Panthers' Season Preview

A new season of Peninsula Panthers hockey is upon us so I thought the folks at home might want a preview of the team that will be lacing up this season. First let’s take a look at the returning players from last year’s squad:

Goal
#33 Stephen Heslop
Stephen Heslop knows how to stop pucks - beginning and end of the story.  His glove hand is probably one of the deadliest in the league and he knows how to sauce a pass to a streaking forward.  He had 15 wins in 38 starts last year with 2 shutouts.
 
Defense
#2 Iver Oedegaard       
Say what? Guess who's back from Norway!  Iver, who played with the Panthers 2 years ago, returns this year to the Panthers.  Watch out for this young man.  He had 13 points in 34 games last year for the Storhamar Dragons in Norway.
 
#3 Cody Breitenstein     "A"
The man who finished as your Captain last year is returning to one of the strongest Defense cores in the league.  He will proudly wear an A as one of the Panthers three Alternate Captains this year.  The 20-year-old from California had 19 points in 40 games last year.
 
#4 Kyle Richardson        
"Skyscraper" Richardson is back and better than ever. This kid is very for the boys and will play a big role on the back end this year.  He had 6 points in 43 games last season.
 
#5 Brett Sjerven      "C"  
He's your Captain and a force to be reckoned with - somebody who's bad side I would not want to get on.  Brett had 7 points in 29 games last year.
 
#6 Grayson Vickers      
Expected to be one of the biggest leaders on this Club, the 20-year-old Vickers is looking to power this team to great things this season.  Grayson had 10 points in 48 games last year.
 
#7 Spencer Loverock     
Loverock spent the end of last season with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the BCHL. Spencer will be spending some time on forward and defense and had 18 points in 35 games with the Panthers last year.
 
Forwards
#9 Cole Glover          
The man with the million dollar smile is back and I'm ready for this kid to blow up with a big year.  Glover had 30 points in 47 games last year for Peninsula.
 
#10 Cody Allison        
If this man isn't the hardest worker in the league, I don't know who is.  Cody is back for another season with the Panthers.  Look for his hard play and valuable experience to show the new players how it's done.  Cody had 9 points in 38 games last year.
 
#11 Reece Costain       
BOOM!  Costain is back and the rest of the VIJHL should be scared.  This guy throws bone rattling hits like it's his day job and he's been known to chip in on the score sheet as well.  Reece had 25 points in 44 games last season with the Panthers.
 
#16 Connor Logan      "A"  
If I had to pick a dark horse to watch on this team it would be Connor Logan.  This kid brings a complete package to the Club and has been known to electrify the fans.  One of the three Alternate Captains on this team, his leadership will be relied on.  He had 21 points in 46 games last year.
 
#21 Thomas Strocel      
Defenseman turned Forward - Thomas Strocel will razzle-dazzle you with his smooth skating.  He played the end of last season on Defense for Peninsula and is looking to help bolster a strong core of forwards.
 
#24 Ben Meek            
Fan favourite Ben Meek may have spent his summer fishing but his heart still lies in the rink.  Expect solid play from this kid and although he may look like a smiley nice guy, he sure knows how to drop the mitts to stand up for his team.  Meeker had 6 points in 42 games last season.
 
#25 Jackson Skerratt   "A" 
You would think the most beautiful thing about Jackson Skerratt would be his long blonde hair, but then you see his hands on the ice.  This kid knows how to bring the offense and as one of the 20-year-olds on this team, his leadership will be huge on the bench and in the dressing room.  He will lead this team as one of the three Alternate Captains.  Jacko had 6 points in his 9 games for Peninsula last year.
 
#26 Will Finlay         
Everyone calls him "Whistler Will".  This guy pushes the pace like I have never seen before.  You'll notice him every shift as he shoots out of the bench like a rocket.  Finlay had 16 points in 46 games last year.

#27 Braedan Pearce      
Braedan Pearce spent 3 games with the Panthers last season and made a good impact in his pre-season games early on.  He had 50 points in 40 games last year with Saanich Midget A.
 
#29 Zack Smith          
The most electrifying scorer on the team has to be Zack Smith.  This kid just loves to score goals and is the highest returning point scorer from last year’s Panthers Club.  He had 32 points in 47 games.
 
So now you know who's back from last year, but with 11 players who spent time on the roster not returning, you have to bring in some new faces.  Here's the new crop of Panthers talent:
 
Goal 
#1 Joey Karrer
Joey Karrer will be playing behind Heslop this season.  He spent last season in Smithers playing Midget hockey.  A welcome addition to the squad, watch out for his glove hand.
 
Defense
#55 Sean Buchanan     
Sean spent last season with the South Island Royals of the BC Major Midget League.  He had 15 points in 40 games.  
 
#20 Adam Page
Adam played last season with Saanich Midget AA.  He's an aggressive two way defenseman who reads the play well and had 22 points last year.
 
Forwards
#15 Nick Kean    
Nick Kean spent last season with the South Island Royals of the BC Major Midget League.  The power forward had 11 points in 36 games.   
 
#22 Brandon Story
Brandon Story played last season with the Saanich Braves of the VIJHL.  He's a two-way Forward who scored 1 Goal in 16 games last year with the Braves.  
 
So there you have it - your 2013/2014 Peninsula Panthers.  I expect great things this season and I better see you all at the rink for the home opener this Friday evening at 7:30 pm when they face the visiting Kerry Park Islanders in VIJHL action.  If for some reason you can’t make the game you can listen live to myself (Jordan Henry) and my two broadcasting partners Liam Gormican and Eric Christiansen all season long at ppanthers.bc.ca.