Panthers knock off Braves to take season opener on Jack Taylor's winner

The Peninsula Panthers invaded the unfriendly confines of the George Pearkes Arena in Saanich on Friday night and the result was a lot different in every way than last season's initial game in the same location.  For those who want to cringe and recall the second game of the season, the Panthers were bounced 3-2 in overtime after witnessing crafty forward Trevor Owens break his leg in the 2nd period and goaltender Shawn Parkinson blow out a shoulder with only a couple minutes left in the final stanza with the Panthers clinging to a 2-1 lead.  The Braves tied that one up in the final minute before scoring early in the extra frame to break the collective hearts of the "Cats".  But that was early September of 2016 and oh, what a difference a year would make! 

On a cloudy but warm evening in Saanich, the Braves affiliate callup Hunter Gruben hit paydirt midway through the 1st period.  The home squad drove the net and then banged and crashed before Gruben eventually deposited the biscuit behind Panthers lengthy 18-year-old Salt Spring stopper, Chris Akerman.  The Panthers went on a protracted five-minute power play late in the stanza when 20-year-old Michael Sproule took a number of strides before hitting 17-year-old Panthers defenceman Shota Yamamoto into the end wall.  Sproule was sent to the shower for the night and it was only 19 seconds later that the Panthers would make the Braves pay.  17-year-old Tanner Wort finished off a pretty passing play scoring against 20-year-old Braves veteran netminder Riley Mathieson.  16-year-old Riley Braun and 18-year-old Skyler Diamond-Burchuck assisted on the play. 

The two teams came out after the 1st intermission and the game had a nasty tone.  There were several big hits as neither squad seemed to give an inch.  Panthers 18-year-old rookie Jack Taylor playing in his first regular season Junior Hockey game collected a pass as he ambled down the left side and he let a wrist shot go from the hash marks to the right of Mathieson.  The puck drifted towards the net and somehow managed to elude one of the VIJHL's best netminders, a shot that the stopper would most likely have liked back.  Eighteen-year-old Jack McMillan and Diamond-Burchuk were in on the goal.

There was no more scoring to be had in the contest although both teams exchanged some glorious chances.  Akerman was especially strong in the closing 90 seconds when the Braves stormed the Panthers' net with Mathieson on the bench for the extra attacker.  But he would hold the fort and when the final buzzer sounded, a happy group of Panthers spilled over the boards and onto the ice to congratulate Akerman on his very first VIJHL win.

Akerman blocked 37 of 38 Braves scoring attempts while Mathieson was good on 28 of 30.

Head Coach Brad Tippett enjoyed the game and probably could not have found a better way to celebrate his birthday. 

"For game one I thought we got a very solid team effort.  We had 11 guys tonight playing their first VIJHL game. We got excellent goaltending. Our back end played smart with the puck and our forwards hustled and forced turnovers all night long. We had some chances to put up a couple of more goals. Cox rang one off the crossbar with only a couple minutes left that would have given us a bit more breathing room.  For most of the third period we managed the puck with smart simple plays
 
Special teams are always an issue early in the season. We were 100% on the PK but have some things to work on. Our power play connected at a crucial time to knot the score in the first period and that was a huge confidence builder for our young group.  I absolutely love the way we are playing together and playing for each other and I think we have some really nice chemistry building already."

The Cats do not have a long time to enjoy the win.  They will head up to Kerry Park Saturday night before taking on the Victoria Cougars and Campbell River Storm next week. 

The Panorama Recreation Centre is the home for the Panthers however, due to a $2.2 million renovation currently underway, they will be playing their first seven games on the road.  The Club will open at home on Friday, October 6th when they welcome in the Westshore Wolves for a 7:30 pm start.

But for now, the road home is a long one and although the season has just begun, the Panthers are taking it one game at a time.