Panthers crunch Cougars, await Bucs

Esquimalt, B.C.

#8 Josh Lingard settles down a bouncing puck before scoring one of his two goals on the night.



Last Monday night the Peninsula Panthers and more specifically, Head Coach Brad Tippett knew that this weekend pair of games were going to be tough.  The Club was slated to play on Thursday against the Victoria Cougars and then welcome in the VIJHL leading Nanaimo Buccaneers who are riding a 10-game winning streak.  But Tippett did not seem to have a concern.  He was talking about when his troops would reach the .500 mark and could not have been more optimistic about how the young roster has continued to improve.  And perhaps some of his beliefs came to fruition on Thursday night at the Archie Browning in Esquimalt when the Panthers bounced the Victoria Cougars 4-2 to tighten up the already tight VIJHL South standings.  The Panthers never trailed in the game.

Two rookies in Josh Lingard and Tanner Wort each popped two goals and that was more than enough for goaltender Bryce Schiebel who made the start between the pipes and blocked 33 of 35 shots pushed his way.  Lingard and Wort have birthdays later this year and both are still 16 years old.

The power play scored a couple times and the penalty kill was flawless.  The two points were much needed and it was a great start to the weekend, albeit, there is still work to be done Friday night when the Buccaneers invade the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre.

Pete Zubersky had a few thoughts on Lingard and his development over the past six weeks.  "I wish Josh was five days younger and he was born on January 1 instead of December 26.  I have no idea what his parents were thinking 17 years ago!  Josh is a sweet kid.  He is quiet and yet so confident.  One of his biggest fans told me that he might even score 28 goals, I'm not too sure how the person arrived at that number but it's looking like a pretty good bet right now.  Jamie Benn played here as a 16 and if Josh was five days younger he too would be playing here as a 16.  Nobody knew Jamie Benn when he started the year with the Panthers but by Christmas all kinds of NCAA and WHL scouts were asking where the kid came from.  He pysically grew late and I think Josh might be exactly the same.  His father Eugene is a big horse and when Josh gets some of that, look out.  Josh has the tools and attitude to do special things in the game.  Hockey people just don't know about the kid yet but they absolutely will.  He is as good as Jamie Benn when Jamie was here as a young kid and I know that is a lot to say.  To me the definition of Character is doing all the right things when nobody is watching.  That's Josh!  He is just a really, really great kid.



Head Coach Brad Tippett pushing all the right buttons on Thursday night at the Arch.

The Panthers and Bucs hit the ice this evening right after Clayton Butler belts out our National Anthem.  The puck drops at 7:30 pm and this one looks like it might be a dandy!