The Princeton Posse are on a roll. In fact, they’ve rolled into playoff position.
That’s bad news for the North Okanagan Knights.
The Posse (11-23-1-4) scored three unanswered goals to double the Knights 4-2 in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action Saturday in Princeton.
The win, coupled with Princeton’s 2-1 victory over the Kamloops Storm Friday, moved the Posse into the final Okanagan Shuswap Division playoff spot, two points up on the Knights, losers of four straight.
North Okanagan (12-24-0-1) has two games in hand, and will play Princeton twice (once at home, once on the road) before the end of the regular season.
After the Posse opening the scoring in the first period, the Knights tied game before the end of frame, courtesy of Cameron Welch’s sixth of the season, and third goal in his last two games.
Jack Berger scored his sixth on a power play 63 seconds into the second period to give the Knights a 2-1 lead. Princeton scored twice before the end of the frame, and added insurance on a two-man advantage eight minutes into the third period.
Bobby Milligan made 34 saves for the win, while Daniel Paul stopped 24 in taking the loss.
North Okanagan hosts the third-place Kelowna Chiefs Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Nor-Val Sports Centre, and visit the Chase Heat Saturday.
GAMES REMAINING:
NORTH OKANAGAN KNIGHTS (10*): HOME: Kelowna, 100 Mile House, Princeton, Osoyoos,Summerland*; AWAY: Chase, Kelowna, Osoyoos, Kamloops, Princeton.
PRINCETON POSSE: (8): HOME: Osoyoos, Chase, Summerland, North Okanagan; AWAY: Kelowna,Sicamous, North Okanagan, Summerland.
*Knights have a game slated for Tuesday, Feb. 21 vs Summerland. This is the completion of agame postponed Dec. 2 due to a transformer issue at Nor-Val Sports Centre with Summerlandleading 4-1 with four minutes left in second period. The game will only be completed if it’sparamount to playoff implications.
