Panthers All-Stars and Prospects start off 2020 with a bang!

December 31, 2019
North Saanich, B.C.

The decade will go out with a bang for a number of Peninsula Panthers' players who were selected to the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League squad based on votes from all nine Organizations in the League.  The Prospects Game is slated for Nanaimo on January 12, the lineup selected from players 18 years old and younger and will pit the VIJHL prospects against the Pacific Junior Hockey League prospects.  And the All-Star tilt is set to go just across the pond in North Delta on January 26 with the best in the two Junior "B" Leagues uniting for an All-Star game for the first time ever in the history of the two Leagues.

"Both Leagues liked each of their Prospects games however the All-Star games seemed to lack any intensity," said Panthers' GM Pete Zubersky.  "We brought up the idea with the PJHL and they loved it as well.  We attended a meeting over in Vancouver to nail down the details and I believe the players and the fans will be big winners.  I expect both games to be packed and I also expect that the games will be played with a little bit of extra spice."

Riley Braun, Luc Pelletier and Matthew Seale were selected to the VIJHL Prospects squad.  Braun will also be playing in the All-Star game and he will be joined by Panthers' veterans Thomas Spink, Skyler Diamond-Burchuk and linemates Josh Lingard and the VIJHL leading scorer Tanner Wort.

"Our Organization is really proud of what these young men have accomplished," quipped Zubersky.  Most of them have been here through some lean years as we built up the program and I know that every single one of them are looking to have a great stretch drive into the playoffs and beyond.  Congrats goes out to all seven."

VIJHL PROSPECTS SELECTIONS:

Forwards:
1. Riley Braun   Peninsula
2. Luc Pelletier  Peninsula
3. Cage Newans  Oceanside
4. Elijah Goyer  Oceanside
5. Chase Klassen  Westshore
6. Ben Coghlan  Nanaimo
7. Brendan Rogers  Nanaimo
8. Brendan Murray  Campbell River
9. Jory Swanson  Campbell River
10. Kyle Brown  Saanich
11. Desmond Arthurs  Victoria
12. Davis Frank  Victoria

Defence:
1. Matthew Seale  Peninsula
2. Tory McClintick  Westshore
3. Harkirat Gill  Victoria
4. Trey Boylan  Oceanside
5. Boden Davis  Comox Valley
6. Matt Baird  Kerry Park

Goalkeepers:
1. Jonah Chambers  Victoria
2. Dalan Marleau  Westshore



VIJHL ALL-STAR SELECTIONS:

Forwards:
1. Josh Lingard  Peninsula
2. Tanner Wort   Peninsula
3. Riley Braun    Peninsula
4. Bryce Irwin  Victoria
5. Evan Easton  Victoria
6. Dawson Heathcote  Oceanside
7.Landon Dziadyk  Oceanside
8. Josh Pederson  Campbell River
9. Chase Klassen  Westshore
10. Brendan Rogers  Nanaimo
11. Parker Bergstrom  Kerry Park
12. Ryan Strange  Saanich

Defence:
1. Thomas Spink  Peninsula
2. Skyler Diamond-Burchuck  Peninsula
3. Jake Wilhelm  Saanich
4. Evan Abgrall  Saanich
5. Dylan Hartl  Nanaimo
6. Kyle Jennings  Campbell River

Goalkeepers:
1. James Brendeland  Oceanside
2. Jacob Bennett  Comox Valley


The Panthers will practice on Thursday night and will then host the Victoria Cougars this Friday night at 7:30 pm.  A large crowd is expected.