Panthers give Generals their marching orders in 4-1 rout

The Oceanside Generals came marching into the Panorama Recreation Centre looking to garner two points at the expense of the Peninsula Panthers but it would be a determined Panthers squad who would prevail in VIJHL action Friday night.  The Panthers scored two quick goals early in the 1st period and would not look back as they were full value for a 4-1 win over the visitors.

After a diminutive Clayton Butler belted out the National Anthem and the puck was dropped it would not take long for the home side to hit the scoresheet.  At 6:12 in 16-year-old Tate Coughlin opened the scoring after a scramble in front of Generals starter Liam Giroux.  Connor Logan and Cole Glover were given assists on the play.  And then only 1:10 later the newest addition, 20-year-old defenceman Matt Sheeran made a pretty play from the point before he snapped a shot through a maze of bodies and it would not stop until it hit the back of the net behind Giroux.  For Sheeran it would signify his 1st goal since joining the team last Friday and his power play marker would turn out to be the game winner.  But a hard working Generals Club battled hard and at 16:04 and on the power play the puck squirted to Liam Peel who made no mistake as he ripped the puck over the left shoulder of Peninsula Panthers goaltender Joey Karrer to narrow the score to 2-1 at the break.  This would be as close as the Generals would come.

Logan tallied the lone marker of the 2nd frame when he skated in down the left side, gathered in a pass from Coughlin and snapped a shot between the wickets of Giroux.  Glover was in on the play and was awarded with an assist.

In the 3rd period it was all Panthers as they outshot the Generals 14-3 and scored the lone goal in the 20-minute segment.  Couglin put his second goal of the evening, this time assists going to Logan and 6'6" Norweigan Defenceman Iver Oedegaard.

Joey Karrer blocked 16 of 17 shots directed his way in picking up the win while Giroux was the busier of the two targets blocking 30 of 34 shots on the Generals net.  The three stars of the game in order were Coughlin, Logan and Karrer.

The Panthers are back at it Saturday night when they travel up Island to take on the streaking Comox Valley Glacier Kings.  The Cats will be on the road again on Wednesday when they travel to the Westshore to take on the Wolves before being back at the friendly confines of the Panorama next Friday for a clash against the Victoria Cougars.  The puck is set to drop next Friday at 7:30 pm and a large a boisterous crowd is expected to be on hand to watch yet another chapter in this longstanding rivalry between these two Clubs.