Stafford-Veale the Real-Meal-Deal

Although only an eighteen-year-old, Joe Stafford-Veale is heading into his third year in the VIJHL, all with the Peninsula Panthers. And he has tools in his tool kit to make a huge impact in the on the Club and in the League.

Joe was a multi-sport athlete as a youngster and his first exposure to any type of organized sports was when he began playing hockey in the initiation program at the Racquet Club at the age of five.  He played in that association for the following ten years and enjoyed every minute of it.  When he wasn't playing hockey, he was on the baseball diamond and excelled to the point where he was selected to represent the Province at the CABA World Series in Cincinnati, Ohio.  He was one of only 12 Peewee aged players in British Columbia to be chosen and it was an experience that Stafford-Veale will never forget.

"It’s difficult to put into words how my involvement in high level sports has molded me as a person and taught me lessons that I will take with me for the rest of my life," said the skilled centreman.  "From the idea of working as a team to accomplish a goal, to the value of discipline, practice and training, these skills and perspective on life will be incredibly valuable to me throughout a business career and life in general.  I really have to thank my parents and all the people that coach and volunteer their time to make kids’ sports a reality. On top of that, I have had the good fortune to be exposed to high level, high calibre training and team mates!"

Stafford-Veale had his fair share of struggles as one of two 16-year-olds with the Panthers in his first year with the Club, but last season clearly he had a renewed confidence.  He was probably the best player on the Club when he suffered a high ankle sprain ten games or so into the season and it put him on the shelf for a protracted period of time.  And when he was ready to return a couple months after the injury, a medical issue pushed him to the sidelines once again.  Stafford-Veale was able to return for a couple games in the playoffs which took a bit of the sting out of an extremely frustrating season.

This time around, Stafford-Veale is looking for a big season for the Club and nobody is more aware of how important he could be than Pete Zubersky.  "I really loved how Joe was playing last season and although he was not putting up big numbers, you could see that it was going to happen.  He hurt his ankle in a game at Westshore and it seemed innocent enough but turned out to be significant.  I honestly believe that he could put up significant points this season.  He is controlling play when he is on the ice in camp right now and I am excited to see what he can do this season.  We feel we have a pretty good group and Joe is a guy that we will be counting on a lot."

Stafford-Veale and the Panthers will open their home regular season schedule on Friday, September 7th.  The Club will play a couple exhibition games starting this evening in an all-rookie affair when they welcome in the Kerry Park Islanders with the puck set to drop at 7:30 pm.