PANTHERS MID-SEASON 2021/22 REPORT CARD

November 18, 2021
North Saanich, British Columbia

The Peninsula Panthers have just completed their 26th game in stunning fashion, knocking off the Victoria Cougars at the Archie Browning Arena by a 4-3 count.  This marked the midway point in the 52-game regular season and also marks time for the mid-season report card.  At the midway point, the Panthers sit comfortably in 2nd place in the South Division of the VIJHL with a .615 winning percentage, this comes after they had lost their first three games of the season.  The Club is extremely banged up at this point but the group has really come together and has bought into the systems being preached by Head Coach/GM Brad Tippett.

Goal: 'C'
The goaltending performance in the first half was a real concern for Bench Boss and General Manager Brad Tippett. The Panthers felt comfortable going into the season with 20-year-old returning veteran Connor Svienson and 17-year-old newcomer Rogan Bacon.  Svienson was extremely busy with work and was having trouble balancing both his employment and hockey and early in the campaign advised Management that he would not be able to continue to play. Bacon was left holding the bag and it was probably too much for the youngster. The Club used affiliate goaltenders as backups and the losses mounted. Tippett purchased goaltender Ashton Lukan from the Port Alberni Bombers and recently added Brady Kelly who was a free agent who had been playing Junior A in the United States. The moves have worked. Both goaltenders have been putting up good numbers and the Club is currently on a six-game winning streak as a result. Overall, the performance has been up and down, mostly down early and mostly up presently giving the position a “C”.

Defence:  'B-'
The play of the defence has improved dramatically over the past number of weeks. Costly and numerous turnovers which were common place in the first 15 games have dried up and a steady brand of defensive play is now in the forefront. Injuries have occurred early and often, the most significant to Theodore St-Denis who has been lost for the season with a banged up knee. Mason McNeill was lost for possibly 2-3 months after taking a shot in the hand last night in Victoria. Hunter Jensen, Reid Fryer, Griffin Gilmour and Evan Crawford have all missed games due to injury or suspension. Matt Seale has been spectacular from the drop of the puck in Game 1. Robson Scott now has a half season under his belt and Management expects they will see more physicality from him now that he has his feet wet.  Turnovers and trying to do too much rather than playing a simple game has cost the Club a number of games, but skies are blue now giving the position a “B-”.

Forward:  'B'
The most dynamic trio in the VIJHL in Logan Speirs and brothers Payton and Riley Braun skate for the Organization and give the Club a chance to win every single night. Combined with Seale & Grant Gilbertson, the power play has been electric over the last month and should continue to do damage. The forward group overall has also simplified their game and seems to be finally buying into what Tippett has been trying to sell and that is translating into wins. Playing the simple game, getting pucks out and getting pucks deep is paying nice dividends and the Organization is hoping that what has been built in the first half, will continue to flourish in the next 26 games. The group has a ton of speed with the likes of Aleko Sdrakas, Davey Moody and newly-acquired Tristan Rosenblood, energy with Ryan Grambart, skill in Tanner Banks, grit with the likes of Julian Phillips and Owen Cox and veteran and top-end talent in Denver Maloney.  16-year-old Ethan Lingard and 20-year-old Sterling Lyon have been injured as of late. The group continues to grow, Grade “B”.