It's a Cat Fight - Panthers & Cougars in Round 1

February, 23, 2024
Panorama Recreation Centre
North Saanich, British Columbia

The Peninsula Panthers upended the Campbell River Storm on Family Day Monday but with only 1:50 left in the game, a melee broke out just inside the Storm zone.  Ty Barrie was being mugged by a Storm player and 17-year-old Cameron Sneek came in to help out Barrie.  It is what teammates should do, especially when you're the size of Sneek. But the youngster received a couple shots for his efforts and headed to the dressing room for an early shower.  In the fog of the incident, the Storm accidently took Barrie's stick and before Barrie and the Panthers were aware of it, they had long departed on their Iron Lung for parts North. The VIJHL Schedule-maker sent the Victoria Cougars up to Campbell River Friday night to get Barrie's stick back....and yes, they also had a big game against the Storm and needed a win to clinch 1st place in the South Division. They accomplished what they were sent to do and retrieved Barrie's stick before the puck was dropped and then went on to paste the Campbell River Storm on the scoresheet and lock in a 1st Round Best-of-7 VIJHL Playoff date with the Panthers.  The two Clubs have a lot of history between them and both Organizations are looking forward to this coming week when games between the two will kick off.

Back on the Peninsula, Barrie did not need a stick but rather showed up in his suit as he and 11 other regulars were sat out as the Panthers pulled up eight Affiliate Players in their final Regular Season game when they welcomed in the visiting Nanaimo Buccaneers. The visitors had only managed one win all season and when the final buzzer sounded, that number would not change as the Panthers came out on top on the scoreboard by a 3-0 count. Ahron Calalay and Julien Phillips paced the attack as each had a goal and an assist, while Malcolm Fletcher added a single. Silas Currie played 55 minutes between the pipes and was perfect on 25 shots and Affiliate call-up goaltender Everett Wilke mopped up stopping both Bucs shots he faced in his first Junior action.

With five minutes left in the game an in-house announcement was made that it appeared as though the Cougars would be the Panthers 1st Round opponent. The score at the time up in Campbell River was 6-2 for the Cougars with around ten minutes remaining and so the stage was set.  And here is the schedule as the playoffs are set to kick off Thursday night in Victoria at the Archie Browning Arena: