The Princeton Posse is battling towards the first place position in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) following back-to-back shut-out wins on the weekend.
The Posse sat third of 19 teams with 27 points 害羞草研究所� a 13-3-0-1 record 害羞草研究所� behind the Revelstoke Grizzlies and Grand Forks Border Bruins with 29 and 28 points respectively, as of Sunday, Nov. 13 .
Friday, Nov. 11, the home team thumped Osoyoos 3-0, with goals by Ty Olsen, Isaac Thomas and Anmola Garcha. Ethan Rau earned the shut-out making 45 saves.
The Coyotes are second place in the Bill Ohlhausen Division and trail the Posse by nine points.
The following night, the Posse travelled to 100 Mile House and downed the Wranglers 4-0. Tyson Horiacke was good for two goals, while Ty Olsen and Kassius Kler contributed singles. Nate Glenn celebrated his first shut-out of the season with 30 stops.
This coming week marks the midway point of the league害羞草研究所檚 regular season.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 obviously been a great start,害羞草研究所� said Posse general manager Mark McNaughton. 害羞草研究所淢y mindset has always been to take care of the defensive side of the game and we have the best goals against (record) in the league by a pretty sizable margin.
害羞草研究所淩ight now we害羞草研究所檝e allowed 9 fewer goals (than any other team). That害羞草研究所檚 a real positive for this group.害羞草研究所�
Rau, who has contributed in the net to 7 wins and one loss so far this season, was named the KIJHL害羞草研究所檚 number one goalie for October.
害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 certainly been a big piece for our team with really consistent, quality goal-tending. He害羞草研究所檚 helped us beat some teams, and it害羞草研究所檚 an individual award but it害羞草研究所檚 a testament to the team害羞草研究所檚 defense as well.害羞草研究所�
McNaughton said Rau is 害羞草研究所渁s cool as a cucumber and the game doesn害羞草研究所檛 seem to get too big around him害羞草研究所e fits in well with our group of level-headed characters this year.害羞草研究所�
McNaughton also gave full marks to head coach Mark Readman and assistant coach Liam Noble for doing 害羞草研究所渁 phenomenal job. I can害羞草研究所檛 say enough positive things about them.害羞草研究所�
Noble was recently chosen as assistant coach for the British Columbia Hockey Conference害羞草研究所檚 (BCHC) first prospects game, which will take place Tuesday, Nov. 22, in Chilliwack.
A team comprised of some of the best young players from the KIJHL will play a squad from the Pacific Junior Hockey League before a crowd of fans, Junior A scouts, coaches and general managers.
害羞草研究所淭hese are guys who are capable of finding their way to Junior A in the future,害羞草研究所� said McNaughton.
Jonathan Ward, 17, is tenth on the Posse in points with six in 15 games.
The Kamloops product collected his first junior hockey point on Oct. 7. Ward said he feels better now about his play as at the start it was hard, and he was adjusting to the league.
害羞草研究所淚 came from AA last year and it was a really big adjustment. It took a few games but we害羞草研究所檙e getting there,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭he speed, it害羞草研究所檚 just a lot faster. It害羞草研究所檚 more hard hitting, you are playing with older guys.
害羞草研究所淪peed was the biggest one, there is so much less time.害羞草研究所�
Jalen McRae, 17, has three points in 12 games. The Merritt native, who is already an affiliate for that city害羞草研究所檚 Junior A franchise, collected his first junior point on Oct. 4.
McRae said he害羞草研究所檚 put together a good couple of games and is looking to keep getting better. McRae likes to play a gritty style, forechecking hard, while locking things down in the defensive zone.
McRae said the step up from minor hockey has been a big step physically and with the pace of the game, which forced him to make decisions quicker.
害羞草研究所淚 like that I get the puck deep and to my teammates and help get things going in the offensive zone,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a huge opportunity and I害羞草研究所檓 really looking forward to getting to play in front of a lot of people. 害羞草研究所淗opefully my parents can make it down. It害羞草研究所檚 really just an honour.害羞草研究所�
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email:andrea.demeer@similkameenspotlight.com
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