Panthers Early Season Round-up

The Peninsula Panthers have been dealt a hand that is a tough one.  Forced to play their first seven games on the road and away from the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre, the youngest team in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League have had a chance to face some adversity right from the opening face-off of the season.  The $2.2 million renovation at the Panorama is nearing completion and the Club will open in their spruced up digs on Friday night, October 6th.

Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations, Brad Tippett was interviewed on the long bus ride home from Campbell River Friday night and here are some of his thoughts. 

"The group we have assembled have already found a strong camraderie. After just a couple of games we are seeing them play for each other, support one another and stand up for one another. We are bigger, stronger, faster and more skilled - yet younger than last year's "young" team. I like the fact we have also added more grit.

Going into the season with 6 returnees and the addition of Skyler Diamond-Burchuk, we felt the blue line corps would be the backbone of our team  The unforeseen graduation of Gavin Yee (Chinese U 20 Team) and Zack Evans (Utah - WSHL) and a rash of early season injuries to the remaining blue liners, has forced some creativity.  Twenty-year-old Ty Hermsen has moved back allowing us to get him on the ice every third shift instead of every fourth. 
 
The forwards are a complimentary group that will score by committee. Marshall Brown's gifted goal scoring will be heavily utilized in clutch situations. 

Assistant coaches Matt Sheeran and Justin Isaac bring fresh new ideas and viewpoints. Matt is only a couple of years removed from his Jr A playing days as a defenseman in SJHL and his final year as Captain with the Peninsula Panthers. His experience is already showing in our defensive play. Justin was a forward in his days as a Panthers player and has coached many of our current players as they progressed through Peninsula Minor Hockey.  

Coaches learn from just being around other coaches. We already have shared many ideas amongst ourselves. 

My main goal here is to help develop the Panthers program into a perpetual respected contender. There is tremendous satisfaction helping mould a group of young men on and off the ice. High level athletics -especially team sports - provide invaluable life skills that help ensure a successful future. The more success stories we can be a part of, the more attractive the Panther program becomes.
 
Playing the first 7 games on the road will be baptism by fire. Players get to spend more time together and rookies begin to feel part of the family. We started with a win behind a solid 60 minute team effort in Saanich. Since then we have shown long periods where we can play with anyone..... interrupted by mental lapses and reverting to behaviour that only works at lower levels of hockey. Inconsistency is the best word.  All teams go through injuries. Almost all of the injuries are to defensemen causing some adjustments as to what we can do in practice. What is most important however, is the commitment to get better each day. Getting spanked in Campbell River gave us a glimpse of the level we want and need to reach."