett Witala and Brody Dale. By the time the period ended Kelowna was leading 7-3.

  The third period was nothing short of a battle. Primarily a battle for the officials to keep up with the shenanigans on ice. But they did get through it. All four of the goals scored in the period were on the power play and included Princeton adding one at 19:22 (Ethan Schmor from Kole Halvorson and Jonathan Lee), Kelowna with one at 8:51 (Brett Witala from Brody Dale and Zach Erhardt), Kelowna with another one at 7:19 (Lane Paddison from Tyler Love and Devon Baird) and a final one from Kelowna at 6:59 (Juanre Naude from Brody Dale and Zach Erhardt). The penalty of choice for the game was a Misconduct with a total of 11 called throughout the game.

  Final Score: Kelowna 10, Princeton 4. Shots on Goal: Kelowna 39, Princeton 33.

  It was a completely different Princeton Posse on ice the following evening (January 20) when North Okanagan Knights were in town to play. Although the Knights scored first at 12:32 (Alec McLeod from Dean Whitcomb and Jett Saharchuk) the Posse set the pace within seconds of the opening face off ripping a series of shots on goal and performing solid moves, including completed passes and checks. The home team was clearly not going to let their losing streak go past six games. Princeton tied the game at 11:29 with a short-handed, unassisted goal scored by Jonathan Lee. The Posse did not let up for the rest of the game.

  The second period saw Princeton take the lead at 1:36 with a power play goal (Justin Fodchuk from Morton Johnston and Chad Kimmie). After two frames the Posse was leading 2-1 and had out-shot the Knights 25-22.

  The third period was more of the same from the previous two. Princeton kept hammering away at the Knights scoring their third goal of the night when Drew Carter sailed in on his own and drilled a shot into the net. The short-handed goal was also unassisted. Princeton secured their first win of 2018 by adding a final goal at 3:52 (Tristyn Olsen from Drew Carter).

  Final Score: Princeton 4, North Okanagan 1. Shots on Goal: Princeton 40, North Okanagan 36.