Fletcher scores winner in shootout

Friday, February 24, 2023
North Saanich, British Columbia

Panthers rookie forward Malcolm Fletcher made sure that the last shot of the Peninsula Panthers 2022/23 Regular Season would give his side a win against the visiting Port Alberni Bombers in Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League action Friday night in the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre. 

The score was knotted at 3-3 after 60 minutes of regulation time were in the books and five further minutes of Overtime still failed to determine a winner.  Each Club took four penalty shots with both the Panthers and Bombers each scoring once and it would be Panthers goaltender Brady Kelly who would shut the door once again on the visitors 5th shooter.  Panthers Head Coach/GM looked at Fletcher who was stationed at the far end of the bench by the gate and their eyes met.  He pointed at his forward and Fletcher leapt out off the bench to centre ice where the puck had been placed by the officials.  The 18-year-old picked up the disk and then danced down the right side as he entered the zone.  The left-handed shooter cut to the middle of the ice near the top of the circle and let go a snap shot that beat Bombers goaltender Owen Bonthuis cleanly and that found nothing but the back of the net.  Fletcher celebrated by racing down the boards on the stands side of the rink all the way inside his own blueline and finished off the move by launching himself into the glass on the half wall to the left of Kelly.  The entire Panthers squad spilled off the bench to join the jubilant Fletcher and the celebration lasted a bit longer than could have been expected. It was clear that there is a lot of closeness within the group and the celebration put an exclamation mark on that fact.

In the dressing room, Zubersky congratulated the Club and then asked Fletcher to describe the winning shootout marker.  He went though his thoughts after he was told he was taking the shot and described skating into the zone and coming to the top of the circles.  And then he described the actual shot which brought the house down with a roar from team mates.  "I just closed my eyes and let it fly," quipped Fletcher.  It was the way it was supposed to be.

The youngster started as the Panthers' stickboy at the tender age of 7 or 8 years old and then learned how to sharpen skates before he was in his teens.  Fletcher became an Equipment Manager working under various adults and was used on the broadcasts of the Panthers games when the regular Play-by-Play or Color personnel were not present.  He had a taste of Junior B with a cup of coffee with the expansion Lake Cowichan Kraken last season however, returned to Peninsula Minor Hockey and was affiliated and played some games with the Panthers last season.  This time around he cracked the Panthers lineup and although he has been in and out of the lineup several times this season due to injuries, he seems to be coming into his own on a line with 17-year-old Brad Bates and 16-year-old Cam Sneek.

"Fletch really needs to work on his skating, it's something I have been telling him for a number of years," explained Zubersky.  "But he loves the game as much as anyone and is a real team player.  He is vocal on the bench in a positive way and he could be an important piece in our playoff run.  I have told him in no uncertain terms that he has to stay out of the penalty box and if he can't do that, he will be on the outside looking in.  But if his line plays physical, do not get scored on and stays out of the box, they will be a factor.  It's the time of year where every little thing matters."

Scoring for the Panthers in Regulation Time were Ryan Grambart, Bates and Matt Seale while replying for the Bombers were Blake Power, Aiden See and Kai Verbrugge.  Kelly picked up the win blocking 22 of 25 shots and 4 out of 5 shootout attempts while Bonthuis was collared for the lost stopping 34 of 37 disks sent in his direction.  He was not quite as good in the shootout stopping 3 of 5 Panthers attempts.  Grambart and Fletcher with the winner scored in the shootout for the Cats while Carson Steel replied for the visitors.  Matt Seale for the Panthers and Finlay Klippenstein were named as players of the game for their respective sides.

The Panthers focus is now on the Saanich Predators who will be their 1st Round Best-of-7 matchup.  Games 1 and 2 are set for the George Pearkes Arena on Wednesday and Friday nights while Game 3 and 4 will be back at the Panorama Recreation Centre next Saturday and the following Monday evenings.  

Below is the Round 1 Playoffs Schedule:

Game 1 – PEN @ SAA Wednesday, March 1 at 7:30 pm
Game 2 – PEN @ SAA Friday, March 3 at 6:30 pm 
Game 3 SAA @ PEN Saturday, March 4 at 7:30 pm
Game 4 SAA @ PEN Monday, March 6 at 7:30 pm
Game 5 PEN @ SAA Wednesday, March 8 at 7:30 pm (if necessary)
Game 6 SAA @ PEN Friday, March 10 at 7:30 pm (if necessary)
Game 7 PEN @ Saanich Sunday, March 12 at 6:00 pm  (if necessary)