Game 1

The Posse hung on to win Game 1 7-6. The Posse looked a little nervous during the first period. The boys did comeback from an early 3-1 deficit. Leading the way for the Posse were Brenden Stephan, Chad Brears, and although 6 shots got past him, Brett Patchett made a number of key saves to give the Posse a chance to win.

The season of firsts continues as this is the first playoff victory against the Sicamous Eagles. The last time the Posse faced the Eagles they were swept 4 straight.

The webcast did not work last night. Due to a schedule mistake, the webcast provider did not prepare the site for the broadcast. The error has been corrected and we look forward to sending game 2 to all the viewers.

The Posse are doing our annual Playoff auction. We have a number of sign vancouver canuck photos (sedin brothers, Kessler, burrows, Linden), a signed Pat Quinn photo, a Crosby& Lemeiux photo, and a framed team canada uniform (#87-crosby). All will be displayed at each home game until the end of the playoffs. The highest bidder will have the opportunity to purchase the piece. If you are interested in any of these please contact the posse via email and we will send you a picture. Email if you want to bid on any of the pieces.

The opponent has been set. The Posse will face the Sicamous Eagles in the second round of the KIJHL playoffs. The Posse and Eagles were separated by 2 points in the standings. Both teams had 31 wins, but the Posse had two more overtime losses. These two teams have not met since the 2005-06 season. Sicamous won that series 4-0.

Games 1 and two will be played in Princeton this Friday and Saturday (February 26,27). Both games start at 7:00pm. Lets get the barn rockin'!!!

As we wait

We have a two week bye waiting for the completion of the first round. Two games completed and Sicamous leads 2-0. The next game Monday in Penticton. If Sicamous wins it will be the first time this year they would have won in Penticton.

The Posse have had a few days to rest some bumps and bruises. A number of key players could use the rest. The problem with a rest can be that you lose your edge. The Posse won 7 of 9 going into the playoffs.

As usual, discipline will be the biggest key for the Posse. Not only staying out of the box, but sticking to the game plan. Emotional discipline is also important. The playoffs are, by their very nature, intense. Playing intensly is important, but in the playoffs it is important to understand the difference between emotion and intensity.

What I mean is fairly simple. If you play hard, win battles in the corners, finish hits, block shots, then you are playing with intensity. Emotion can creep into the game when a call go against you or you let the other team get under your skin. Even a coach can contribute to the emotion of the game. I have learned that certain phrases shout from the bench add to negative emotion rather than assist the players.

If the Posse are to go a long way this post season they will have play with the same intensity they have brought for most of this season. They will have to keep their emotion in check. The Posse have been successful all season when follow the plan and check the emotion at the door.

Good luck boys. You have already made us proud.

Three games left and the Posse control their own Playoff destiny. The Princeton team is 2 points ahead of Sicamous for 2nd place. Second will earn the Posse a first round bye. A third place finish would mean the Posse would face either Penticton or North Okanagan in the first round. One first round series is set as the Chase Chiefs have locked up 4th and will home ice advantage against Kamloops. The Posse 8-3 win over the Storm on Sunday afternoon set that series.

The Posse have beaten Kamloops twice in 10 days by a combined score of 15-5. Posse nemesis Anthony Manfredi was chased in both games. The Storm are 3-6-0-1 in their last 10 games and are limping into the playoffs.

The Posse face Penticton on Wednesday. The Lakers need 3 points to clinch the last playoff spot. I expect the game to be quite intense. The Posse will face the North Okanagan Knights on the following Friday before heading to Chase for their final regular season game.

Posse 3-0 on road trip

The Posse headed to Invermere to start a 3 game road swing through the kootneys. Princeton defeated the struggling Columbia Valley Rockies 5-2. Weston Joseph won his second consecutive game in the month of January. Captain Dan Hillman was injured during a battle in the first period and did not return. The Posse had 5 different scorers in the game. An excellent result considering the 8 hour bus ride.

Game two of the trip saw the Posse visit the upstart Golden Rockets. Rockets head coach Rocky Zinger (still the best name in the KI) has turned this team into a contender in just 3 season. The Posse depth would be tested as both Hillman and Kristensen did not play. Ben Morgan took up the slack scoring a natural hat trick. Morgans goals would be all the Posse would need as they hung onto a 3-2 win.

Unfortunately I could not watch the Creston game. However, the end result looks great. Ben Morgan scored the OT winner with 3 seconds left in the 3 on 3 period.

The 6 points vaults the Posse into second place in the Okanagan-Shuswap division.

The Posse do not play in Princeton, however they will be in Penticton for the next two Fridays.

2010 Starts with a bang

The Princeton Posse started the new year with two straight wins.

Saturday night the Posse faced their rivals from Kamloops. Posse won in overtime with a goal from Lee Muir. The Posse dominated play in both ends and at times it seemed like the Kamloops team had not worked of the holiday season turkey. The storm sat back in a trap and iced the puck due to the aggressive Posse forecheck. The short bench for Kamloops added to the fatigue factor. Kamloops released a number of players at the december 1 card deadline. This left Kamloops with a number of extra cards to add players at a later date in order to "load up" for the Keystone Cup. Time will tell if it was the right move.

The win ensured the Posse kept pace with the top teams in the division. Both Sicamous and Revelstoke won on Saturday. The Posse faced Sicamous on Sunday. The Posse jumped out to a 3 goal lead and never looked back. Posse won 3-1. The win pulls the Posse within two points of second place.

The Posse are now in the middle of an 8 game road swing. The Posse will not Play at home until JAN. 29. For all the Calgary folks we hope to see you on our Kootney swing next weekend.