McKillops play puts him in line for 'Unsung Hero' award as the forever calm target notches 23rd win

January 18th, 2020
Mill Bay, British Columbia

The Peninsula Panthers scored early and then scored late and in between, did a whole lot more scoring as well.  And when the final horn sounded, a quick glance at the scoreboard indicated a dominant performance in an 8-1 road win over the Kerry Park Islanders.  The score was indicitive of the play as the Islanders' netminder Spencer Deakin saw more rubber than a Goodyear tire shop facing 51 shots over 60 minutes in absorbing the loss.  Panthers Connor McKillop coralled his VIJHL leading 23rd win blocking 18 of 19 pucks sent hurtling in his direction.

Panthers 3rd year veteran Logan Speirs opened the scoring just 5:35 into the 1st frame and Thomas Spink beat Deakin with only 27 seconds left in the game, but there were a lot of red lights blinking in between the two markers. Spink with another, Josh Lingard, Drew Coughlin, Riley Braun and VIJHL leading scorer Tanner Wort with a couple also got in on the party. Lingard, Wort and Braun also known as the  "8, 9, 10 line" had 11 points on the night.  

Coach Brad Tippett was looking forward to a day off on Sunday however, had a few comments near the front lobby after the game.

"A quick start really helped secure a territorial advantage. We fought through some erratic shooting and semi-successful tic-tac-toe plays. The KP four-minute spearing penalty that nullified their first goal was the TSN turning point.  That goal would have made it a 2-1 game.  Instead, we followed it up with two quick PP goals and grabbed a 4-0 lead.  It was a three-goal swing.  I have enjoyed how Duncan Judge has proven to be more than just an adequate call up. He played a regular shift including on the penalty kill with poise.  We were pleased with the commitment to the 200 foot game - being responsible in both ends of the ice is what we are looking for in our last nine games and we had it tonight." 

Deakin and Wort were awarded the "Players of the Game" for their respective Clubs.

"Our League has an 'Unsung Hero Award' and I will be shocked if McKillop is not that guy," quipped Panthers GM Pete Zubersky.  "He is a quiet kid, a quiet leader on this Club.  He goes about his business without any fan fare and has quietly put up 23 wins to this point - if there is a way you can quietly put up 23 wins. The guy in Victoria has 14 wins and he is the next closest.  He has had maybe two stinkers this season but has played more minutes than any other target with the exception of Dendl in Nanaimo, and McKillop is only 60 minutes behind him.  He got brushed aside as a selection for the All-Star team and I just can't see how that was possible.  We have now added Rocha who we already really like and so these two guys will battle for minutes. I expect that both of them will bring their 'A' game every time we go on the ice, practice or games. Our situation in goal has really solidified."

The Panthers have a week of practice before they host the Kerry Park Islanders Friday night with a 7:30 pm start.