The Similkameen News Leader
Sports Page
POSSE STINGS SUMMERLAND
Princeton's home opener against Summerland Sting Friday night started with a short ceremony that saw former player Chance Lintick the recipient of a great honour - the retiring of his number 21.
Lintick, who played three seasons with his hometown Posse, was with the team from the very first day of Training Camp in 2002. He also proved over the years that there was a lot more to him than long hair and flying fists.
In his last two seasons, under a coaching staff that recognized his other talents, Lintick proved himself a scoring threat and a team leader.
A banner now hangs in Princeton Arena as testimony to the character of the player who once wore Posse Jersey #21.
As for the game itself, Princeton KIJHL fans have a new Posse in town and it's looking like a pretty good team.
With seven returning veterans in the line up Friday night, the team has a solid nucleus with some added talent on defense and shooting.
The Posse has snipers that not only hit their target with regularity, they can do it fast and hard from the blue line. We liked what we saw!
Princeton drew first blood at 10:10 of the First Period when Jessie Tresierra fired one unassisted from the blue line. It marked the beginning of continued pressure from the Posse on the Sting net.
There were a total of four penalties assisted during the period which ended with Princeton leading 1 to zip.
The Second frame saw Princeton nail two back-to-back goals. New Captain David Wyman scored with a slapshot at 13:23, assisted by Scott Jackson and Zach Big Swan.
Stu Purves added the other goal at 13:07 with help from Jordan Lane and Jessie Tresierra.
Princeton's fourth goal of the game was waved off as it was apparently scored after a whistle. They came back hard and Chad Hohmann scored the fourth marker off a rebound with 17 seconds left. Jarrett Young Man was credited with an assist.
The Posse went into the Third Period with a 4-0 lead. Summerland changed goalies and a shift in momentum saw the Sting score two goals within 90-seconds at 1:47 and 2:04.
A handful of two man fights broke out where it appeared that Sting players were targeting Princeton's better players. No less than three Posse players earned game misconducts as a result.
Summerland's third goal of the game came at 7:57. By mid-period both teams had three men in the penalty box at the same time.
Princeton never let up and kept pushing action onto the Sting goal.
A time out was called with 2:32 left in the game and with 40 seconds remaining, Summerland pulled their goalie.
Adam Coates fired one into the empty net with the clock reading :24.3. Princeton led shots on goal 34 to 16, with the final score Princeton 5, Summerland 3.
PRINCETON STORMS OSOYOOS
Princeton put pressure on the Osoyoos goal right from the opening face-off in Saturday night's game against the Storm.The Posse pressed hard in the Osoyoos zone for most of the first period.
Osoyoos managed to get their first shot on goal 3:30 minutes into the game. The period was full of missed scoring opportunities at both ends of the rink with the Posse hitting hard and solid throughout the twenty minutes.
The game was scoreless after one.
In the second period the Osoyoos power play kept the puck in Princeton territory but could not score with many opportunities in the first five minutes.
Princeton also had a two man advantage at one point and couldn't score.
It was becoming obvious that both teams were evenly matched with goaltenders working hard.
After two periods, and still no score.
The third period was highlighted by more near misses for both teams. Midway through the frame Osoyoos had a two man advantage when Princeton's Jessie Tresierra was assessed a 2-minute penalty for cross checking at 11:07. The controversial call prompted a reaction from the home crowd, but the Posse did a great job of killing both penalties.
A Posse powerplay with 2:12 left in the period was uneventful and with 1:09 left they once again had a two man advantage and still couldn't get one past the Storm goalie.
A time out with 14 seconds left only extended the length of the game and once the seconds had ticked off, the game ended in a scoreless tie.
A 5-minute overtime period started with both teams still battling it out in the corners and hustling to the net.
When it looked as if Princeton was going to earn an overtime tie, Osoyoos scored with only 1:31 remaining.
Shots on goal showed how closely matched the teams were with Princeton firing 29 at the Osoyoos net with 27 going the other way.
Final score, Osoyoos 1, Princeton 0 in overtime. Indeed there's a different Posse in town.
