The Similkameen News Leader
Sports Page - March 17, 2009
POSSE FALL BEHIND IN SERIES
The second round playoffs between the Valley First Princeton Posse and Kamloops Storm have been close at times and not without it's share of surprises.
Game three of the best of seven was in Princeton March 9th and at the time the Storm had a 2-0 lead in the series.
Both teams muscled their way with each other from the opening face off which set the tone for the rest of the game.
The first penalties called were only 1:09 into the game (Roughing for Princeton's Matt Chomyc, Cross Checking for Jose Reyes of Kamloops) and although there were only a few more issued in the game, there was a lot of physical play throughout the match.
The first period ended in a scoreless tie.
Kamloops lit up the scoreboard first at 9:32 of the second period and added a second goal at 3:54 (both on the power play).
A time out was called by Princeton Arena staff at 3:34 to allow for repairs to a loose pane of plexiglass and when it was determined that the job would require more than a few minutes to fix, the teams went to their dressing rooms for the second intermission.
The second period was completed, followed instantly with an end change and the start of the third period.
Princeton scored their first goal of the game at 14:39 (Nolan O'Brien from Nick Cecconi and Thierry Martine).
The score filled the arena with electricity and fired up the home team to the point where it created an obvious shift in the game's momentum.
Kamloops scored again at 10:44 and although Princeton pulled goalie Michael Garteig for an extra man in the last 1:20 of the game, Princeton could not regain any ground.
Final score: Kamloops 3, Princeton 1. Shots on goal: Kamloops 40, Princeton 24. Penalties: Princeton 8 for 16-minutes, Kamloops 4 for 8-minutes.
The Princeton Dairy Queen/Overwaitea Foods players of the game were: #3 - Nolan O'Brien, #2 - Justin Palazzo (Kamloops) and #1 - Austin Goode
(Kamloops).
SWEEP ENDS POSSE SEASON
The Valley First Princeton Posse needed a win March 10th against Kamloops Storm in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Storm was leading the best of seven series 3-0 and a win would move them into the third round.
Both teams started the game in top gear and never let up.
Kamloops scored first at 11:56 and Princeton tied the game at 7:37 (Jason Alessio from Matt Chomyc).
Kamloops took the lead again with a power play goal at 2:51.
The intensity continued into the second period and after numerous tries Princeton tied the game at 15:53 (Matt Chomyc from Jason Alessio).
Kamloops scored another goal at 4:42 and credit was given to Scott Kirkham with an assist to Bill Garnett but referee Kris Hartley reversed his call and waved it off after listening to his linesmen (Peter Rasmussen and Richie Rogers) who explained that the puck had been played in front of the Princeton net with a glove hand pass.
Credit goes to both goalies (Princeton's Michael Garteig and Alex Christianson of Kamloops) for creating some of the most exciting hockey action ever seen in Princeton Arena. Both played incredible games with diving saves, lightning fast glove saves and stopped almost everything coming at them.
The third period started with both teams locked in a 2-all tie. Kamloops fought hard to break the tie where Princeton worked equally hard for the same result and when it looked as if the game could go into overtime Kamloops scored a power play goal at 2:49.
With one minute left to play Princeton pulled Michael Garteig from the net for an extra man and continued to pressure the Kamloops goal but could not tie the game.
The Storm finished the series with a 4-0 record and move on to the Okanagan Conference Finals against the winner of the Chase/Sicamous Semi-Final Round.
The loss ends a very long hockey season for the Princeton Posse who played a record 64 games.
Final score: Kamloops 3, Princeton 2. Shots on goal: Kamloops 36, Princeton 31. Penalties: Princeton 5 for 18-minutes, Kamloops 2 for 4-minutes.
The Overwaitea Foods/Princeton Dairy Queen players of the game were: #3 - Sean Menton (Kamloops), #2 - Michael Garteig and #1 - Alex Christianson (Kamloops).
