Panthers get new coach

By Devon MacKenzie - Peninsula News Review
Published: December 05, 2012 4:00 PM

The Peninsula Panthers faced two losses this past week as they were edged out by the Saanich Braves 4-3 Thursday evening and were downed by the Campbell River Storm, 3-1, on Sunday.

But the buzz around the rink wasn’t about the team’s unusual two-game losing streak.

Rather, the talk of the team was all about Head Coach Rob Armstrong’s resignation that was made public during Thursday night’s game.

Armstrong left his post with the Panthers to pursue a job with B.C. Hockey where his portfolio will include the High Performance Program for the province among other duties.

Armstrong coached the team for the final time in their game against the Braves and had mixed emotions about leaving.

“Coaching the Panthers was a dream job,” said Armstrong.

“I loved every minute of coaching the team and will miss the boys and all the great times that came with it.”

The squad has promoted Assistant Coach Brian Passmore to the Head Coach position and at this time do not appear to be looking to add a third coach. Local Peninsula Minor Hockey product Ben King remains with the Club as an Assistant Coach and he will be working closely with Passmore.

“Rob had a couple of great years with the Panthers,” said hockey operations boss Pete Zubersky.

“We are all happy for him. He has a young family and this was an opportunity that he could not pass up. Although the Organization will miss him greatly it’s the way the game works and we’ll move forward. We have two great hockey people in Passmore and King and I know the players feel very comfortable with them.”

Passmore will be looking for his first two wins this weekend with both games set to kick off at the Panorama Recreation Centre.

The first game is on Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. against the Westshore Wolves and the team takes to home ice again on Sunday afternoon against the Saanich Braves for the Peninsula Minor Hockey Appreciation Game with the puck set to drop at 1:30 p.m.

A third style of the Panthers jersey has been made up especially for the game and will be gifted during an on-ice ceremony afterwards. For more information visit ppanthers.bc.ca.