Adkins makes jump to the BCHL's Port Alberni Bulldogs

It was bound to happen, there was really very little doubt about it after the year that Josh Adkins had with the Peninsula Panthers of the VIJHL this past season.  Adkins attended the Port Alberni Bulldogs camp this past weekend and during the exit interview he was offered a card with the BCHL Club.  He will arrive in Port Alberni August 17th with his suitcase and hockey bag in hand to begin his Junior A career in the Alberni Valley.

Adkins, who played as a 17-year-old Forward with the Club, showed a ton of character right off the bat and it was not long before he was moved onto the top line with Dane Gibson.   It was at this point that Gibson took off in scoring and was quickly scooped up by the BCHL's Cowichan Capitals.  But Adkins did not miss a beat and continued developing and soon took over as the Panthers' top Forward.  He was a quiet leader in the room and on the ice and ended up as the team's leading scorer and Most Valuable Player.  He played quite a number of games with the Victoria Grizzlies down the stretch and into the playoffs and did not look one bit out of place.

"Josh Adkins is really what our Organization is about," explained Hockey Ops Pete Zubersky.  "We signed him last summer and told him we would give him a great atmosphere to develop and he ran with it.  He was a go-to guy for us all season long and I felt it was pretty clear that he was ready to take the next step to the BCHL.  I believe that Port Alberni has obtained a solid piece for their hockey club and one day soon he will wear a letter for them."

Adkins was set to do an interview on the Peak radio station as this article was going to print and had officially signed with the Club earlier this week.  The Bulldogs have asked him to come to Alberni for the July 1st Canada Day Parade and to join the team in the annual golf tournament later this summer before main camp kicks off on August 19th.

Adkins, a man of few words had this to say.  "I'm really happy with my decision and looking forward to playing in such a great hockey town and becoming a Bulldog."

The Peninsula Panthers Organization wish to take this opportunity to wish Adkins the best of luck with his new Club and we will all be watching his progress closely and with interest.