Two Panthers' Vets traded back home

Two 19-year-old Vets were traded and will apply their trade closer to friends and family as a result.  Forward Ryan Hunter, who scored the double-overtime winner against the Saanich Braves in Game 7 of Round 2 to vault the Panthers into the VIJHL Finals last Spring, has been traded to the Pembroke Lumber Kings of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League.  And defenceman Jamie Gallo will be skating in the KIJHL for Sicamous this coming season after being moved there last week.  Hunter hails from the Greater Toronto area while Gallo and his family live in Kelowna.  Both will now be able to finish their Junior careers playing in front of family and friends for the next two years.

Hunter jumped to Junior "A" and is hoping to continue with the success he found late last season and into the playoffs.  "He really improved both on and off the ice," explained Pete Zubersky.  "Hunter did not always have a great attitude but he really turned it around and became a key piece of the puzzle out here on the Peninsula.  Hunter was easily my favourite story of the year.  He capped off a great year when he potted the winner in Game 7, arguably one of the most important goals scored in our history and certainly the biggest goal last season.  He had an opportunity to play Junior "A" and also return close to home so there was no question that we would move him to where he wanted to go.   He is a great kid and we wish him the best in the future."

Gallo came to the Panthers as an 18-year-old and his rights were obtained from Sicamous.  He fit in well with the club and was huge in the community but the injury bug bit him several times during the season.  He had just returned to the lineup and was one of the teams' best reargaurds as the Panthers entered Round 1 of the Playoffs against the Oceanside Generals last February.  Five minutes into the first period of the first game he was hammered by a Generals forward and suffered a shoulder injury which ended his season.  "During our playoffs I had an opportunity to speak with Mr. Gallo," explained Zubersky.  "I told him that if Jamie and the family wanted, I would move him back closer to his home in Kelowna.  The family was spending a lot of time and money to come out to the Island to be with Jamie and watch him play and although it was a real advantage to have him anchor our back end, it was really not great for the family.  After a lot of discussion, the Gallo family decided it would be best to move home in order that Jamie could get into a College program in the Okanagan.  Rob Armstrong made contact with the Sicamous brass and they were very excited and happy to get him back.  He will be missed," concluded Zubersky.

The Panthers received cash considerations for the rights to both of these players.