Panthers trio shines in VIJHL 7-4 win over the PJHL in battle of best Prospects

January 12, 2020
Nanaimo, British Columbia

The wind blew and BC Ferries cancelled almost all of their regular sailings from the Mainland to Vancouver Island on Sunday.  But the PJHL Prospects Hockey Club managed to jump on the last boat out before a string of cancellations began and that good fortune allowed for a great piece of entertainment Sunday afternoon at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.

"It was touch and go to see if the PJHL were going to make it," quipped Panthers GM Pete Zubersky.  It had an impact on three of our guys, Braun, Pelletier and Seale.  All three made the Island squad and were really looking forward to playing in the game."

The Island Prospects who were 2001 born or younger bested their Greater Vancouver counterparts by a 7-4 score, the last one coming into the empty PJHL net that had been vacated for the extra attacker.  Matthew Seale hit the scoresheet when he ripped a puck in from the left point early in the 3rd period and Luc Pelletier scored late to help secure the win.  It was an important one as it is the first time the VIJHL and PJHL have got together in a mid-season Prospects game.  Braun was dangerous all afternoon.

The VIJHL All-Stars will travel to North Delta and take on the PJHL All-Stars in two weeks on January 26th.  Players selected from the Peninsula Panthers to the All-Star squad are defencemen Skyler Diamond-Burchuk and Thomas Spink and forwards Josh Lingard, VIJHL leading scorer Tanner Wort and Braun.

The Panthers will hit the ice Friday night when they welcome in the visiting Saanich Braves to the Panorama Recreation Centre, the puck set to drop at 7:30 pm