The Similkameen News Leader
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POSSE WEATHERS THE STORM
Princeton Posse played host to Kamloops Storm last Friday night in what will likely be remembered as a benchmark in Posse history.
It took 44-minutes and 59-seconds before either team managed to break the scoreless tie they started with.
It's hard to say why the game remained scoreless after two periods. It may have been because the Posse was playing a so-so game, or that Kamloops was on an off night or that the league was testing more new officials.
Both teams were making plays and shooting pucks but when the shots on goal are of the solid 'right on the numbers' variety that gets the job done in the CFL, it doesn't work on scoring goals when the pesky goalie keeps getting in the way.
Add to that the odd nose-thumbing hand signal Kamloops Coach Bryant Perrier would fire off to his goalie every now and again and the scoreless first two periods make slightly more sense.
It wasn't until 12:17 of the second period that many of the fans realized there was a hockey game going on in Princeton Arena. That was when Anthony Leardo was given a 2-minute charging penalty. The crowd erupted in a chorus of boo's. Probably because the call came on the heels of some heavy pressure on the Posse net where Kamloops wrestled with the little black thing and Princeton's goalie Tanner Sheridan conducted a short clinic on how to save pucks and keep that little black thing out of the net and under control.
With 5:16 left in the period The Storm's team captain Jacob Young tripped Princeton's Kyle L'Arrivee at centre ice. The crowd voiced their displeasure with the stunt which was followed by L'Arrivee getting cross-checked from behind by the Storm's Justin Giroyx.
The officials took a few moments to sort things out and eventually issued Young 2-minutes for tripping and Giroyx a 10-minute misconduct. The fans were still not happy, but the misconduct helped calm them down a bit.
With three minutes left in the period Princeton came alive and pelted the Storm goalie with shot after shot but by the time the clock ran out, the game was still scoreless.
The third period was when the game actually started as both teams played reasonably good hockey. It was interesting to note that when the Posse gels, it's magical. There was only a little magic in this game, but when it appeared, it was spectacular.
The scoreless tie was broken at 4:59 by Kamloops when Posse netminder Tanner Sheridan was beat on the stick side.
Another cheap shot from behind sent the Storm's Justin Giroyx to the showers with a game misconduct which pleased the crowd.
Princeton tied the game at 10:36 after three players in front of the Storm goal kept slapping at rebounds until one went in.
The goal was credited to Liam Darragh with assists from Alex Young and Brandon Spiller.
Princeton's go ahead goal came at 15:22 when Brett Van Ripper took the rebound from in front of the goal and flipped it over the Storm goalie. Assists went to Drew Knowles and Sean Carr.
A shoving match in front of the Posse goal with 4:14 to play saw Princeton goalie Tanner Sheridan defend his territory.
One Kamloops player was called for slashing while Sheridan was assessed 5-minutes for roughing and a game misconduct which sent him out of the game.
The crowd was not happy although Princeton kept the puck in play for the rest of the period and preserved the 2-1 win.
Shots on goal: Kamloops 38, Princeton 29.
