Good Evening Hockey Fans,
Welcome back to the Panorama Recreation Centre where tonight we take on the visiting Kerry Park Islanders. As you all know, tonight is our final league game and after going on a bit of a tough run as of late, we are hoping to put a win up on the board so that we can go into the playoffs next week with a bit of momentum.
The Islanders will complete their season tomorrow and then on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 pm they will take on the Campbell River Storm at Bear Mountain Arena in a game which the League has billed as “Wild Card Sunday.” Campbell River will finish last in the North Division while the Islanders will finish in last place in the South. These two teams will play a single elimination game Sunday to kick start the VIJHL playoffs, the loser going home for the year while the winner will advance taking the 4th place seed in the North. The winner will then start the best-of-7 series against the 1st place Nanaimo Buccaneers while the other series in the North will see the Comox Valley Glacier Kings go head-to-head with the Oceanside Generals. And in the South, the Saanich Braves and Westshore Wolves will lock up in the best-of-7 series while we will take on the Victoria Cougars with game 1 set to go at Archie Browning arena next Thursday evening with both Clubs back here for game 2 at the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre next Friday evening at 7:30 pm.
Although tonight we want to put up a win, it is just as important to come out at the end of the evening with no further injuries. Some of our kids have been banged up over the past two or three weeks and we are just now starting to get some of them back this week. I am sure you will see a great effort tonight but I can’t help thinking that the kids are looking forward to next Thursday when a new season starts and the current standings are thrown out the window. Last season we struggled down the stretch and then had a wonderful playoff run but simply ran out of gas at the end. I would love to see that kind of emotion once again this time around and know you all hope for much of the same.
Tonight our kids will quickly take off their gloves and helmets after the first period is over and we will then join all of you out in the lobby near the Panthers ticket booth. There will be tables and chairs set up for the players during the intermission and our players will sign autographs for the young fans until the 2nd frame is about to begin. We will provide programs for everyone at this time and near the very back is a page where the players can sign autographs. Looking back on our program there have been some great kids come through, three of whom play right now in the NHL including Jamie and Jordie Benn for the Dallas Stars and Ryan O’Byrne who plays for the Colorado Avalanche. This is always a popular event for the young fans and I see parents getting a real kick out of it as well. Please join us in the lobby, Coreen will be passing out programs for each and every one of you.
Tomorrow night we will be holding our Awards Dinner at the Glen Meadows Golf and Country Club with refreshments around 4:30 pm and the meal being served an hour after that. We have twelve awards to give out ranging from the Steve Simpson Memorial Trophy for Courage, Character and Heart, the Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, and obviously nine more. Some of the winners are pretty obvious such as our 17-year-old Josh Adkins picking up the Top Scorer but others are not quite as easy to pick. There are a handful of tickets left if you would like to join us and these can be picked up at the ticket booth from Coreen. The tickets go for $40. which seems like a pretty penny however the meal is a Deluxe Buffet which is top shelf and the best that the Glen Meadows serves. Throw in 12% tax and 15% gratuity and you get up to the $40 in a hurry. The evening should be one with a lot of laughs and perhaps some tears, but I do know that it will be a memorable one as it always is. The atmosphere is always upbeat, there is plenty of optimism to fill the room. Our players will be wearing their jerseys and will be easy to identify. Most of you only see the kids with their helmets and gear on, this night allows you to get to know the kids a bit better. It allows you to hear them speak, to watch them interact with the rest of their team. Most of these kids will be back next year and so the night will allow you to get closer with the players you will be watching next season. So please join us tomorrow night if you are so inclined and once again, just chat with Coreen and she will help you out.
So we are just about set to get going for the final regular season game of this, the 2012/13 season. It has been quite a ride, I really cannot believe that our season is over and we are rolling into the first round of the playoffs. I hope that you have all enjoyed the season, we could not have done it without all of your help. Next Friday we will be back here but there will be a lot more chips on the table. Please support us through the playoffs, you have no idea how much it means to the kids, to the organization. You are the best in the VIJHL!
Pete Zubersky
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