Hines back loaded with confidence

Bryson Hines is exactly what every Club in the VIJHL needs.  A hard-nosed forward, Hines is willing to pay any price to help his Club find success.  He is a player that mates love in their corner and a player that opponents hate to play against.  And it was that attitude that allowed Hines to crack the Panthers' lineup deep into the exhibition season last year.  And that is the attitude which will most likely see him play a much larger role this time around.

Hines has a big fan in Head Coach Brad Tippett who discussed his rugged right-shot Forward earlier this week.  "Bryson basically just worked himself onto our Club last season. As the exhibition season wore on, he began to carve out a role as a physical grinding winger. He began to show more of an offensive flare as the season wore on and as he began playing with different players late in the season. We are looking for him to be a solid player who leads our forecheck by example. He has great work ethic and is a solid penalty killer."

Hines started playing hockey out of the Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey system in 2005 and has played the game ever since.  As a 16-year-old, he was selected to the Major Midget Royals and it was after that when he joined the Peninsula Panthers last season.  He was popular with his mates and is a body that they could always count on.

"There is no doubt that Bryson played a physical game but he also chipped in with some big goals and assists along the way," explained Pete Zubersky.  I recall a game in Kerry Park late in the season when we were hunting for points and he was probably our best player.  At times last season he took a few ticky-tack penalties and those have to be left behind.  He knows that and we expect that he will continue to be a thorn in our opponents' side without the needless minor penalties."

Hines enjoys hanging out with his friends, working out, working and of course, the game of hockey.  He is a believer in the old adage, "Hard work beats talent when talent does not work hard."  He also lives by the theory, "You never should lose, you either win or learn."

Hines is back in the Panthers den and Coach Tippett and his staff could not be any happier.  He is the type of player a team needs to have on the ice when the games get a bit rugged and nasty.

The Panthers open their exhibition season this Friday night at 7:30 pm in the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre in an all-rookie affair against the visiting Kerry Park Islanders.  All tickets are $5.00