Lingard looks to take big step forward in 2022/23

August 16, 2022
North Saanich, British Columbia

This past weekend, Peninsula Panthers power forward Ethan Lingard cruised around the big white sheet at the Panorama Recreation Centre as though he had done it before.  The 17-year-old, who is about to embark on his 2nd season with the Club and in Junior Hockey in the VIJHL, has clearly put on a few pounds and a bit more size and judging by the smile on his face while he skated in the Grant Gilbertson Memorial Tournament, confidence will most definitely not be an issue this time around.

The Lingard family name has been synonymous with the Organization for the past number of years and so has #8.  Ethan's older brother Josh, who also toiled in the tournament over the past weekend, was a sharp-shooter for the squad for four years and now it is Ethan's turn to add a couple notches in his belt in terms of scoring.

"I love how enthusiastic Ethan is," expounded Panthers General Manager Pete Zubersky.  "He is always available to talk and is never at a loss for words.  Some players are quiet but Ethan is not in that category.  But he is also very young and I find that anytime I want to make a bet with him, it's like taking candy from a baby.  He gets pretty excited and overplays his hand just a bit and when he wants to make a bet on anything, I like to oblige.  After this past weekend when I beat him up for a few bucks, my lifetime earnings against him is five dollars!"

Lingard had a fluky and unfortunate wrist injury early in last year's campaign and it cost him many more games that what he thought it would. When he returned to the lineup he was usually on the 3rd or 4th line and when the game was on the line, he was quite often stapled to the bench.  But the big forward was always engaged and was a true team player and as the games got more intense and important, Lingard pushed himself up the depth chart.  He saw himself going up against the top lines in the playoffs, unheard of for a 16-year-old player.

"I love his compete level," explained Zubersky.  "I never heard him complain one time all season.  He wants the best for the team and his attitude was a big part in our success last season.  I spoke with him over the weekend and he believes he can be a point per game guy and that excites me.  That is a lofty goal but I do believe it is better to aim too high and miss, rather than to shoot too low and hit.  I'm not betting against him on this one!"

Lingard hails from the Saanich Peninsula and at 6'2, 185 pounds and growing, he undoubtedly will be a physical force.  He works stocking shelves at Thrifty Foods in Sidney and will be attending Stelly's School for his final year in High School in September.  Lingard made his way through the Peninsula Minor Hockey Association prior to joining the Peninsula Panthers starting hockey at the tender age of five.  The biggest influence in the game has been his brother Josh who has always given him tips.  When speaking with the Panthers centreman it is clear that he could not have made it this far in the game without the unwavering support of his parents, Eugene and Carla.

Lingard wants to repeat as VIJHL Champions and would love to head back to the Cycone with a better result in mind all while remembering fallen mate Grant Gilbertson.  His favourite memory in the game is winning the VIJHL Championship as the season took on so much meaning after the untimely death of "Gibby" on January 3, 2022 when he lost his life on his way to a Monday practice.

Lingard is a real student of the game and is in fact a student of quite a number of sports.  He has a keen interest in basketball, loves the Montreal Canadiens and outside of hockey, enjoys Ultimate Frisby.  He considers a home-cooked meal of spaghetti the best meal that Carla could fill his tank with and with his size, one could certainly assume that he returns for a second plate.

The Peninsula Panthers open their Exhibition Season with two games at the Panorama this coming weekend.  On Saturday night at 7 pm and then again on Sunday at 1 pm, a group of raw rookies will take on a group of rookies from the Kerry Park Islanders.  Many of these players will not make their respective squads for this upcoming season but the Panthers Management will get a good look at who might be someone they should keep their eye on as a future prospect.  There will be a number of players who have signed with the Club and who will get their first taste of Junior action and unquestionably there will be a lot of wide eyes in both games for both teams.  

Lingard is slated to attend the Victoria Grizzlies BCHL Camp on September 2nd and Zubersky feels he may see some exhibition action.  "He wants to play the game no matter where and when," said Zubersky.  "He came into my office after an ice time last week and we talked about the Grizzlies Camp.  As we spoke, I could see he was trying not to smile but his face was almost cracking in half for the 15 minutes we chatted.  He said he wants to play in the two games this weekend and I told him that if we did not have enough development players, we might pop him into a game.  He will probably walk into the rink with his skates on, he is that kind of person.  I love Ethan, I love his attitude.  It's infectious."