Panthers eke out 6-5 Overtime win over Cougars on a controversial Jansen van Rensburg marker

Sunday, August 27, 2023
Archie Browning Arena
Esquimalt, British Columbia

The score was knotted at 5-5 in what was a fairly entertaining exhibition game on a clear and warm summer evening in Esquimalt late in August.  The Peninsula Panthers made the cross-town trek to the Archie Browning Arena and were looking forward to meeting a true rival of theirs in the Victoria Cougars.  And the game did not disappoint.

Big power-forward Luka Jansen van Rensburg picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone at the 1:26 mark of the 5-minute overtime frame and roared down the right side with a Cougars defenceman looking to impede his way to the net.  Not only does Jansen van Rensburg have the longest last name in the VIJHL, he also possesses straight-away speed that he was looking to utilize on the rush.  The big right winger crossed the blueline and then the unexpected occurred.  The Cougars would-be defender backed into the referee and both toppled to the ice while Jansen van Rensburg went in unabated to the net.  He did not need a second opportunity as he lifted the sudden-death winner to the top of the twine past a startled Jeevan Sandhu who had taken over from Evan Leggett at the midway point in the game.  There was not a lot of celebration as the game did not count in terms of the standings but Head Coach and General Manager Tyler Stanton was pleased with the win nevertheless.

"It was great to have a few guys back in town and start to see some more familiar faces into the line-up prior to Sept 8th," quipped Stanton.  "The line of Mayer-Phillips-Harris got us started early. Goaltender Silas Currie held strong and at times kept the Cougars at bay with some solid netminding in his first Junior start."

"A pair of rookies in Leon Willet and Risto Ringma held the fort on the back end, both playing an extremely solid game. Ethan Lingard stepped up big in his 1st taste of exhibition action and really did lead the way on both sides of the puck."

"While the game was ultimately decided on a very unconventional play, we pulled out the win in OT and it what was a pretty darn entertaining game.  I thought it was a solid team effort overall.  Our guys seem to have a good solid base already but there are certainly improvements needed in a lot of different areas.  We will get to that in the next two weeks starting Monday night before our opener at home in September."

Carson led all scorers with a couple markers and an assist and quite easily could have had a goal or two more during the 61:26.  Ethan Lingard, 15-year-old Travis Swanson and Evan Mayer added singles.  Replying for the Cougars were Mathew Jackson with a couple of his own, Nicholas Scott, Riley Rich-Holden and Cohen Dowden-Haines.  

Currie picked up the win for the Panthers and blocked 22 of 27 rubber disks sent his way, while Leggett and Sandhu stopped 23 of 29 pucks sent in their direction.  Sandhu was collared with the loss when he allowed the overtime marker. Carson (H-bomb) Harris was named the Panthers Player of the Game, while Mathew Jackson picked up the selection for his side.

The two teams will hit the ice once again in Esquimalt on Thursday evening and will be right back to the freindly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre on Friday night for their 3rd meeting in five days.  In all likelihood, this should be a spiritied affair after the two teams have been afforded the opportunity to build in a little dislike for each other earlier in the week.  There might be some thunder on Friday night quite similar to the sounds that came from the sky Monday afternoon.

Friday's game will conclude the Panthers string of exhibition games and Stanton expects to dress what will closely look like his opening season lineup against the Wolves on Friday, September 8th.  A tailgate party will start around 5:00 pm on opening night with live music and a barbecue.  A large crowd is expected to be in for the game and the barn will undoubtedly be jumping and electric.