Armstrong jumps at BC Hockey Opportunity

“I loved every minute of it and will miss the boys and all the great times that comes with it.  I’m looking forward to following the careers of this year’s top prospects as they follow their dreams, and will be filled with pride on Friday nights when I bring my boys and family to watch the Panthers put on a show.  Coaching the Panthers was a dream job.  It’s a Club filled with first class people who are professional and committed to providing a top notch junior hockey experience for talented hockey players,” said Panthers Head Coach Rob Armstrong with clearly mixed emotions.  And in saying this, Armstrong was on the bench for the final time with the Peninsula Panthers after taking on a position with the BC Hockey office on Oldfield Road in Central Saanich.  He will start his new journey bright and early on Monday morning.

Armstrong joined the Panthers as an assistant coach for the 2010/11 season however moved up to the top rung at the start of the 2011/12 season and has been the Club’s Head Coach for the past 18 months. 

In his inaugural season with the Panthers, the Team made it to the VIJHL finals against the Victoria Cougars however quickly found themselves down 3-0 in the best-of-7 series.  That edition of the Panthers were extremely resilient, bouncing back with four straight wins to gain a berth in the Cyclone Taylor Cup which was held in Fernie, B.C.  Winning the Cyclone Taylor Cup in front of a hostile Fernie Ghostrider town was one of the highlights that comes to mind for Armstrong.  “That team pulling together and peaking at the right time to win a special trophy with a character group of kids is something I will always remember,” said Armstrong with a huge smile.  In similar fashion, after trailing the Saanich Braves 3-1 in the best-of-7 series, a scrappy group of Panthers won the last three games of the series knocking out the heavily-favoured Braves squad.  “We scored with less than 25 seconds left to tie game 5 at one each and then took that one in the first overtime.  And then to wrap up the series in dramatic fashion with an exciting and rare game 7 double-overtime win – what a feeling that was.”

Armstrong cited a couple recent memories that he will carry with him to his new digs.  Having Mark Donnelly sing the National Anthem in the VIJHL finals last season and of course having Panthers players David Stephens and Joe Densmore on the ice with childhood friend Aiden Love, ranks right up there according to Armstrong.  “Seeing Aiden in his own Panthers game jersey will be with me forever, especially considering the traumatic ski accident that took away all of his mobility.  It was an emotional night, but a special night that showed why hockey is the best family sport out there.”

And Armstrong would have been remiss if he failed to mention the current Panthers roster.  “Kicking off this season with the best looking jerseys in the league and getting the opening night win with the youngest roster in the VIJHL - perhaps all of Junior Hockey in British Columbia - was memorable.  We put a lot of off-season effort into recruiting this group of players and it was awesome to finally see them hit the ice and find immediate success that first night.”

Armstrong had spent a lengthy stretch in the United States but did not forget his roots.  “After a great experience living in Los Angeles for seven years, my wife and I knew that our Canadian roots would bring our family back to the West coast.  We chose the Peninsula for the schools, the people and the beautiful outdoors.  We could have lived anywhere in North America, and truly believe the quality of life offered here is one of the best in the entire World.  It is a fantastic place to raise our two sons.”
The Peninsula Panthers Organization wish Head Coach and General Manager Rob Armstrong all the best in the future and fully support his move to BC Hockey next week.  “Rob really cared about all aspects of Club,” explained Pete Zubersky.  “He did a lot behind the scenes that fans do not see.  He ran a great practice and I have watched the team improve over the past several months, growing in leaps and bounds.  John Wilson and both Coreen and I cannot thank Rob enough for his contributions and BC Hockey’s gain is the Peninsula Panthers loss.  I am sure we will see Rob around the rink out here on the Peninsula quite a bit.  Once the game is in your blood it is just about impossible to get away from it.”