The Similkameen News Leader
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POSSE RIDES TO A NEW SEASON
Princeton Posse played their first games last week. These exhibition games showed local fans how the new line-up will perform this season.
Home exhibition game #1
The first home game was versus the Sicamous Eagles on Labour Day weekend. A good crowd turned out to give the Posse a rousing welcome to the new season, and the usual deafening roar of approval came with each goal scored.Unfortunately, there were too few goals scored to win the game. The Posse lost 7-3.
There were some very good plays, but the new boys to Junior B showed they need a lot more practice. Many of them have not learned the trick of running starts on the ice, and are still slide-skating. Many have not learned the trick of jumping into a turn to reverse direction, and many out-skate the pass and miss it. They need to learn the little tricks the professionals use to give themselves every advantage of speed and accuracy. In this department, Sicamous Eagles were much more polished. Posse players not only missed passes, they fired passes to empty ice.
There was one exception, a small player who really knows how to put out the speed when it is needed. This is number 7, Chris Skerry. However, he could lose the advantage of his speed by his sneaky little fouls which, if he is caught, could cost a penalty.
The Posse was shy on shots on goal, and many of the fans were shouting, "Go for the net!" in hopes the players would take the advice.
Penalties cost the Posse a lot. Most of the Sicamous goals were scored on a power play, and the Eagles were excellent at penalty killing. What really kept the Posse in the game was the hard work of the goalies.
Home exhibition Game #2
On Monday, September 5, the Posse played their second exhibition game on home ice.The boys played host to Osoyoos Storm.
It was a tight game with Osoyoos opening the scoring at 16:37 of the first period and finished the first frame leading the Posse with a 3 to zip score.
Princeton put their first marker in the net at 18:46 of the second period.
The second period saw a lot of penalties assessed for both sides with ten going to the Storm and seven to Princeton.
By the end of the period, Osoyoos was still leading 3 - 1.
Goaltenders were changed by both sides and shots on goal were 24 by Princeton and 35 for Osoyoos. Final score: Osoyoos 4, Princeton 2.
