Panthers close Regular Season - open the Playoffs against the Westshore Wolves on Monday evening

The Peninsula Panthers closed their 2015/16 Regular Season on Friday night at the Panorama Recreation Centre dropping a tight 6-5 affair to the Oceanside Generals in overtime.  The Panthers gained a single point which sealed up 2nd place in the South Division of the VIJHL and tied them for 3rd overall in the entire League with the North Division Nanaimo Buccaneers.  The Bucs have one remaining game Saturday night when they head down to Mill Bay to test the Kerry Park Islanders.

The Panthers already were looking forward to Monday night when they welcome in the Westshore Wolves for Game 1 of their Best-of-7 first round series.  "We are really looking Monday and want to be ready when the first puck drops that night," explained Head Coach Rob Mortin.  Tonight was a chance for us to rest some of our players and for us to take a look at some of our affiliate players, young guys who are ready to play at this level.  We were really happy with their efforts on the night and it was a game that either team could have won."

Leading the way for the Panthers was Justin Post with a couple of markers while Ty Tremblay, Josh Poland and affiliate player Wyatt Cairns chipped in with a goal each.  For Cairns it would be his first Junior goal in his very first Junior game.  Alex Olson and Shawn Parkinson split the game between the pipes for the Panthers, Olson being the sharper of the two.  Parkinson was tagged for the loss on the night.

The Wolves played on Wednesday evening and knocked off the visiting Saanich Braves by a 3-1 count.  They do not have game action until the opener and Mortin felt that it was important for his Club to not go into the playoffs banged up.  Mortin chose to call up Cairns, Zack Evans and Bailey Ross from the Peninsula Midget AA Club and also brought in Tyler Pang and Shota Yamamoto from the Major Midget Royals.  "The young kids did not seem to miss a beat," said Mortin.  "I think they really enjoyed themselves tonight, it was a lot of fun seeing them compete and I think that they brought energy to the game."

The Panthers will hold their annual Awards Banquet Saturday night and then will turn all of their attention to Monday night's Game 1.  The puck is set to drop in the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre at 7:30 pm.

Game 2 will go in Westshore on Wednesday while Game 3 will be back at the Panorama next Friday evening.