Workmanlike effort results in 2-0 shutout win

A young Peninsula Panthers squad showed up on Friday night and worked their collective tails off in a 2-0 win over the visiting and North Division leading Comox Valley Glacier Kings in a highly entertaining affair at the Panorama Recreation Centre.  One could see the energy in the warmup for the "Cats" and it continued when the puck was dropped shortly after 7:30 pm.

Nathan Looysen wasted no time getting the party started when he scored on his 2nd shift of the game.  Looysen was left alone in front of Comox Goaltender Josh Round after a feed from Zack Smith and the 16-year-old quickly moved the puck from his forehand to his backhand before depositing the puck into the back of the Glacier Kings net.  Looysen did not get all of it on the shot but it was just enough to elude Round and, although the goal was scored with only 2:43 having expired in the 1st frame, it would prove to be the winner.  Smith converted a feed from Connor Logan and Looysen at 7:07 in the 2nd period and although the two clubs would each throw 26 shots on net over 60 minutes of play, there would be no more scoring in the game.  Stephen Heslop was solid between the pipes in collecting the shutout - his 2nd of the season.

"I loved how our guys competed tonight," said an obviously pleased Pete Zubersky.  "We worked as hard as I thought we could over the first 40 minutes.  I thought we let up a bit in the 3rd but all in all it was a great effort by everyone on the Club."

The game had a bit of everything.  Round and Heslop both played great games with Heslop being just a bit better in picking up the win.  Panthers hulking defenceman Grayson Vickers became involved in a fracas with Glacier Kings Carter Jensen early in 3rd period.  The two combatants dropped their gloves near centre ice and in a one-sided tilt Vickers dismantled Jensen in a dominant fashion.  For Vickers it was his first go-around of the year but he certainly seemed to get his money's worth and the brawl brought the local fans to their feet.

The team was full value for the victory, a much needed win which now puts the Club three points up on the Westshore Wolves and also kept them within striking distance of the Saanich Braves who were also winners on the evening, downing the Kerry Park Islanders by a 5-2 count.

The Panthers will now be on the road for the next two games when they travel to Oceanside to take on the Generals on Sunday afternoon and will then be up in Nanaimo next Thursday to face the Buccaneers.  The Team will be back at home next Friday evening at the Panorama Recreation Centre when they play host to South Division opponent, the Westshore Wolves.

Panthers Tracks....Vickers' scrap was as one-sided as it gets....Jensen's helmet flew off early in the affair and then Vickers showed off his size and strength....this was the final game between the two teams in the regular season and the Panthers won all four in sweeping the season series....Reece Costain leveled Nicholas Tupper from the Glacier Kings early in the first period and it seemed to set the tone for the game....All four lines were going on the evening, an effort that is expected from the brass....this was the first game without Dane Gibson who was just signed by the Cowichan Capitals of the BCHL....Austin Singhera and Cody Allison were back in the lineup after sitting out games due to injury....Jonas Horvath and Brett Sjerven were healthy scratches but both are expected to suit up on Sunday in Oceanside....Justin Samra is expected to start between the pipes on Sunday....Big Brett Clarke practiced on Tuesday but his knee is still causing some concern and he may be out for a couple more weeks....With everyone except Clarke healthy at this point coaches are going to have tough choices to make for healthy scratches and so there will be no room in the lineup for slackers....The youngest line in Junior Hockey is 16-year-old Looysen, 16-year-old Logan and 17-year-old Smith scored both goals for the Panthers....Heslop was in the dressing room after the game showing off his new equipment that he will be wearing once he tries it out in practice a couple times....after Sunday's game in Oceanside the Panthers will officially hit the halfway mark in the VIJHL regular season schedule.