Youthful Panthers split weekend games

Friday was great, Saturday - not so much.

And that pretty well summed up the Peninsula Panthers weekend, a Club full of youth, skill and speed.  On Friday night in the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre the Peninsula Panthers came out flying and never slowed down until the final buzzer.  In front of a solid opening night crowd, the Team dazzled in the opening minute however were shocked when at the 1:38 mark, a Drew Coughlin shot tipped off a stick in the high slot and arched over everyone including Panthers starting goaltender Alex Olson before coming to rest in the back of the Cats' cage.  And against the play it would be the Braves who would score once again ten minutes later when Nick Kean beat Olson on the power play to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. 

Panthers Rookie Cam Thompson decided it was time to take matters into his own hands two minutes later.  Thompson, playing on a line with Trevor Owens and Ty Tremblay, romped into the Braves end and suddenly it was the 17-year-old Thompson who found himself alone in front of Braves goaltender Brandon Ward.  Thompson faked a goalmouth pass to Tremblay before making a move to the short side and then deposited a snap shot to the top shelf.  The goal seemed to relax the young Panthers squad; a team laden with 12 rookies. 

And the Panthers Josh Poland would hit paydirt behind Ward at the 17:03 mark of the 1st frame when after getting a pass from Mike Sproule, he would knot the game at two going into the first break.  The Panthers carried most of the play and outshot the Braves 14-8 after 20 minutes were in the books.

There was no scoring in the 2nd period but it appeared as though the Panorama ice had a steep tilt to it as the Panthers skated downhill for the entire stanza.  They carried a wide margin in shots on goal outshooting the visitors 15-2 but could not manage to beat Ward who made save after save to keep his Club in the game.


Braves Cameron Kovesdi opened the scoring for the Braves in the final period when at the 3:16 mark he beat Olson.  But it was Thompson once again who would come to the rescue and he tied the score at three aside after getting a cute pass from Tremblay.  With just over six minutes left in regulation, 17-year-old Matt Forbes gathered in a puck at the left point and let a blast go towards Ward.  Tremblay was causing a traffic jam in front of Ward and the puck bounced off him past the shocked Braves goaltender.  Tremblay and the entire Panthers Club celebrated as well as the fan base in attendance and the marker would prove to be the winner.  Thompson was also awarded a helper on the play.

Thompson, Tremblay and Ward were named the three stars.  Ward faced 39 shots and was collared with the loss while Olson picked up his first win of the season blocking 14 shots along the way.

On Saturday afternoon the Panthers and Braves hooked up for the back end of the home-and-home series and it would be the Braves' turn to celebrate after the 60 minutes were complete.  16-year-old Shawn Parkinson made the start for the Panthers and would come out on the short end of a 4-0 score and would have to wait another day to collect his first win.   Kovesdi lead the Braves putting two notches in his belt while Landon Walters and Jack Rachwalski added single markers.  The Braves outshot the Panthers 18-16 on the night with Braves Riley Mathieson picking up the shutout and the win for the home side.

"It was really an up and down weekend," explained Pete Zubersky.  "We have such a youthful squad; undoubtedly the youngest in the VIJHL.  But we also have speed and talent and I think we showed that on Friday evening on home ice.  On Saturday it was a different game.  The Braves have a lot of experienced kids and that showed.  I think our guys thought they would just roll into town and come out with a win but nothing is easy in this league and you have to work for everything you receive.  If not, you will come out second-best.  Overall, I thought it was a great weekend for a lot of guys tasting their first action at this level."

The Club will now have a week of practice before welcoming in the Victoria Cougars on this Friday night.  A large crowd is expected for what should be an early season barn burner and fans are encouraged to come a bit early.  The puck is set to drop at 7:30 pm.

Panthers tracks....Owens who looks like he is ready for a big season had a skate issue midway through the final stanza on Friday night and could not finish the game....he only played a couple shifts on Saturday due to the same problem....Forbes was a bit banged up after the affair on Friday and was scratched the following day....17-year-old Ryan Warner made the pass of the weekend on Saturday when he sent a 110 foot stretch pass onto the tape of Tremblay to send him in all alone....Warner, Parkinson and 16-year-old Marty Westhaver returned from Major Junior Camps just in time for Friday's opener....former Panthers sniper Trevor Yee has joined the Coaching staff.