Panthers trounce Glacier Kings 9-2 in Comox

The Peninsula Panthers travelled up Island to visit the Comox Valley Glacier Kings on Saturday evening in VIJHL action and the trip was certainly worth the while.  "We were just awful in the 1st period," said Head Coach & General Manager Brian Passmore.  We were so bad that I never even went in the dressing room during the intermission.  But the team came out and played the 2nd and 3rd, it was the way to play hockey.  They played a complete game to the end and now these kids are on the bus and it is rocking in here."

Rookie Sean Buchanan scored his 3rd goal of the early season when he crossed the blueline and sent a lazer past the Glacier Kings' goaltender, but after 20 minutes the Panthers trailed Comox 2-1.  But after that, it was all Panthers as they scored 7 unanswered goals over the final 40 minutes to seal a 9-2 laugher.  The other goal scorers for the Panthers were Jackson Skerratt, Connor Logan and Cole Glover with two apiece, while 16-year-old super sniper Tate Coughlin and rugged power forward Ben Meek added singles.

"Tater-chips scored the goal of the game," explained Passmore as he was about to describe Coughlin's tally.  "He came in, undressed two Glacier Kings defencemen, went to the backhand and just roofed it, wow!"  Coughlin now has 11 points in his first 6 games and seems to be getting more and more comfortable with each passing shift.

20-year-old Jackson Skerratt added a couple helpers in the game and with Connor Logan also having a nice night adding a helper to his two-goal effort, both are tied for 2nd in VIJHL scoring.

It was not all good news however.  6'6" defenceman Iver Oedegaard who hails from Norway left the game after hitting the boards with a thud.  "He's pretty sore right now," said Passmore.  "He is walking around but is really being careful with it, he'll be alright."

Glacier Kings Nicholas Tupper and Panthers Reece Costain shed the mitts for a bit of extra curricular activity and it was a big tilt that had the barn in Comox jumping.  "Reece started slowly but he really got going.  It was a heck of a fight," explained Passmore.

"We played a great game and moved the puck like it should be moved for the final 40 minutes," said the Head Coach.  "But Comox was playing their 3rd game in three nights and I'm sure that had a lot to do with their effort and the lopsided outcome.  We'll take it though, I'll tell you, this bus is loud."

The Panthers are expected to arrive home around 2:00 am and after a good sleep will practice Sunday afternoon.  They will travel to the Archie Browning to take on the Victoria Cougars on Thursday night and will then be back to the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre next Friday night when they tangle with the same Glacier Kings  The Puck is set to drop at 7:30 pm

Panthers Tracks....the 3 stars were Skerratt, Logan and Glover....Skerratt and Logan are tied for 2nd in VIJHL scoring and are only two points behind the leader however have played two less games....Coughlin is working his way up the leader board....Brett Sjerven and Brandon Story were out of the lineup due to injury....New individual seating will be installed in the Panorama Arena starting on Monday and the project will be completed in time for Friday's tilt.