September 9, 2022
North Saanich, British Columbia
When the final buzzer sounded, a Panthers' player gently reached down to pick up the puck and then it was later turned over to Head Coach, Chris Driebergen. The new Bench Boss was making his VIJHL debut and the scoreboard said it all with the Cats downing the visiting Westshore Wolves 6-3 on a late warm summer September evening - albeit a smoke-filled sky - in the oh so friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre.
There was a lot of water that needed to flow under the bridge before Driebergen could race to his mantel with the puck. The large playoff-like crowd flowed into the Panorama early as to be in their seats for the pre-game celebration - a season that culminated in a Championship in Game 6 at home against the visiting Oceanside Generals back on April 1. The presentation touched on the passing of long-time Sports Photographer Gordon Lee and of course the untimely death of Grant Gilbertson back on January 3rd. And it featured series winning goals against these same Westshore Wolves, Kerry Park Islanders and the Generals. The winning banner was unveiled and then it was time to keep all those memories in mind but to move on to a brand new season with brand new highs and lows and challenges.
As expected, the Cats were tight for the first stanza and it was the visitors who took control of the game in the early going. They had a number of point-blank opportunities but returning netminder Brady Kelly proved his worth and shut the door on the Wolves and on any momentum they might have garnered with a goal or two. The Panthers drew first blood late in the 1st frame when Ryan Grambart beat Wolves Ben Edwards at the 18:36 mark to give his squad the 1-0 lead going into the intermission.
The 2nd period was all Cats as they opened up a sizeable 4-0 lead as Driebergen went to the tool box and pulled out the Swiss Army Knife. This knife came in the form of 2nd year forward Tristan Rosenblood.
Definition: Swiss Army Knife; NOUN - a penknife incorporating several blades and other tools such as scissors and screwdrivers.
"I really love the way Rosey came into camp this year," quipped Panthers GM Pete Zubersky. "He has really great talent and last year he bounced around a bit between all four lines. He played the left side as well as in the middle and every winning team needs a guy or two who can play that role. The player has to be unselfish and also has to understand how valuable a role that is to his Club. Players miss games for a bunch of different reasons over the course of a season and this is when you need that Swiss Army knife. I know Coach has Payton Braun inked in on the left side with Ryan Grambart and Tanner Banks but Payton was away in the USA interviewing for a post-secondary opportunity and Rosey jumped in on the left side for Payton. He had a goal and a couple helpers in the 2nd period, a goal and an assist coming on the power play. That was huge and I believe really helped to turn the game in our favour. Payton will probably be back tonight up in Campbell River and so Rosey will play a different role. We had a team meeting after practice on Tuesday and this was one of the items that was discussed. I think he will embrace the role. He was scratched last year in one of the playoff games and I asked him how he felt about it and he told me he just wanted what was best for the team. I see him as a much bigger piece this season and I absolutely know he will embrace his role. He is a key guy for our Club and it showed last night. Maybe tonight he is on the 4th line and is serving hot dogs and fries to our guys between periods. I know he will do whatever it takes. That's how a Club wins!"
Banks and Ethan Lingard scored before the 2nd stanza was eight minutes old, Lingard's coming by way of the power play and it was Rosenblood who added helpers on both markers. The Lingard goal chased Edwards to the showers in favor of 20-year-old Jacob Haydar who came in between the pipes for the Wolves. And at the 17:41 mark and once again on the power play, Rosenblood hit the scoresheet again on assists from Lingard and Banks. It was a big goal and gave the Panthers what looked to be an insurmountable lead after 40 minutes were firmly in the books.
The final frame became a bit sloppy and some miscues in the Cats' end led to three goals from the Wolves. Rookie Rowan Cairns scored twice and veteran Angus Allchin popped in a single. But the period belonged to a couple of Panthers' rookies who scored their first Junior goals by beating Haydar. Seventeen-year-old, #19 Spencer Cotie accepted a pretty pass off the tape of recently acquired Kieran Smith and snapped a shot high past a startled Haydar. It was the shot of the game and was the 3rd power play goal on the evening for the Club.
Then at the 10:38 mark, Smith and rookie Malcolm Fletcher combined to hit 16-year-old rookie Cameron Sneek as he was heading to the net coming in from the left side. Sneek was only signed one week ago and who had to put in some yeoman's work to be offered a contract, snapped a shot past the Wolves' top netminder as if he was a Tim Kerr, a 50-goal scorer in the NHL from years gone by.
When the final buzzer sounded, the Cats gathered by their net and by Brady Kelly and celebrated their first win of the season. Last year, the Club lost their first three games and as they saluted the crowd before heading into the tunnel for some parting words from Driebergen, fans began to filter out of the arena to the voice of Louis Armstrong's rendition of 'A Wonderful World.'
It was a perfect Home Opener in every way. Long after the players had departed, Driebergen exited his office with a smile on his face, a puck in one front pocket and his Swiss Army Knife in the other.
Panthers Tracks....The Panthers depart Greater Victoria Saturday afternoon for the 7:30 date in Campbell River against the Storm...players of the game for each squad were Kelly and Cairns....Kelly blocked 36 of 39 shots and collected the win...Edwards stopped 8 of 11 before being yanked....Haydar was good on 13 of 16 Panthers shots and was collared with the loss on his record....Braun arrived back in Victoria from Virginia on Saturday and should make it to the Iron Lung heading Northbound if no flight delays...Brady Kelly's identical twin brother Mason is also a goaltender and he will make the start in Campbell River this evening...the 2nd period intermission "Thrifty Foods Truck Shuffle" resulted in a winner thanks to a large group of fans who helped out the on-ice contestant...
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