It took a while, but the Wait (zner) was worth it

The Peninsula Panthers saw the calendar turn to January 8th, 2016 before the organization made a move to acquire a 6'5" and 210 lb. power-forward, but they feel like the Wait-zner was certainly worth it!  On Friday evening, the Club was involved in an intense playoff-like game with the Westshore Wolves.  But there were other off-ice moving parts taking place while the pucks were flying and by the conclusion of an important 3-1 win, the brass had made a move to obtain the playing rights of 18-year-old Ethan Waitzner from the Revelstoke Grizzlies of the Kootenay Internationl Junior Hockey League.  The Victoria product was playing in his 2nd season in Revelstoke however, was looking to register at the University of Victoria and this situation prompted his request for a move back to the Victoria area.  The Revelstoke Grizzlies complied.

"I heard that Ethan had come back to Victoria a week before Christmas when we were playing on a Friday night in Saanich against the Braves," explained General Manager Pete Zubersky.  "Mitch Moloney approached me and let me know.  Things on our roster changed a bit this past week and it opened up an opportunity to add and so I jumped on Waitzner.  Any time you have an opportunity to grab a player who can add a package of size and skill, you have to look at it.  When the package also fits nicely with the players in the group, it is an easy choice.  Waitzner was a no-brainer.  It was a cash deal with Revelstoke and so the move will not affect our roster, and that was extremely important to me.  We have great chemistry, Ethan will add to that."

The big-bodied Waitzner was introduced to the Club in the dressing room after the win over the Wolves and a huge cheer went up.  "I was really shocked over how I was welcomed by the Team," said Waitzner.  "It's a new Team and I'm a new player and I just did not expect that at all.  I know quite a few of the guys on the team but I was still shocked.  It's a welcoming atmosphere."

When Zubersky asked Waitzner what number he would like, he advised that he was hoping to have number 12, the same number he had while with the Revelstoke Grizzlies.  "I told him that jersey was worn by NHL Art Ross winner Jamie Benn and it had been retired.  We both had a good chuckle over that."

Waitzner has applied to the University of Victoria and will be starting in the Applied General Sciences Program.  His goal at the end of the education tunnel is to be a dentist or an orthodontist.

"It's clear that the young fellow enjoys to play the game," said Zubersky.  "I asked him what his goals in the game of hockey were and he said that he wanted to play as long as he could and he wanted to keep feeling the love for the game that he felt as he grew up here in Victoria.  He seems to have a pretty good idea what he wants to do for a career and also has a pretty clear vision of what he wants out of the game.  Our only demand is that he gives 100% effort and he assured me this will happen."

Waitzner and his new mates will spend several days at practice together before they hit the ice at the Q Centre on Wednesday evening in a big four-point affair.  The Club then heads back to the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre on Friday night for a 7:30 pm start against the visiting Saanich Braves.  With 10 games left in the regular season and each game playing a huge part in determining playoff position, it is safe to say all contests will be big from here on in.  The newest addition will be a BIG help, it was worth the Wait-zner!