Hockey Ops. - October 14, 2016

Good Evening Hockey fans on the Peninsula!

Welcome back tonight as we welcome back the Westshore Wolves for their 2nd visit of this early season.  We have had a couple of close games with the Wolves and have split the two games thus far.  Interestingly enough, we knocked them off at the Q Centre and then a couple days later they returned the favour when they nudged us out right here at the Panorama Recreation Centre.

I wanted to just touch quickly on last Friday night and then put it right where it belongs, in the rear-view mirror.  The Oceanside Generals came marching in and when all the smoke had cleared, the Club from the North Division dismantled our group 11-2.  It was a strange game; one of the strangest for a long time.  Everything they put on net went in, usually off a body or a stick.  I looked at the clock and at one point we were out-shooting them 18-16 but were down 7-1.  Granted, our group were terrible and we knew it.  We have moved on!

The following night we travelled up to Mill Bay and the kids put in a workmanlike effort but were dumped 5-2.  There was a span of a couple minutes during the 2nd stanza when the game turned, but other than that we were stride for stride.  It was 4-2 late and with just over a minute left, we pulled starter Liam Tutte for the extra attacker.  With quite a bit of time on the clock we did everything but score.  The puck was in the crease for what seemed to be an eternity with the goalie out of position but we just could not get to it.  With 14 seconds left, they scored the insurance marker and that was all she wrote.

OK, now for what is new on the Club.  Marshall Brown visited the Doctor this week and has been cleared, his leg is healed.  He skated a couple times with us and then out with Minor Hockey Clubs for a couple times and we will do this again next week.  I think he might be ready to go for next Friday, although we are not putting any extra expectations on him upon his return.  He is a 17-year-old veteran which is still pretty darn young but within a couple weeks he will be adding a lot to the lineup.  Marshall is currently doing our play-by-play on Fasthockey and will do this once again tonight.  Stop by the table set up at Centre Ice, give him a pat on the back and welcome him back into the lineup if you have a chance!!

We pulled off our first trade of the season, working on it late last night and then again this morning.  The Saanich Braves were looking for a Defenceman and we were looking to add some youth and a bit of scoring punch.  Going to Saanich is 19-year-old Mitch Moloney and coming this way is 17-year-old Drew Coughlin.  Mitch was obtained midway through last season from the Victoria Cougars and has been a big part of the Club since his acquisition.  We had moved Bailey Ross up front as there was no room on the back end and although this was not our wish, it was something we had to do.  Ross was a left-handed shot and we needed a left winger and so he was the choice from our defence.  We wanted to make some room for him on the back once again and conversations between Brad Tippett and Braves’ Brad Cook culminated in the deal.  We wish Mitch the best of luck with his new team and believe things will click for him with the Braves right off the bat.

Coughlin is a youngster who until recently was listed with the Regina Pats of the WHL and has recently been affiliated with the West Kelowna Warriors of the BCHL.  Drew has great speed and is a nice play-maker and wants nothing more than to be a hockey player.  Three years ago when Coughlin was 14 years old, I had him out skating with the Panthers on Monday nights whenever he could make it.  Marty Westhaver was the same age and he too would come out on Monday’s.  Drew is a great kid and is going to fit in so very well with the group we have here on the Peninsula.  With Brown and Coughlin coming into the lineup and with Trevor Owens due to be back in several weeks from now, things are falling into place as we expected.

We have a couple more irons in the fire right now as we want to make the squad better. We are close to winning games and with a little move here or there, we believe it will make all the difference.  Our young kids seem to be getting more relaxed by the day and are starting to show they belong in the league.  I have said this before and I’ll say it again - be patient with the group we have.  I think that it is a real special one and I believe that it is a group with a very high ceiling.

The program is out and I would guess you have taken a quick look at it already.  Coreen did a great job!  Thank you for your support, enjoy!! 
Pete Zubersky