Cougars in on Tuesday evening tilt in the crowded South Division

The Peninsula Panthers were held out of their home rink in the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre for the entire month of September due to a massive renovation.  And while the Club has been thrilled with the results, there are several games to make up in order for the Panthers to complete their 48-game regular Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League Schedule this season.  One of those games will be made up on Tuesday evening at 7:30 pm when the Victoria Cougars come onto the Peninsula.

The Panthers trail the Cougars for 2nd place in the VIJHL South Division standings by only a single point and a win in regulation against the cross-town rivals would move them past the Cougars and into 2nd place, only five points behind the South Division leading Westshore Wolves.  The Panthers have won three of their last four games while the Cougars are fresh off a win on Saturday against the Kerry Park Islanders.

"We will get Braeden Hansen back into our lineup and we will probably have one or two affiliate players dressing on Tuesday evening," explained Pete Zubersky.  "The kids have been playing well and I really expect that this will be a great game.  It is the only Tuesday night game we have ever played here on the Peninsula and it will most likely be our last.  We will be hunting the two points and I know that the Cougars will be doing the same."

The Panthers have been a bit banged up as of late but are expecting players to filter back into the lineup.  Hansen is coming off a two-game suspension.  "It's certainly that time of year," quipped Zubersky.  "We have only eight games left in our schedule before we take a couple of weeks off for Christmas and we want to keep winning games.  We have had some really nice comments from the fans this season in regards to the level of play.  We have a really solid group and we will be in the hunt when all is said and done.  I am really looking forward to Tuesday night and I know the kids are as well."

The puck will drop at the usual 7:30 pm start time.