The Similkameen News Leader
Sports Page - September 23, 2008
POSSE SPLIT WEEKEND HOME GAMES
The Valley First Princeton Posse had a two-game weekend where they hosted Summerland Sting on September 19th and Golden Rockets on September 20th.
The Summerland game saw both teams blazing through the first period firing on all cylinders.
The visiting team did close the period with a three goal lead, but the second frame was all Princeton as the Posse managed to capitalize on Summerland errors.
Princeton's first goal of the night came at 15:14 where Derrick DeLisser scored on the power play. Assists went to Wade Masch and Spencer Brooks.
Dylen McKinlay added Princeton's second goal, unassisted, exactly two minutes later.
The Posse tied the game at 3-all at 7:04 with a power play goal by Nick Cecconi. Assists went to Dylen McKinlay and Leeland Malkinson.
Summerland came back in the third and took back the lead at 19:12.
Both teams battled throughout the period to control the play and in the final minutes of play Princeton pulled their goalie for an extra man, but Summerland scored an empty net goal with 26.6-seconds left in the game to seal the victory.
The game was highlighted with very few penalties (8-minutes for Princeton, 14-minutes for Summerland) and saw Summerland out shoot Princeton 28 to 24.
Final score: Summerland 5, Princeton 3.
The Saturday night match against Golden saw a very intense and physical Princeton Posse tackle Golden from the opening face-off.
Princeton virtually powered their way onto the scoreboard at 17:14 with a goal by Thierry Martin. Assistance came from Andy Milne.
Golden then muscled their way onto the scoreboard to tie the match at 14:20.
Both teams ripped up the entire ice surface with incredible play-making action and kept applying pressure on both ends.
Golden took the lead at 10:43 but Princeton pushed ahead and tied the game again at 6:30. Brooks Christensen got the goal with assists going to Wade Masch and Derrick DeLisser.
Less than a minute later the home team took the lead with a goal from Dylan McKinlay. Assists went to Kyle L'Arrivee and Nick Cecconi.
The first period ended with Princeton on top 3 to 2.
The second period was a whole different game. While the Posse kept up with Golden and often controlled the game in the first period, they started to play a sloppy game in the middle frame.
Posse Assistant Coach Kevin Robillard described it during the team's webcast as "selfish, mental mistakes" and explained that "Dale (Posse Head Coach Dale Hladun) will likely address this in the second intermission."
The second period saw Golden make their move and score two fast power play goals to take the lead with a score of 4 to 3.
"Kevin was obviously upset with how the Posse basically lost control of the game in the second period," Posse internet play-by-play announcer George Elliott said.
"His passion for the game is genuine and his vision for his team is clear. Kevin brings an interesting and informative dimension to the webcasts and I respect what he says and there was no doubt in my mind he knew his team was not using their talents wisely in the second period."
Robillard stated during the webcast, "We need to tilt the ice our way."
It was also pretty obvious from the first face-off of the third period that whatever was said in the dressing room during intermission snapped the boys out of their funk and they were playing like a team on fire.
The Posse tied the game at 14:30 (Brooks Christensen from Geoffrey Brechmann and Jared Hidber) but that was short-lived as Golden replied with a tying goal at 13:41.
By this time the crowd started chanting OGo, Posse, Go!' which fired the home team up and Brooks Christensen fired home a power play goal at 9:18. Assists went to Jared Hidber and Derrick DeLisser.
The Rockets battled intensely to break the tie but Princeton was there at every opportunity and the score remained 5-all at the end of regulation time.
In the overtime period, Princeton quickly took control, missed on their first scoring chance, then 36-seconds into the frame Kyle L'Arrivee passed to Nick Cecconi who fed the puck to Dylan McKinlay in front of the Golden net and in a flash it was all over.
Princeton took 28-minutes in penalties to Golden's 14-minutes but totalled 37 shots on goal to Golden's 36.
Final score: Princeton 6, Golden 5 (OT).
