Mark Donnelly, "Voice of the Canucks" will sing at the Panthers' next home game.

With the NHL in the "Strike" mode, fans may not have an opportunity to enjoy our National passion this season, however out on the Peninsula fans will have at least a small taste. Vancouver Canucks singer, Mark Donnelly will be blasting out the National Anthem on Friday, September 21st at 7:30 pm at the Panorama Recreation Centre when the Peninsula Panthers host the Kerry Park Islanders in Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League action.

And there will be a bit of a twist which will take place during the warm-up slated to begin at 7:00 pm.  The Panthers will not reveal what the twist is, however the club is suggesting to fans that they might just want to arrive a bit early to see Donnelly display more than just his vocal skills.  "Mark has lost a lot of weight," explained Pete Zubersky.  "He is very proud that he can do things that he has not been able to do for years due to having to pack around so much excessive weight.  I think fans will get a bit of a kick out of our warm-up and perhaps see Mark in a different light than just his vocal talent."

But Donnelly will be on the ice prior to the game doing what he does best, singing "Oh Canada."  His version of the anthem in which the crowd takes part is legendary on the West Coast and one that might not be seen this winter due to the NHL strike.  The NHL and Canucks loss is the Panthers gain.  "Yes it is too bad that the players and the owners could not come to an agreement," said Zubersky.  "There is an upside for local Junior Hockey however.  Fans who might normally be sitting in front of the tube on a Friday evening will now hopefully come out and sample some of the hockey being played in our League and hopefully out here on the Peninsula.  I hear it all the time from fans and former players, they are all very surprised at the level of play, it is way beyond their expectation."

Join the Panthers and Mark Donnelly on September 21st and make plans to be there for the warm-up.