Panthers lock up 2nd Place and 1st round match-up while Riley Braun continues his record-breaking campaign

Saturday February 12, 2022
Mill Bay, British Columbia

The Peninsula Panthers did all their heavy lifting in terms of playoff positioning on Friday evening in the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre when they knocked off the visiting Westshore Wolves 6-0.  The Panthers and Wolves will meet in the 1st Round Best-of-7 VIJHL playoff series, one that looks to be hotly-contested and one which will draw heavy interest in the South Division.  And with the win over their 1st Round opponents on Friday, the Panthers sealed up 2nd place in the VIJHL South earning home-ice advantage in the upcoming series between the two squads.

The Panthers dominated a tired Wolves Club over the 60 minutes of play and were full value for the win.  Riley Braun led the Panthers attack with a four-point night on a goal and three helpers, while linemates Logan Speirs added two goals and an assist and brother Payton Braun chipped in with a goal and an assist.  Denver Maloney and Owen Cox added singles.  Ashton Lukan blocked all 27 Wolves' scoring attempts and collected the shutout for the Cats while Jacob Haydar stopped 45 of 51 Panthers shots and was tagged for the loss.  Riley Braun and Wolves Ben Akinclose were named the Players of the Game for their respective teams.

Pehaps the story of the game was Riley Braun's continued assault on the Panthers and VIJHL record books.  Going into the game, Braun had collected 282 points in his 4+ regular seasons in the League and he sat just two points back of the modern day leader Scott Hawthorne.  But when he tipped a puck past Haydar on a shot off the stick of Evan Crawford early in the final frame, he became the new League leader - a record that may hold for decades to come.  The big night left him with 112 points on the season with five games to go and propelled him to within six points of the modern day single season record holder Brody Coulter.  Coulter amassed 118 points in the 2012/13 season and clearly Braun has his sights on that mark.

"The All-Time mark is really something to admire," quipped Panthers owner Pete Zubersky.  "I told Riley on the bench after he had put himself ahead of Hawthorne and after there was an in-house announcement about the new record that he will not fully appreciate what he is doing, what he is accomplishing until the season is over.  These are really heady numbers, it's truly incredible what he is doing.  Riley has played with so many great players over the years and there are a lot of guys who have played huge parts in the success he enjoys.  He is a grateful person and would be the first to acknowledge it."

On Saturday evening, the Panthers headed North to take on the Kerry Park Islanders and the Club elected to sit out eight regulars and brought up a host of affiliate players.  The Islanders won the game 6-4 however, Braun added a goal and an assist to put himself within four points of the single regular season mark.  Payton Braun, Jullien Phillips and affiliate call-up Malcolm Fletcher added singles.  For Fletcher, it was his first goal of his Junior Career.  Brady Kelly turned aside 27 of 33 shots and was tagged for the loss while Islanders Eric Young was a bit better in collecting the win stopping 29 of 33 Panthers attempts.  Islanders Captain Matt Baird and Phillips, who also added a helper to his point totals, were named Players of the Game for each team.

"I really think fans on the Peninsula should take the opportunity to come out and see the Club and some of our 20-year-old players who are in their last year of Junior Hockey.  Riley Braun, Logan Speirs and Denver Maloney all played their Minor Hockey out here on the Peninsula and are doing things that are really special.  Speirs now has 97 points and is closing in on the century mark.  Only four players in modern day history of the VIJHL have hit the century mark, one being Riley.  They are really a treat to watch."

The Panthers will head to the Q-Centre on Wednesday night for their final Regular Season affair with the Wolves before heading back home this Friday night when they will host the Islanders at 7:30 pm.  The Club will close out their Regular Season next Monday afternoon when they will take on the visiting Saanich Predators for their annual Peninsula Minor Hockey Appreciation Game where 3rd Jerseys are worn and then gifted to lucky fans and PMHA players.

The Cats have been speaking with the Wolves Organization and are in the process of trying to nail down a potential schedule for their opening round series.  The Panthers will open up at home on Tuesday, February 22nd at 7:30 pm and will be back at the Q-Centre the following night for Game 2.  The entire series schedule is expected to be released in the next 24 - 48 hours.