The Similkameen News Leader
Sports Page - November 18, 2008
POSSE RUIN BRUINS
The November 14th KIJHL game between Valley First Princeton Posse and Grand Forks Border Bruins was best summed up in a comment after the game on the Posse webcast by Princeton Assistant Coach Kevin Robillard who stated, "Pretty much everything we did went our way tonight."
That being said, based on the way Grand Forks played in Princeton Arena, the score should have at least been closer.
Princeton started their collection of goals at 10:38 of the first period (Jason Alessio, unassisted) and 12-seconds later with a goal by Kyle L'Arrivee (assisted by Matt Chomyc and Nick Cecconi).
The second period saw Princeton add three more goals (19:22 - Kyle L'Arrivee from Riley Ferster and Matt Chomyc on the power play, 7:24 - Jason Alessio, unassisted and 2:25 - Derrick DeLisser from Riley Ferster and Brooks Christensen on the power play).
The third period saw the home team, well, continue to add goals with their sixth of the night coming from Brody Brewster who popped a pass from Spencer Brooks high and into the top corner of the Grand Forks net.
Posse Assistant Coach Kevin Robillard said on the Posse webcast that the shot was, "tucked up high in the top shelf, where I like to say Grandma hides the coffee."
Grand Forks did spoil Posse goalie Michael Garteig's chance at a shut out by scoring their only goal of the game at 13:49.
That didn't stop the home team, which continued to score and score and, well, score some more.
Princeton's seventh goal of the game was at 12:02 (Brooks Christensen from Derrick DeLisser) followed at 6:19 with an unassisted goal by Spencer Brooks and the final Posse goal at 3:13 (Nick Cecconi from Kyle L'Arrivee and Kevin Darcy).
In what appears on paper to be a complete domination by Princeton in reality was not a bad game. Grand Forks played far better than what the score shows having hit three goal posts and two other near misses, which would have tightened the gap. And except for eleven penalties at 3:07 of the first period and five more at 1:30 of the third period, it was a relatively clean game with solid checks handed out by both teams.
Final score: Princeton 9, Grand Forks 1. Shots on goal: Princeton 38, Grand Forks 31.
POSSE MISS STORM WARNING
The rivalry between Princeton and Kamloops dates back to when the Storm was originally based out of Osoyoos and continues to exist today.
Evidence of the rivalry hung in the Princeton Arena like a low cloud November 15th when Valley First Princeton Posse played host to the division leading Storm.
The game got off to a quick start with both teams flexing muscles and trying to set the tone for the rest of the game.
Kamloops started the scoring with a power play goal at 18:05 of the first period, added a second at 14:03 and finished the period with another power play goal at 3:49.
In the second period Kamloops continued to score adding their fourth of the game at 19:15.
Princeton finally got on the scoreboard at 17:26 with a power play goal by Matt Chomyc with assists going to Spencer Brooks and Kyle L'Arrivee.
At 17:09 Posse goalie Tanner Sheridan earned a roughing penalty when he poked at a Kamloops player who somehow managed to get a little too close to his aura with an elbow. A high elbow.
Kamloops scored once more at 10:45 prompting Posse Assistant Coach Kevin Robillard to verbalize his dissatisfaction with the way Sheridan had played in the game to that point.
"He's not in the game where we need him to be," Robillard said during the Posse webcast adding that the Posse goalie was not playing a smart game.
Michael Garteig replaced Sheridan for the rest of the game.
The home team added their second goal at 4:25 (Wade Masch from Brooks Christensen).
The third period saw Kamloops bat Princeton around like a cat with a ball of wool adding another power play goal at 8:41 and slowly picking away at players by drawing them into fights where game misconducts tore apart Princeton's lines and shortened the benches of both teams. Rivalry is a tough thing to defend and both teams did a good job trying to pound that message home.
By the time the game ended both teams had earned 84-minutes in penalties. That's 84-minutes per team.
Final score: Kamloops 6, Princeton 2. Shots on goal: Kamloops 42, Princeton 36.
See page 12 for details on the Posse win against Grand Forks on November 14th.
