Panthers Strong: Cats 8-1 home win Friday over Lake Cowichan Kraken brings a few smiles back

January 14, 2022
North Saanich, British Columbia

The Lake Cowichan Kraken rolled into the parking lot of the Panorama Recreation Centre sometime around 5:30 pm Friday night in preparation for their 7:30 pm game against their host Peninsula Panthers.  Most of the Panthers players had already arrived and were busy taking off their suits, getting into their off-ice warmup gear, taping sticks, getting treatment and completing other various items on their pre-game check sheet.  For a casual observer, the ongoings were not unlike many games this past season but this game was different.  Coming just 11 days after the Club had lost one of their own - Grant Gilbertson - in a car crash back on January 3rd, there was no other way than for this game to be different.  The previous Friday had been a heart-wrenching 45 minutes Memorial Ceremony for the talented forward and then the game against the Victoria Cougars was to follow.  The Club was bounced 5-2 in that hard-fought affair but there was no joy during the game, but rather it was part of the process the Organization had to gut through - and they did.

With memories of their fallen mate still on the surface, 20 players skated out for the warmup at 7:00 pm.  The crowd was starting to filter into the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre hoping for the home side to get back to their winning ways but also hoping to see some happiness from the boys that have brought each and every fan some joy on Friday evenings this season.

The Cats dominated the contest from the opening face-off to the final buzzer and were full value for their 8-1 lopsided win.  They scored 7 unanswered markers in the 2nd period to blow the game wide open and then seemed to take their foot off the collective gas pedal for the final 20 minutes, rather enjoying the comradery with each other that the game tends to bring.

Logan Speirs extended his point streak to 40 games this season, notching a point in every single of the 40 games that the Club has played.  Riley Braun became the Panthers All-Time leader in goals, just another record in the record book that Braun no longer is assaulting but rather owns.  The recently acquired and silky smooth sniper Kyle Brown had two assists but could have had two or three more and could have also popped a goal or two.  Those days will arrive.  And Brady Kelly collected the win and only needed one more stop in his totals to complete a shutout.  But the game was secondary on the evening.  What was most important was the boys were having fun.  Grant Gilbertson would have liked that.

The Panthers are back at it this Sunday when they travel to the George Pearkes Arena for a 6:00 appointment with the Predators.  Maybe there will be even more smiles than on Friday.  That would be nice.