Panthers add Bates just in time for him to score game winner over Predators

November 9, 2022
Saanich, British Columbia

The relationship between the Peninsula Panthers and Peninsula Minor Hockey Association is as close as is possible and this past week, that proved to be true once again.  The Panthers have always attempted to make sure that every player from PMHA who was good enough to play at the Junior level made the jump to the Panthers, and this way of doing business played out once again this past week.  Brad Bates, the Captain of Mark Hall's Peninsula Midget's top squad had been affiliated with the Panthers and had played a number of games and seemed to be making some huge strides in his game. Panthers General Manager Pete Zubersky had spoken to Bates and his father Kevin a number of times and implored the 17-year-old power-forward to step up the physical part of his game, that he was close to making the jump to Junior.

Last Friday night, Bates was in the lineup playing in the middle between a couple of other PMHA graduates in Malcolm Fletcher and Cameron Sneek.  The Panthers have gone through a number of weeks where they have faced injury problems and a flu bug that was ripping through their squad and called up Bates as an affiliate player to help out. The trio banged and crashed every single time they were out on the ice to the pleasure of everyone in the Organization and the appreciative fan base.  And Bates was rewarded when he scored from right in front on a helper coming off the stick of Fletcher and another gritty player in Julien Phillips. The Club dropped a 5-3 decision against the visiting Comox Valley Glacier Kings but the effort from the 'Energy Line' and the effort from Bates was certainly not lost on the Orgainzation.

"I loved the effort and the physical aspect that Brad brought last Friday night and I knew by sometime in the 2nd period that he was ready to make the jump to Junior," quipped Zubersky.  "I told him two weeks ago that he was close and he needed to be more physical.  He did that and he deserved to be on our Team."

The following day, Zubersky contacted Mark Hall to discuss his Captain and to let him know that the Panthers wanted to sign him.  The Midget Team was up in Comox on Saturday and it was only 45 minutes before they went out for their game.  

"Mark was really happy for Brad as I knew he would be," offered Zubersky.  "We have an amazing relationship with Peninsula Minor Hockey and this is yet another player that we were about to sign from that Association. I have always felt that if a player was good enough to play Junior Hockey and was playing in PMHA, he was a player that we wanted.  We have missed a few over the years that have gone to other Junior Clubs, but there are not too many. Most kids want to play right here and that is quite unique across the Province."

Hall let Zubersky know that he would have Bates call him once their game was in the books but the GM had other ideas.  He let Hall know that he would like Hall to tell the player, his family and the other players on the Midget Team after the game so they could all enjoy the news.  And that is what happened.

On Wednesday night, Bates was in the lineup playing once again between the bookends of Fletcher and Sneek on the road against the Saanich Predators.  And with the Panthers up 1-0 in the 2nd frame, Evan Crawford dumped a puck on net from the neutral zone and a juicy rebound popped out in front to Ethan Lingard who batted it once again toward the goal.  Bates was digging hard heading to the blue paint and paydirt and his eyes widened when he was first to the disk offthe stick of Lingard.  He made no mistake dishing the puck to the back of the net, a goal that proved to be the winner in a 3-1 Panthers victory.

"Brad has been able to put the puck in the net at lower levels and he has done it the last two games with us," said Zubersky.  "But his real value is his physicality and that asset brings out the same with other guys. I have made no bones about it that we have to have more bodies to the net and they have to be in a bad mood when they arrive. Bates gives us more of just that. We are really happy with how things worked out and now his play will dictate how much he plays.  I always say that Coaches do not dictate a player's ice time, the players do. If Brad continues to bring the physical hockey that he is able to, he will find himself becoming more of a key player as we move along.  He is built for the playoffs."

Payton Braun notched the other two markers for the Cats, the final one coming when the score was 3-1 and with Predators Jaden Vanderlee on the bench for the extra attacker.  William Jenkins was the only Predators player to beat Panthers' starter Mason Kelly.  Vanderlee blocked 31 of 33 shots and was collared for the loss while Kelly was one shot better stopping 32 of 33 Predators scoring attempts.  Kelly and Jenkins were named as the Players of the Game for each side.

With the win, the Cats leap-frogged both the Victoria Cougars and Predators and now sit at the top of the VIJHL South Division once again, a slim one-point lead over their two rivals.  The Panthers do have three games in hand over the Predators and a game in hand over the Cougars.

The Club is back in action Friday night when they welcome in the Nanaimo Buccaneers to the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre for a 7:30 pm start.  And if Bates makes a big hit, local fans will be thrilled once again and should not be looking for any reBates!