Panthers Prepare for Home Opener

With last season now clearly in the rear-view mirror, the Peninsula Panthers are making the final tweeks before they open at home at the Panorama Recreation Centre on September 7th @ 7:30 pm.  The management of the club has cleaned house and only three or four players from last year remain.  Coach/GM Rob Armstrong has even brought in a new assistant coach to help the team and also brought back former Panthers' Ben King to assist on the bench as well.

"We have entirely rebuilt the squad," explained Pete Zubersky.  "I love what we have done behind the bench in bringing in Brian Passmore and it did not stop there.  We have gone back to young, skilled players who can get around the sheet of ice and I think they will bring energy and excitement to our program.  We still have five practices before the puck drops on September 7th so this next week will be about the coaches putting some lines together and beginning the process of implementing the various systems we will utilize."

The Panthers have signed several locals from the Peninsula including Cole Glover, Zach Smith, Kyle Richardson, Brett Clarke and Brett Sjerven who will join veterans, also Peninsula Minor Hockey products, Logan Gibson, Spencer Loverock and Cody Allison.  Logan's brother Dane Gibson is still in Powell River with the Junior "A" squad there and the Panthers are waiting to see if he will be returned or if he will stick.

"We will have 7 to 10 players from the Peninsula and when we got back into the game last December this was a goal of ours.  It is important for us to have local talent; both those words being the key.  Local is important however the kids still have to be able to play - all these guys can."

The Panthers have brought some players in from various places including Los Angeles, Edmonton, Whistler and Aldergrove as well as others from Greater Victoria.  The team will practice this week at the Panorama, times are as follows:

Friday, September 1st  - 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Saturday, September 2nd - 3:00 - 4:30 pm
Sunday, September 3rd - 3:00 - 4:30 pm
Monday, September 4th - 3:00 - 4:30 pm
Tuesday, September 5th - 9:30 - 11:00 pm