Stanton named as Panthers new Head Coach and General Manager

Saturday, April 29, 2023
North Saanich, British Columbia

The 'Winds of Change' are blowing strongly within the Organization of the Peninsula Panthers.  On Thursday evening, Pete Zubersky met with Tyler Stanton and the two had a three-hour conversation over a number of cups of java.  And when Stanton left the restaurant, he was wearing the dual hats of Head Coach and General Manager for the Club.  This move by the Organization will now allow Stanton and the Club to agressively recruit for the upcoming 2023/24 season.

"Tyler is now the youngest Head Coach/GM in the Vancouver Island Hockey League and I get excited for him just thinking about what this opportunity might mean to him," explained Panthers owner Zubersky.  "He has a ton of energy and he has already hit the ground running."

While the two were meeting, Stanton was texting and phoning with two would-be Panthers and arranging for meetings with both later in the evening.  It is what Zubersky envisioned.

Stanton will turn 27 on Thursday May 4th and is certainly young to be jumping into the fray at this level at Head Coach & GM.  But this situation was exactly what the Panthers were looking for.

"We wanted to have a young, intelligent and motivated young man move into the two roles," quipped Zubersky.  "We are so very fortunate to have Hans Kossmann as an Associate Coach and Hans let us know that he did not want to be the Head Coach but would love to help out a young Coach who was cutting his teeth at this level.  I had a couple people tell me that Tyler could really do a great job and after talking to him over the last week, I certainly agree.  He gave a great interview and is mature beyond his years.  I think we have a really great mix at the top of our Coaching staff with Tyler and Hans and it will be exciting to see the two develop a relationship and work together.  The Peninsula Panthers got better today."

The new Bench Boss has been coaching at the U18 level for the past 7 years with JDF Minor Hockey, winning 2 Island championships and a silver medal at BC provincials this past year.  The Club also won the Richmond International Tournament this past season. Stanton toiled in the VIJHL with the Westshore Wolves and Saanich Braves and after his playing days in the League were over, he jumped right into the coaching ranks and instantly fell in love with the game from a different vantage point. The sport is something that has always been a great passion of his - starting right from his early years in Minor Hockey.  
 
The newcomer has many of the same beliefs that have cloaked the Panthers Organization since the Panthers were purchased by the Zubersky's back in 1999.

"Community and the 'Family aspect' of the team is huge to me," said Stanton.  "I believe that without having a tight group, a team will never be successful. This is something I have always felt and it has been a very high standard with any team I have been a part of. And it will be something that will be vital to the team's success this coming year as well.  It is an incredible honour to be coming to the Peninsula Panthers as GM/HC. I cannot wait to get started and get back to the rink."

Zubersky suggested that this is the first of two big moves the Club will make, the other will be announced on Monday.  The winds of change are howling on the Peninsula but they are tail winds as the Club retools for what should be an exciting season straight ahead.