Panthers stay undefeated with opening weekend road win Sunday against the Kraken

Sunday, September 10, 2023
Cowichan Lake Sports Arena
Lake Cowichan, British Columbia

The Peninsula Panthers continued with their winning ways on Sunday evening after knocking off the Lake Cowichan Kraken in a hard-fought game by a 3-1 count. 

Around 1:45 pm earlier in the day a group of Panthers players loaded the bus and then headed for Lake Cowichan.  There was one stop to be made at the Shell in Langford to pick up some players and coaches who reside in the Western Communities and then it was all systems go.  As the Iron lung ambled up Highway 1 over the Malahat there was a lot of quiet talk as this group continued the bonding process which had started back in July with once-a-week skates.  That process took a big leap when the Club knocked off the Westshore Wolves in their Home Opener two nights earlier.  There were plenty of Red Barn sandwiches and drinks to go around and the Coaching Staff took the opportunity during the 80 minute drive to converse with several of the players about game situations that might occur in the coming hours.

The bus arrived in the parking lot at the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena two hours before the 5:30 pm start time and it circled the building to the side doors which led directly to the dressing room which would be utilized for the trip.  The bus was loaded by veterans and rookies alike, an early demonstration to the newcomers that every single player on the Club was as important as the next.  This way of doing business has always been the way on the Peninsula with the Panthers.

At 5:00 pm both Clubs went out onto the sheet and went through their 15-minute warm-up ritual, something that will be repeated time and time again over the months to come.  For some it was their first time in Lake Cowichan and for others it was another trip to the Lake where they had been many times before.  But everyone had a singular goal and that was to put up a W by the end of the night.

Both teams raced up and down the ice in a fast-paced 1st period and Panthers' Goaltender Silas Currie and Lake Cowichan's netminder Owen Bonthuis matched him save for save.  But at the 9:38 mark, pesky and talented Carson Harris opened the scoring with a helper coming off the stick of defenceman Gavin Mowat. The Kraken responded at the 16:25 mark with #24 Richard Bergman beat Currie for the equalizer.

The 2nd period featured more stellar goaltending and it would be Panthers' Luka Jansen van Rensburg who would score the only goal while on the power play. Ryan Grambart and Julien Phillips were awarded assists.

The final stanza featured more nail-biting play and with just over a minute remaining in the contest, the Kraken pulled Bonthuis for the extra attacker. At the 19:21 mark, the Panthers dumped the puck behind the yawning cage in the Kraken end and it was Phillips who was Johnny on the spot and first to the puck.  He deftly and quickly came out front and rammed home a backhand for the insurance marker and to give the Panthers the win.  It was exactly what Head Coach & General Manager Tyler Stanton had hoped for going into the weekend.

"We took steps in the right direction, once again. While the score only reflects a 3-1 win, it was more positive from a coaching perspective, as guys continued to develop good habits. Tristan Rosenblood and Julien Phillips continued to lead by example, and led the group from the defensive end out. We need to generate more shot opportunities and attempts, as we are still trying to be a tad fancy with the puck.
 
Our D zone took great steps forward tonight as well and the play was relatively clean with fewer breakdowns. Overall, it was a successful weekend and we banked 4 important points."

With the win, the Cats move their record to a perfect 2-0 and will now have a full week of practice before welcoming in the Kerry Park Islanders next Friday night into the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre for a 7:30 pm start.