Looysen latest youngster to be inked by Panthers

"I have been watching the Peninsula Panthers since I was 5 years old and wanted to play on the team after my parents took me to my first game.  This opportunity is a dream come true as I once stood on the blue line as "Player of the Week" and now I will be standing on the blue line as a Panther," quipped an excited Nathan Looysen after officially being added to the Peninsula Panthers Junior Hockey Club.  And with the signing, Looysen will continue the long string of young talent that started their Junior Careers with the Peninsula Panthers, many of whom have moved up to Junior A, the Western Hockey League, the NCAA and even several to the National Hockey League.

Looysen was a bit of a hard-luck story in the late summer when he was injured at the Panthers camp in late August and for all intents and purposes could not be judged against older talent by the Panthers brass.  It also hurt him when going out for the Major Midget program after it was fairly clear that the Junior option had slipped away, no fault of his own.  And when all the smoke had cleared, Looysen did not hang his head for long and went to work for the Peninsula Midget "AA" team and was a bright light with the group.  He was affiliated with the Panthers and tallied a goal - his first in Junior - and an assist in three games and it was pretty obvious that he was not a bit out of place when stepping up a level.

This past weekend the Peninsula Midget "AA" team finished in 5th place in the VIctoria Midget Classic Tournament, finishing with a 3-2 win/loss record.  Looysen led the tournament in scoring with 9 goals and 4 assists in the 5 games and finished off the weekend with back-to-back 4-point games.  After being told by Pete Zubersky that he was getting the call to move up to the Panthers early Monday evening, Looysen did not forget where he came from.  "I have had a lot of fun playing my last few games in Minor Hockey, but I am excited to move on to the Peninsula Panthers.  I will miss the great group of guys on the Midget "AA" team and wish them all the best."

"Nathan comes from a great supportive family and all associated with our Club are thrilled for the Looysen's," said Zubersky.   "He is a young and talented kid who has yet to fill out physically and really has a ton of potential moving forward from here.  We have had a couple other good ones come through here and this kid fits exactly into what we are looking for.  He will add some offence and although I have no doubt there will be some bad days, I don't think there will be many.  We will now work on getting him a number and equipment with the team, probably the next time fans see him on Friday he will be wearing a visor rather than a cage.  I know this is an exciting time for the kid," added the Hockey Operations boss of the Hockey Club.

The coaching staff were pleased with the addition and are looking to work Looysen into the lineup as early as tomorrow evening when the Club hits the ice for practice. 

Head Coach Rob Armstrong on Looysen, "I think Nathan belongs on our team.  He fits the mould to a tee of developing the best local prospects around.  He has a great attitude at the rink and really has the desire to be a legitimate player.  Like a lot of our squad, he will have important fundamentals to work and improve on but his natural skill set and vision are his strengths.  I have no doubt he will move on to the next level from here when he is ready."

Assistant Coach Ben King on Looysen, "Excellent choice, he's a good kid with some great skill."

Assistant Coach Brian Passmore on Looysen, "I am thrilled that we went ahead on Looysen.  He is a good young player, will only get better and has the offensive skills that we need."

Tony Allison, Peninsula Midget "AA" Head Coach on Looysen, "I am glad to hear Nathan is making the move, I am confident that he is more than ready.  I will always support players moving up and wish Nathan the best of luck in his Junior Career with the Panthers."

The signing of the youngster is the first roster move the Team has pulled the trigger on since the regular season began in the first week of September.  Looysen will see his first action as a member of the Peninsula Panthers this Friday night when the Club plays host to the Comox Valley Glacier Kings at the Panorama Recreation Centre.  The puck drops at 7:30.