Akey anything but shakey!

Two seasons ago, goaltender Chris Akerman led his Cowichan Midget AAA squad to a successful season although they fell just short of a berth in the Provincial Tourament when they were knocked off by the Peninsula Eagles Midget squad.  Leading that PMHA team were Josh Lingard, Riley Braun, Tanner Wort and Logan Speirs and all four along with Akerman would eventually become teammates with the Peninsula Panthers last season.  Akerman had a great camp last Spring and during his exit interview he was asked by Head Coach Brad Tippett, "Do you want to be a Panther?"  Akerman did not waste even a second and replied, "100%" and his response set up a great summer and 2017/18 season that eventually followed.

Akerman trained with his Goaltender Coach all summer long and eventually attended a BCHL camp in Prince George before settling in with the Panthers in late August.  The season was filled with ups and downs.  One night, Akerman looked like a world-beater and the next night he struggled to make a save.  But, as the season unfolded he gained more confidence with each day and the Club, as they promised back at the Spring Camp, stayed committed to him.  In the last couple months of the season, Akerman caught fire and over a stretch of ten games carried the team on his back.  With six weeks to go in the regular season and with the Panthers trying to chase down a couple teams just several points ahead of them in the standings, the big stopper pulled his groin.  He kept the injury to himself electing to play through the pain however, after a game against the Islanders, he found that he could not walk.  He finally confided in the Coaching and training staff but the rehabilitation work would not put him into a position where he could play another game in the Regular Season or Playoffs and his loss severely hurt the chances of the Club.

Akerman picked up two awards at the wrap-up Banquet in late February and although forced to the sidelines, he remained an important piece of the Club.  He continued to work to rehab his injury and it was finally in July that he was given the green light to begin skating once again.  

"I have fully healed from my injury and have been working out on the ice with my Goalie Coach," explained Akerman.  "I am very excited for the season this year.  The entire Panthers' Organization has been so supportive of me in my rehab and I have learned some real life lessons since moving away from home for the first time.  I have to thank the Panthers for helping me be the person I am today and for everything they have done for me.  It has been amazing."

Coach Tippett was not lost for words to describe his big stopper.  "Chris is definitely excited to get back into the groove.  He was just rounding into a top notch goaltender in this league when the injury ended his season.  I know he has worked hard to pick up where he left off.  With a year under his belt, his interaction with the defencemen will be second nature  At 6'3" he automatically covers a lot of net.  It gives everyone confidence having a veteran in the net."

Akerman will form a tandem with Connor McKillip for this coming season, a pair that the Panthers' brass feels should be amoung the best in VIJHL.

"Chris battled throughout the season but finally figured it out and took control between the pipes last season," said Pete Zubersky.  "He gave us a chance to win every night and if not for his injury, I think we would have passed a couple other teams and had a more favorable 1st round matchup.  But more importantly, I think he has figured it out now that we have all gone through the growing stages.  Connor and Chris are friends and they support each other and we feel good when both are between the pipes.  They are both veterans and I believe both will come out strong right from the first day."

Akerman and McKillop and the rest of the returning veterans will come into camp next week as the Club focuses on opening the 2018/19 season with a home-and-home series against the Westshore Wolves in the first week of September.  And for the Peninsula Panthers and "Akey", the season looks anything but shakey!