The Similkameen News Leader
Sports Page - September 30, 2008
POSSE CONQUER ROCKIES
Valley First Princeton Posse hosted Columbia Valley Rockies September 26th.
Posse Assistant Coach Kevin Robillard predicted prior to the opening face off during their webcast the Rockies would "play the physical brand of hockey we like to play" and he was spot on with that statement.
Both teams battled the full sixty minutes of regulation time to control the game which saw a number of firsts including four Posse players earning their first goals of the season and the first time the Posse webcast crew went on camera during an intermission.
"Someone thought looking at us would be more interesting than watching the ice cleaner but I'm not convinced," Posse play-by-play announcer George Elliott quipped.
The game also saw the return of former Posse goalie Tanner Sheridan who had an incredible year and post-season run with Fernie last season.
"Tanner has grown a lot since he was here and we were very happy to be able to have him back in a Posse jersey," Robillard said during the game webcast.
Columbia Valley put the first goal on the scoreboard at 4:03 in the first period and held that lead into the second frame.
Princeton tied the game at 13:04 when Spencer Brooks fired a shot on goal and Kyle L'Arrivee popped the rebound in for his first goal of the season.
Princeton took the lead at 10:27 when Jared Hidber scored his first Posse goal on the power play. Assists went to Dylan Becker and Wade Masch.
The home team widened their lead at 4:13 with another power play goal (Derrick DeLisser from Spencer Brooks and Wade Masch).
The third period saw more of the physical intensity that had kept both teams jumping in the first two-thirds of the game. In fact, the intensity level never waned in the entire game which made for some incredible action for the spectators and amazing plays for players.
At one point, Princeton held the play in the Rockie zone for quite some time while killing a penalty. A Rockie got his stick on the puck and tried to clear it when Spencer Brooks, holding his position on the blue line, jumped and hit the ice stretched out completely and managed to trap the puck with his stick, hop back on his skates and fire the puck back into the play.
Princeton added two more goals in the final frame (11:42, Jason Alessio's first goal assisted by Brody Brewster and at 5:54, Spencer Brooks added his first goal of the season assisted by Brooks Christensen and Wade Masch).
Columbia Valley added their final goal of the night at 2:46.
Although the score was in favour of Princeton, both goalies deserve credit for keeping their teams in the game. Many scoring opportunities were spoiled by both Sheridan and Columbia Valley's Brandon Anderson.
As with a physical game, there were a lot of penalties, but only two for fighting. There was a lot of action along the boards and roughing after the whistle or hooking/slashing calls dominate the stats sheet.
Posse Assistant Coach Kevin Robillard said the game was an important win for Princeton.
"We had to send a strong message to the rest of the teams in the league that we are a force to be reckoned with."
Final score: Princeton 5, Columbia Valley 2. Penalty minutes: Columbia Valley 39, Princeton 35. Shots on goal: Princeton 36, Columbia Valley 33.
The next home game for Princeton is October 15th against Summerland Sting.
