The Princeton Posse began last week with a Wednesday tilt versus Osoyoos Coyotes which saw the home town lose 6-2. The team rebounded for a very solid home effort again Friday with a similar result losing 4-3 to 100 Mile House Wranglers. By all accounts, the team just needs to remain positive through this streak. Mired in an eight game losing streak, they have just seemed to not get many breaks – solid effort, great pressure, outshooting, no puck luck – or one mistake and the team pays the price. This is what streaks are – non logical and sometimes seemingly self perpetuating.
The coaching staff has maneuvered through a tumultuous November in which the fragile framework of the team began to show strain. Three veterans removed themselves from the long term picture – two of which were the experience depth on an undermanned defense. Regardless, the balance of this dedicated group has fought hard through the month. Help has arrived. Going into Friday’s game, the Posse had 6 carded, healthy D men for the first time this year. Three of these had arrived just last week, the last just a day before the Wrangler game.
One may not want to say confidence is high when sitting 9 points out of a playoff spot. But… the pieces have slowly started to fall into place for Coach Rotheisler. Masterpieces take time to build. The process has indeed seemed to take time, but Rotheisler has held to a few solid musts – roster only players that want to be here, that are solid off ice, and put a premium on those that may contribute for more than the balance of this season. The pieces may start to be in play, but time is certainly a factor in the balance of this season so the coaching staff will need to work quickly to make up ground before playoffs.
It starts this weekend at North Okanagan on Friday. Then Saturday 7 p.m., vs Castlegar Rebels will be the first of only three home games in December, followed by just two in January.
So come out and spend an evening with the Posse – there are not a lot until February!
Off the ice, a huge thank you to Eddie and all the staff at the Brown Bridge Pub for a great dinner and evening of fun and fundraising. Additional thanks to all the other sponsors for raffle prizes and Dean Stinson for his auctioning expertise. In total three sets of Canuck tickets were handed out on the evening.
Upcoming Events :
Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. - host Castlegar Rebels…Posse Toque toss night! Teddies are out – Warmth is in! … toques… or socks, or mitts, or scarfs… all proceeds donated locally. Wednesday Noon Dec. 18 vs Osoyoos Coyotes Elementary School Day… hence the noon start.
Friday 7 p.m. Dec. 20 vs Kelowna Chiefs
Note – all three games will have a pregame BBQ upstairs in the mezzanine 45 minutes prior to puck drop.