Panthers have four Exhibition Games on tap

Head Coach Brad Tippett stepped onto the ice at the Panorama Recreation Centre earlier this week and watched both young wide-eyed youngsters mixed in with returning veterans to his Peninsula Panthers.  Tippett put the players through their paces and after eighty minutes of skating and shooting and bumping and grinding, the hopefuls stretched at centre ice and then sauntered off to their respective dressing rooms.  The pace was better than Tippett had expected and he was truly pleased with the young talent as well as his vets.

"Brad had to leave for Regina on Tuesday morning right after the Monday evening slot and will miss tonight but will be right back at it with the boys next week," said General Manager Pete Zubersky.  "I really loved how these kids looked for the first time out.  I am sure many have been out skating but I am just as sure that there were many who dusted off the gear right before the first ice slot.  We are really excited about this coming year and still have some key spots to fill and so we have quite a number of decisions to still make at this point."

The Panthers will host the Westshore Wolves in their first exhibition game on August 25th at 5:30 pm and will then return to Westshore late in the month to face the Wolves.  The Panthers will travel to Saanich on September 1st for a 6:30 pm start before returning back to the Peninsula on September 2nd to host the Braves at 8:00 pm.

"We will most likely be going with a bunch of youngsters in the August 25th game," explained Zubersky.  "We want to give some of the guys in the development camp going on right now a chance to play in a Junior game.  Most of these out with us right now were in our Spring Camp.  I have no doubt that they can play and compete and they too deserve a chance.  I think a number of 15-year-old kids will be in that game - kids that we know will not be on our squad this season but kids we want to work with and develop with an eye on having them in our Organization very soon.  We will be more focused on the older players in the final three games and perhaps some of the youngsters that earn a chance to keep going."

The Panthers will open on the Road in Saanich on September 8th and will travel to Kerry Park the following night to face off against the Islanders.  The Panthers will be relegated to playing road games while the Panorama undergoes a renovation to the "B" Arena.  The Club will open at home on Friday, September 29th when they host the Victoria Cougars.

The Organization is still looking for a few Host Billet homes.  If you have interest, the Club would be most appreciative.  Please contact Zubersky at (250) 588-2151.