Panthers Post 4-1 road win in Saanich

The Peninsula Panthers won for the 3rd time in a row and for the 5th time in the last six games, and in the process welcomed in newcomer Justin Post to the party on Friday evening in South Division VIJHL action.  A two-year veteran in the KIJHL having played stints with Beaver Valley and the Creston Thundercats, Post played in his first game this season and did not miss a beat picking up two helpers for the Peninsula Panthers in a 4-1 road decision over the Saanich Braves.  Post had only been signed a little over 24 hours earlier however, his presence in the lineup was immediately noticable and he did not disappoint.

The "Cats" leading scorer, Cam Thompson scored the only marker at 4:58 of the opening stanza with Captain Spencer Loverock and Post in on the tally.  Alex Olson made the start for the Panthers between the pipes and although he looked just a bit shakey on the first shot, he was stellar the rest of the way in collecting the win.

It did not take the Panthers long to open up a two-goal lead when with just 1:40 gone in the 2nd period, the puck was moved to the right point to lanky defenceman Ryan Warner.  Warner blasted a low shot and it was Post who was standing right in front of Mathieson with the screen, leaving the Braves netminder with absolutely no chance.  Mathieson never did see the shot until the stripes picked it from the back of the Braves net.  Thompson and Post were awarded assists on the play.  And it would be the Panthers diminutive but hard-working forward Koby Hale who would open up a 3-0 lead.  Hale sped down the right side on a 2-on-2 with team mate Ben Dawson however, the Braves defenceman blew a tire just inside the Braves blueline.  Hale roared past him and using Dawson as a decoy, made no mistake in beating Mathieson in tight.  Rugged right winger Michael Sproule and Loverock were awarded assists on the Hale marker.

The clock was the friend of the Panthers in the final frame however, a Braves' goal at the 7:25 mark put them back into the contest.  Sam Kovesdi took a feed from Jack Rachwalski and in an ensuing scramble in front of Olson, the Braves sniper managed to beat him.  It took only three minutes later for the Panthers to regain a three-goal lead when at the 10:26 mark, Kai Turner added a notch to his belt beating Mathieson on the power play.  Defenceman Braeden Hansen kept the puck in at the blueline and sent a shot towards the Braves net.  Silky smooth winger Grayden Hohl picked up the rebound and beat Mathieson however, the puck bounced off the post and onto the stick of Turner.  And Turner would make no mistake on the Panthers' second chance.

Olson blocked 34 of 35 shots on goal in recording the win, while Mathieson stopped 36 of 40 shots and was collared with the loss.

"I loved the way our guys came into the game and competed for the full sixty minutes," explained General Manager Pete Zubersky.  "I can't recall how many times Dawson took a big hit to make a play, we had a lot of guys that were doing that tonight.  The addition of Post to the lineup already looks huge.  He added some real leadership to our group right away.  It is going to be a battle within our group to see who deserves to play, that was clear tonight.  I like what is happening with the Club."

The Panthers will be right back at it on Saturday night when they host the Braves in the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre with the puck set to drop at 7:30 pm.  But for tonight it was nice to Post the win.