Sunday, April 17, 2022
Brentwood Bay, British Columbia
An Open Letter - Pete Zubersky
Here it is Easter Sunday and it is only today that I have had enough energy to prepare our annual open letter. The year has been so taxing for everyone in the Organization on so many different levels and I really needed some time off after the Cyclone Taylor Cup Championships to sit back and digest what has happened in the past nine months and what it all means. I always say to our players - start with the end in mind - and so with that, I will begin with what occurred during the 2nd intermission of our 75th and final game of the season. We had played two exhibition, 51 regular season and 18 playoff games to finally be crowned the VIJHL Champions. And on the weekend of April 7-10, we played our final four games at the Cyclone Taylor Cup in Ladner, the final game of the season being against the Revelstoke Grizzlies for the Bronze medal.
The Grizzlies were an excellent team and we were tied at 2-2 after 40 minutes were in the books. I had been asked pre-game to come and do an interview with a local Television Station who was broadcasting the game live after the 2nd period, but when the buzzer sounded to end the 2nd period, I must say that I was not really into it. I walked from our bench around to the other side of the arena and was heading to the far end of the arena where the camera was located when I saw Grant Gilbertson's mother Darcie sitting in the stands. And suddenly, the outcome of the game meant a whole lot less. Darcie had stayed close to the Club ever since the dreadful news of Grant's death landed like a bombshell on Monday, January 3rd around 8:00 pm as our group was going through their paces at practice. It was an evening I will never forget, that all of our players and coaches and entire Organization will never forget.
The year started out with optimisim when our group got together in August for camp and for some exhibition games prior to our first league game in Victoria against the Cougars on September 9th. We were super optimistic and felt that we had an opportunity with our group to do something special but as it turned out, our opening ten games were anything but special. The Club played well enough but we could not seem to keep the puck out of our net and we sat in last place in the South Division of the League and were a bit shell-shocked in the early going. But we made a move to bring in goaltender Ashton Lukan on Thanksgiving Monday in early October and goaltender Brady Kelly was acquired a couple weeks later, and our lot changed dramatically as a result. We started to put some wins up on the board and our Club was feeling good about themselves both on and off the ice.
All season long, our players have told me that they have never been on any team that has been so close and barring anything unusual I knew that this intangible would pay huge dividends during the regular season and playoffs. But this season turned out to be anything but usual. In mid-October, our longtime photographer Gordon Lee passed away in his home very unexpectedly. Gordon was in his mid-60's and although not a young man, he certainly deserved twenty more years of thrilling people with his photography. Gordon has probably photographed more youth in Sports on South Vancouver Island than any other photographer has ever shot, and his untimely death was a shock to our Organization to be sure. Gordon had been with the Panthers since 1999 and at the Friday night game following his death, we held a special pre-game ceremony in honour of him. Little would we all know that this was just the start of the heartbreak for our Club.
The Club continued to win through October and November but were dealt a big blow when in late November, Head Coach Brad Tippett was forced from behind the bench with some medical concerns. Coach was in his 6th season with the Panthers and it was only a few weeks earlier that I had told him that as long as Coreen and I owned the Club, he would be the Head Coach if he wished. And his response was that he wanted to be the Coach for as long as we owned the Club. It seemed to be a perfect fit, but in November he took a month away from the team and I jumped behind the bench joining Coaches Len Dawes and Bill Ansel. I addressed the boys and told them that our job was to keep our heads above water until Brad returned to the helm, and we did just that. The Club won a number of games including a spirited affair right before the Christmas Break up in Oceanside. The bus ride was loud and it was rocking all the way home that night. We took the break and Coach returned for two games at the very end of December and then for a Sunday afternoon game on January 2nd in the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre against the Saanich Predators. The Preds' playoff hopes were hanging by a thread and two weeks earlier, we had some discussions with their Organization about possibly acquiring their Captain Kyle Brown. We won the game quite handily and after the game had more discussions about Kyle and I was clearly left with the opinion that they were ready to make this move.
The very next day on January 3rd we had a 6:45 pm practice. I drove to the Panorama and did not notice anything untoward during my 15 minute drive from my home in Brentwood Bay. My thoughts were on trying to complete the deal for Brown but other than that, everything was fine. As I pulled into the parking lot at the rink probably around 6:00 pm, I could see the shine coming off the surface and was actually really surprised by it. The roads had not in any way been slippery but the lot had greased up quite a bit but I really did not give it much thought. The Coaches and players began to filter into the rink and probably 15-20 minutes later I received a call from Darcie Colegrave asking if Grant had made it to the rink. She let me know that there had been a significant accident on the road in from Sooke where Grant lived and she was worried that it might be Grant who was involved. I told her I would call her back and I walked downstairs from my office to check out the two dressing rooms our players use during practice. Mostly forwards were in Dressing Room #1 and I fully expected Grant to be one of them, but he was nowhere to be found. The players said that they had not seen him and so I asked them to call or text him to make sure everything was OK. I then went into the room that houses the goaltenders and defence and as soon as I popped my head in, I saw Brady Kelly and was immediately relieved. Brady and Grant always travelled together and so I asked Brady where Grant was. He told me that he waited for Grant but he never showed to pick him up and even though I never tend to worry, I started to feel real concern. I called Darcie back and told her I would let her know as soon as Grant arrived. I did not make that call but would give my own life to be able to make it today. Grant's grandfather Don Colegrave called me just before 8:00 pm and told me that they had just been notified by the RCMP that Grant was killed in the motor vehicle accident and the words left me absolutely numb. I believe I had been talking with Eugene Lingard and Jason Fletcher watching the practice when Don's call came in but I aimlessly left them and walked down the stairs and around to the players bench. I summoned the players and coaches and gave them the news and in that horrifying moment, I left the coaches with the players and walked up to my office where I closed the door and spent the next ten minutes in deep thought.
This was the second player that the Panthers have lost to a tragic accident, the first being Steve Simpson in 2001. He too was killed in an accident and although I had been through this once before, I knew that this would be no easier to manage. I thought about Grant who was about as wonderful a kid as you could possibly find. I thought about his family, about his mother Darcie and my heart ached. Sometimes I am on the verge of tears and I hold them back, but I was in my office away from everyone and I cried like a newborn baby. I just let it go where nobody could see me. After about ten minutes I went down into the dressing room and addressed the team and I knew that to get through this tragedy we would have to do it together. Our kids were absolutely in shock, those minutes and the days and weeks that followed will change their lives forever. They will always be linked together in a brotherhood and I believe that they would not want it any other way.
I got home that night and Coreen and I just sat in our kitchen staring at each other absolutely dumbfounded. She asked me what we were going to do and suggested that counselling would be prudent. I said that we would take care of things, we would have to. Immediately there was an outpouring of love and support from the community both large and small which was absolutely overwhelming. Around 2:00 am we were still tossing around everything and I told her that we were going to do up a pre-game memorial service for Grant and his family prior to the upcoming Friday game against the Victoria Cougars. I had told our team that we would play the upcoming games, that it was best in my mind to be together and do what they all loved to do. And to do what Grant loved to do.
We were to play the Westshore Wolves at the Q Centre two nights later on a Wednesday night but the Wolves advised that they did not want to play the game. Our players ended up going out to the Q Centre and the two teams just played some pond hockey and then had some pizza and drinks after the ice slot was over, spending time to talk about Grant. Our players were glued together for the next few days, the next few weeks as they leaned on each other for support. They had group counselling which Jaci Braun helped to organize both at their home and at the Panorama a few nights later. I cannot say enough about how the Braun's and our entire parent group pulled together in this tragic and heartbreaking time.
On Friday night January 7th, we had the Memorial Ceremony that Coreen and I had put together with the help of our amazing group of volunteers. It was 50 minutes long and I felt it was a real tribute to Grant, to his teammates and friends and I hoped that Grant's family felt the same. I spoke to Darcie and to Grant's dad Ken at some point through the evening and from those conversations, I believe that they both really felt that it hit the mark. A special part of the ceremony was when Don Colegrave came out and gave some remarks for the family. I had to talk Don into coming out on the Friday and to bring the family and he finally agreed to do this a couple days prior to the ceremony. He had typed out his remarks and gave me a copy and asked me to read it if he could not. It would not have had the same deep emotional meaning if I been the one to deliver the words and although one can't imagine how difficult it was for Don, I was so happy and proud of him for speaking about his grandson Grant.
We lost the game that night, but the outcome did not matter. The two teams shook hands after the game and I know there were heavy, heavy hearts on both benches. Our players went up into the crowd who stayed after the game and gave them each a small candle and a ribbon. Jacquie Dawes and Coreen toiled a lot of hours to make a lot of the night special and they too deserve a mention. We retired Grant's #26 jersey and initiated the Grant Gilbertson Memorial - Friendship Award to be selected by our Captain each season going to what I refer to as the 'Glue Guy' in the dressing room. Grant was that guy! Brad Tippett could not coach that night and has not returned to the Club.
Our group decided on the night of the accident that we would dedicate this season to the memory of Grant Gilbertson and our players were true to that statement. Grant's girlfriend Sadie continued to come to all of the games both home and away and I believe that it gave her strength and it certainly gave our players strength. Ken Gilbertson and Darcie Colegrave continued to come out to games and every time I saw them, it touched my heart.
We played the Westshore Wolves in Round 1 and beat them in six games. The two teams were built the same and the six games were a track meet. The series was knotted at 2-2 and in Game 5, the Wolves seemed to have the momentum. But Logan Speirs scored in overtime to give us a 3-2 series lead and we finished it off two nights later at the Q Centre to advance against the Kerry Park Islanders. The Islanders were big, tough and physical and we knew we would have our hands full. We split the first two games but in Game 2, they absolutely hammered us into submission. I knew we could not last the series let alone win the series if we did not change our systems, and so change our systems is exactly what we did. We had a practice and I still remember telling the players that we were changing everything we had done for the entire year and watching the looks on a lot of their faces. But everyone bought in and we won the next two games. We lost Game 5 in our barn but Kyle Brown scored the winner in overtime to knock out the Islanders. We had trailed 3-0 late in the 2nd period and 3-1 at the end of 40 minutes, but we never quit and Brown's marker pushed us to the VIJHL Championship final series against the Oceanside Generals. This series had ebbs and flows and amazing crowds to boot. Oceanside was pulling in over 900 fans a game and we had a full house of loyal and dedicated fans down here on the Peninsula. We went up 3-0 in the series, but the Generals came back and won the next two and seemed to have all the momentum. The Oceanside Generals were a combination of Westshore and Kerry Park in their manner of play, and we had several guys who did not finish the series. In Game 6 at the Panorama, the Generals scored 30 seconds in and then again a minute later for a 2-0 lead - and a hush came over our crowd. We were down 3-2 with under two minutes remaining when Speirs scored to knot the score and send the crowd into delirium. But a minute later, Speirs was sent to the sin bin for two minutes for Goaltender Interference and our penalty kill unit was put into action. There were a couple of monster blocks to extend the game into overtime and when the Speirs penalty expired, he stepped out of the box, broke up a rush and sent Ryan Grambart down the left wall deep into the Generals' end. Grambart went behind the net and threw the puck out front and it would be Speirs who found the handle and shoveled the disk to the back of the Generals net, a VIJHL Championship marker!! The players spilled over the wall and joined Speirs in an absolute joyfest celebration.
Not a minute into the celebration, Aleko Sdrakas broke from the group and skated the length of the ice and disappeared through the end gate. He returned moments later flying the Grant Gilbertson #26 jersey in the air and the arena exploded once again. I believed that we had an angel on our shoulder in the form of Grant Gilbertson and that angel was now front and centre in the celebration. Aleko would later tell me that he sprinted past one of the Panorama Maintenance people, down the tunnel and into our dressing room to get the jersey and the Maintenance staff were in shock! We had a great run to the championship but I did feel it was not fair to the other teams. There was no way our guys would lose. We had an extra attacker in all 18 playoff games, all three 6-game wins. We were banged up, we were tired, we faced a ton of adversity, but we had the will to win and in the end, that mattered. As I said to our guys a number of times in the post-season, good guys can win too.
A couple days after we won the Championship I received a call from Elliot Freidman from Hockey Night in Canada. He wanted to do a story on the season and simply asked how we were able to do it. I told him that we had strength as a group and we had our angel. He had heard about Grant's jersey being brought out by Aleko and wanted to interview him as well. I wanted him to talk to Darcie as I believe the more Grant is remembered, the more heartwarming and healing it is for the family. Elliot did interview Aleko, Darcie and a couple more guys from the Club and I believe that this story will be out soon.
We have a fantastic culture out here on the Peninsula and much of it comes down to the leadership of our two 20-year-old players in our Captain Riley Braun and our Assistant Captain Logan Speirs. These two guys have been with the Club for five years since they were 16's and they are two of the finest young men I have ever crossed paths with. I would often have telephone conversations with the two of them although I must admit, it was not me who would arrange to have three of us on the line at the same time! They were the two top scorers in the VIJHL and there is nothing any other Club could have offered for me to trade them. The two played their hockey together all through Minor with the Peninsula Minor Hockey Association and now have played their last game in Junior together with the Peninsula Panthers. It is really quite an amazing story. I will watch these two as they begin careers and have families of their own. I will watch as they have sons or daughters and bring them to the rink to get them involved in the game that they both obviously love so very much. I honestly do not have the right words to describe what quality people they both are. There have been a lot of wonderful individuals to come through the Panthers program and these two will be near or at the top of that list.
Denver Maloney and Sterling Lyon have aged out after both having played three years with the Club. They too are such fine men. Both were sidelined with injuries after having been banged up in the final series against the Oceanside Generals and as a result, were unable to play in the Cyclone Taylor Cupt. But they were just as important as any other player on our roster and I will never forget how impactful they both were over their three years. Kyle Brown arrived just after Grant was killed and a day or two before the Memorial Game on January 7th, and I cannot think of a tougher situation to move into as a player. He was so very respectful as soon as he arrived and remained that way until the final buzzer sounded in Ladner at the CTC. He played a huge part in our playoff run as we all expected he would and he too has now played his last Junior game. And finally, Brandon Pascoe arrived on our doorstep as a free agent on February 10th and played a number of regular season games coming down the stretch. He did play in Game 3 at the CTC and I am sure it is a game he will always remember. Braun, Speirs, Maloney, Lyon, Brown and Pascoe were all gifted their white game jerseys at our final practice last Tuesday night after we arrived home from Ladner. I wish all six of our 20's the best of luck no matter where the path of life takes them and I am sure I will stay in touch with all six of them.
I want to thank our volunteers for all the work they have done over this challenging and troubling season and seasons past. They are all so talented and really allow our Organization to make Friday nights out here on the Peninsula special in every way. Our sincere and heartfelt thanks to you all!
Our Sponsors have continued to step up time and time again. Some are bigger than others but each of them give what they think is appropriate and what they can afford and Coreen and I are forever grateful for keeping our squad viable year in and year out. Thank you all so very much!
Without our billet families we would be in real trouble. Players come in and these families open their homes to our players and our players become part of these billet families. Coreen and I have billeted players from the old Victoria Cougars of the WHL and we are still close to every one of them who were part of our families years ago. Thank you all!
We want to thank all our loyal fans, many of whom have been with us for the past two decades. We missed you all over the past couple of years during the Covid19, but it was so thrilling for Coreen and me to see the packed barn night after night during our exhilarating playoff run. It always brings so much pleasure to see the same familiar faces frequent the arena every Friday night and we look forward to renewing these acquaintances in September. Thank you!!
And finally, I want to acknowledge our parent group. We have always encouraged the involvement and input from our parents, and this year was no different. This philosophy is unlike most other Jr. Club philosophies, but one that is integral to our business model. When tragedy struck the team on January 3rd, our entire parent group banded together and were absolutely incredible resources in helping us work through one of the toughest periods in our Club's history. Coreen and I are so very grateful for each and every one of you, we're not sure if we could have made it through to the other end without this incredible support. Thank you to you all !!
After the 2nd period in our final game of the year in Ladner against the Revelstoke Grizzlies, the score was tied at 2-2 for the bronze medal. As I walked towards the far end for the television interview, I spotted Darcie Cosgrove in the stands. I had my eyes glued on her during the singing of the Ukranian and Canadian National Anthems prior to the bronze game. We had hung up Grant's #26 jersey on the glass right behind our bench just prior to the game and it remained there until the game was in the books. During the Anthems, Darcie did not take her gaze off the jersey and I did not take my gaze off of her. My mind went from the opening faceoff, which was imminent, and then to Darcie, and I asked myself what could she be thinking. I had forgotten about that during the first two periods but as I walked past Grant's mom, I asked her to join me for the interview. The producer was shocked to see Darcie along with me and we barely spoke about hockey but rather about Grant’s untimely death back on January 3
rd on his way to practice. I held back tears and Darcie was extremely emotional but I was still amazed at the strength and courage of this woman. After the interview was over, Darcie told me that she was heading straight to the ferry after the game and would not have a chance to speak to the players but to tell them how proud she was of all of them. I asked her right there to come down into the room and she was absolutely surprised that this would happen going into the 3
rd period of a Medal game. We were over in Ladner after winning the Island Championship but for our players, Coreen and me and our entire Organization, this season immediately became about Grant on January 3
rd when the news broke. It was no different after the television interview. Darcie came into our room and you could have heard a pin drop. She told the boys how proud she was of all of them and how proud Grant is watching from above. Darcie spotted Aleko and the two had a huge and emotional hug that seemed to last forever. Aleko was very emotional and after Darcie left, he told me that he had to go out by the exit door to get some air. This was a moment that will never be forgotten in a season that will never be forgotten.
We could have won this tournament even though we only were able to garner a shoot-out loss in the four games. The other three teams were truly great, I thought we were as well. But the bounces did not go our way and we left the tournament on Sunday with nothing to show except for the experience. But amazingly, there was no negativity surrounding our players, coaches, Organization or our parent group. There was a hint of disappointment as we all felt that with a bounce here or there, it could have been a far different outcome - but there was never negativity. I have been in the game a long time and have never seen such an incredible, collective and phenomenal attitude. We all recognized that Grant Gilbertson and his family were bigger than the game.”
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