October 20, 2021
Colwood, B.C.
Oh brother! A four-goal effort by Panthers Captain Riley Braun - three of which were assisted by his younger brother Payton - helped to propel the Peninsula Panthers past the streaking Westshore Wolves 6-4 on a gloomy Wednesday evening at the Q Centre. And the exciting win could not have come at a better time for an Organization which was reeling from the death of close friend and 22-year volunteer Photographer Gordon Lee.
On Monday morning, the news of Lee's passing hit the Organization in the face like a sledgehammer. Lee had been experiencing some health issues over the past weeks and Club ownership was worried when he was not answering his phone. Numerous calls were made to the photographer who was well-known in the sporting community on Vancouver Island however these calls were unanswered. The Organization began to check in with local hospitals, again with no success. And then the phone rang and with it came the dreadful news of his passing.
"Coreen is far more tuned into these type of things than I am," explained Panthers GM Pete Zubersky. "She often worries prematurely but I had called Gordon a number of times and then she did the same. We both left messages and it was so unlike him not to get back to us. At one point Coreen wanted to do more than simply reach out by phone and I suggested she call the hospitals. Deep down I think we both thought that something was not right, especially when we found he was not hospitalized. I suppose we were praying for the best but in a way were expecting the worst. I spoke for quite a time with his brother Wyman later in the afternoon and told him how much Gordon was loved and what a huge hole this untimely death will leave with our Club. Gordon has seldom missed a game since the 1999/00 season, it's just hard to believe he will not be walking in the door taking the most amazing photos any longer. A lot of people have reached out to us and there have been quite a number of emails that have touched our hearts. It's so hard to express just how much the support has meant to Coreen and me."
Lee has been with the Panthers long enough to photograph an 18-year-old Spencer Carbery in 1999, currently an Assistant Coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs. And long enough to photograph NHL Art Ross winner as the League's Top Scorer and Captain of the Dallas Stars, Jamie Benn. And long enough to photograph other former Panthers who have gone on to ply their trade in the NHL and AHL like Jordie Benn, Ryan O'Byrne, Kyle Greentree, Canucks 2nd Round draft choice Taylor Ellington, Atlanta Flames draft choice Mike Hamilton, Toronto Maple Leafs draft choice Greg Scott and a big mitt-full of others. There is a touch of irony that one of his most coveted photos was a 16-year-old Jamie Benn scoring a goal in his rookie season against the Campbell River Storm, the same Storm Club who will be in at the Panorama Recreation Centre this Friday night for their only visit of the season. And it was the same Gordon Lee who also photographed literally hundreds of Peninsula Panthers over the years who have gone on to be coaches and parents and who contribute to the community on the Peninsula and other locations across the country. He was a man who missed very few Friday nights at the Panorama and would also attend Panthers games locally against Saanich, Victoria, Westshore or Kerry Park and would often join the team on bus trips up Island with North Division foes. Lee would be at the Staff Christmas function without his camera in tow and would also be at every wrap-up banquet the team held. It was more than a simple Photographer/Hockey Club relationship with the Panthers, he was a long-time friend. He loved the Club and the Club loved him.
Coreen offered a few words about Gordon:
"Gordon was quite obviously a very talented photographer, but more than that he was a kind, generous and thoughtful human being. We shared many a conversation at the rink on a Friday night over a couple of decades and it was clear to me that Gordon cherished friendships. He was a conversationalist, and would direct the topic to the interests of whomever he was speaking with. He would give me framed photos of poodles and labradoodles from his photo shoots, after our beloved Teddy passed. He had a wonderful sense of humour - he presented me with a framed photo (below) four years ago where he had photoshopped my face onto the image and we roared with laughter. He loved to laugh. Gordon was extremely proud of his Chinese heritage and often spoke of his hard-working parents and grandparents and his family history. We have lost a Panthers' mainstay who will be remembered for all of his wonderful qualities and talents, but mostly as a cherished friend."
It was with a heavy heart that Zubersky arrived at the Q Centre on Wednesday but when the game started, the focus went to the 200 x 85 white sheet that had been greased and was ready to go. And 'Oh Brother', a Panthers 6-4 road win could not have come at a better time! Captain Riley Braun was like a man against boys as he led the charge with a four-goal performance with his younger and bigger brother Payton helping out on three of them. And Logan Speirs chipped in with an assist to run his VIJHL point streak to 17 consecutive games.
There was more irony in the huge game that the Braun brothers had over the 60 minutes on Wednesday evening in the win. Loren Braun has been the Panthers' Dentist for many years and he, along with his wife Jaci, beam every time they speak about their two sons. It was a photo requested from Lee by Loren and Jaci that turned out to be one of Gordon's last with the Organization. The photo was supposed to take place a couple of weeks earlier but Gordon missed a few games due to health issues and the picture was delayed. But he managed to snap the picture of Loren with a pair of bookends in Riley and Payton, a photo that was significant to the family but will be even more significant with the recent turn of events.
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Zubersky had spoken with the Grandfather of speedster Aleko Sdrakas at the end of the 2nd frame with the Panthers in control of the contest at 4-2. The two discussed the Club and of course Sdrakas and Zubersky mentioned that he thought a goal by him would be nice for the Grandfather, the player and the Club. And after the Wolves had knotted the game at 4-4 before the midway mark in the final period, defenceman Griffin Gilmour broke up a Wolves' attack at his own blueline and the loose puck was picked up by Sdrakas who raced down the left side. He let a harmless looking shot go from ten feet inside the blueline but the disk seemed to be deflected off a Wolves' defenceman and somehow found the back of the Wolves cage for the winner. Rugged defenceman Reid Fryer also chipped in with a goal on a shot from the point, a marker that was directly the result of newcomer Tristan Rosenblood being in the dirty part of the ice at the right time. Rosenblood, who had been signed to a contract earlier in the day and will join the Club for the rest of the season, was right at the top of the crease in an attempt to take away the eyes of Wolves' netminder Ben Edwards and he did just that as Fryer's low point shot found gold.
Both Edwards and Panthers' netminder Ashton Lukan faced 35 shots, but Lukan proved to be two shots better than his counterpart and collected the win. Riley Braun, Payton Braun and Logan Speirs sit 1,2,3 in VIJHL scoring with Wednesday's effort in the books and Riley Braun selection as the 1st star and Payton Braun named as 3rd star came as no surprise to anyone in attendance. Wolves' Andy Westhaver had a couple goals of his own - one that was redirected off the skate of Gilmour - and was named the 2nd star.
Head Coach Brad Tippett was pleased to put the win up on the board and described it as a key win in the early going of the Panthers schedule.
"You normally think the toughest arena to play in would be the one with the wildest fans. Even with a good crowd last night, the size of the Q Centre makes it feel like you are in a museum. Our first period was very uninspired. We continue to have trouble with players not being verbally loud and enthusiastic. Between periods we challenged our players to make their own noise and excitement. The second period might have been the best period we have played all year. It was a huge effort with a short bench yet again. Goaltending showed signs of improvement. A 6-4 game is exciting but not really what the coaches want. The game featured six of the top seven scorers in the league; three from each team and they all showed why they are at the top of the league."
The Panthers now await the arrival of a Storm on Friday night in the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre with the puck set to drop at 7:30 pm. But for now, the game pales in comparison to the death of Gordon Lee and his passing will be front and centre for a long while. The family has indicated that due to Covid and the fact that many family members will travel from Vancouver to attend, a 'Celebration of Life' will be postponed for the time being.
Gordon Lee - Rest in Peace.
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