Panthers end regular season Monday afternoon in 3rd Jersey PMHA Giveaway Game. And the Club also cleaned up on VIJHL awards. Playoffs start Tuesday night.

February 21, 2022 (Family Day)
North Saanich, British Columbia

The Peninsula Panthers made a lot of news on Monday afternoon, there was no doubt about that after 60 minutes were in the books and after the fans had long left the building.  But many thanks were due first as the Peninsula Co-op sponsored the PMHA and Fan Appreciation Game and without their support over the past many years, the Cats could not possibly put on such a fantastic event for the youth in the community out here on the Peninsula.

The Club welcomed in the visiting Saanich Predators and ended coming out on the short end of the stick.  But overall, the Organization got exactly what they were looking for and more.  Although failing to come up with a win in front of 362 loud and boisterous fans, it might have been the only downside on what was otherwise an entertaining afternoon.  The Cats chose to sit out seven (7) regulars including their top line of Logan Speirs and brothers Riley and Payton Braun as well as defencemen Matthew Seale, Evan Crawford, Hunter Jensen and Theodore St-Denis choosing rather to be rested going into Tuesday night when Game 1 of their playoff series goes in the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre at 7:30 pm against the Westshore Wolves.  When the final buzzer rang, the locals found themselves on the wrong end of a 4-1 count but the game was competitive and there were certainly a lot of positives that came from the contest.

Affiliate callup from the South Island Royals U18 Major Midget squad Luca Jansen Van Rensberg, playing in his first Junior game, scored the only marker for the Panthers midway through middle stanza on a nifty backhand to the roof of the cage from close in.  And the two other affiliates who were called up from the Peninsula Midget Tier 2 squad, Malcolm Fletcher and Gabriel Adams, both acquitted themselves very well and logged close to 22 minutes each in the game.  Brady Kelly made the start for the Panthers and was collared for the loss but was very sharp for the most part.  Kelly's mother had ventured in from Duck Lake, Saskatchewan for the weekend and was able to see her son play both Friday night and on the Monday afternoon game.

Once the game was in the books, the Panthers players gathered at centre ice where a ceremony was held gifting out the 3rd jersey worn specifically for this game to PMHA players and fans.  But first, Cats General Manager Pete Zubersky welcomed Sadie Fitzpatrick, Grant Gilbertson's girlfriend and Darcie Colegrave, Grant's mother to the game.  Sadie was gifted Grant's #26 3rd jersey.  

Zubersky then announced that the Club had won a number of VIJHL year-end awards and as the players were introduced, they each took a turn speaking to the large and appreciative crowd in attendance.  The League Awards were as follows:

Riley Braun - Top Scorer and Most Valuable Player
Logan Speirs - Unsung Hero
Payton Braun - Rookie of the Year
Matt Seale - Top Defenceman
Brad Tippett - Coach of the Year
Peninsula Panthers - Most Disciplined Team

Zubersky then announced that the playoffs will commence Tuesday night at the Panorama with the visiting Westshore Wolves in for Game 1 at 7:30 pm.  Here is the playoff schedule moving forward:

Gm 1.  Tuesday February 22 @ 7:30 pm at Panorama Recreation Centre
Gm 2.  Wednesday, February 23 @ 7:00 pm at the Q Centre
Gm 3.  Friday, February 25 @ 7:30 pm at Panorama Recreation Centre
Gm 4.  Sunday, February 27 @ 5:50 pm at Q Centre
Gm 5.  Monday, February 28 @ 7:30 pm at Panorama Recreation Centre
Gm 6.  Wednesday, March 2 @ 7:00 pm at Q Centre
Gm 7.  Friday, March 4 @ 7:30 pm at Panorama Recreation Centre

The Panthers have been biding their time and have been patient over the past 10-14 days, but Tuesday night the games will take on a special meaning.  Again, the puck drops at 7:30 pm and a good-sized crowd is expected.