Nov. 15th vs. Nanaimo Buccaneers

Good Evening Hockey Fans,
It’s Friday night so here we go as we are just about to reach the half-way mark in our VIJHL 48-game schedule.  Tonight we play our 22nd game of this current campaign and I have seen some real development in each individual on the team as well as the collective group.  There is a lot to talk about in terms of the game tonight with the visiting Nanaimo Buccaneers and I will touch on that a bit further on but for now I wanted to chat about a couple other things happening around the Club.
Last night we went over to the Tsawout First Nation and joined with the Sidney/North Saanich RCMP and the Central Saanich Police Service in a ball hockey game with First Nation Youth.  Several meetings were held leading up to the game and there was a real energy between Tsawout First Nation, both Police Departments and the Peninsula Panthers.  I have been working away as a Coach, General Manager and Owner in both Junior “A” and Junior “B” and have been involved in a lot of off-ice activities.  Obviously the most significant and painful was dealing with the death of Steven Simpson, but for the most part the experiences have been very positive.  Last night and the weeks leading up to last night were the most rewarding event for me to this point.  When our fellows put on their Jerseys at Tsawout First Nation there were a lot of wide eyes from so many of the young kids.  One mother immediately approached me and asked if her son could do the warmup with the Panthers and our kids welcomed the youngster right away.  Soon there were five or six little kids out on the floor with the Panthers, it was really great.  Connor Logan’s Grandmother came in from Port Alberni - she is also here tonight - and had several gifts to give out prior to the game.  When I spoke, I looked around and there were many of the youngsters that did not hear a word I said, missing what was going on in the excitement of the night.  When Connor’s Grandmother spoke, time simply stood still - it was amazing to watch.  She had a long speech but I could have listened to her for another hour.  Her words really had an impact on me.  She discussed the game as an historical event, something that she never had the opportunity to be involved in.  She spoke about being in a Residential School as a little girl and compared her plight as a First Nation Youth to First Nation Youth right now.  You could have heard a pin drop.  We introduced each of the players and it was probably the first time for many of the young kids to hear their name being announced.  They took turns stepping forward as their name went out over the P.A. system, smiles on their faces literally going from ear to ear.  We played the game and I am sure they loved that as well but for me everyone was a winner before the game even started.  Larry Orr had contacted Jordie and Jamie Benn - who formally played out here for the Panthers - and they were able to get a Vern Fiddler signed Jersey sent out for the game.  Fiddler is a First Nation Player on the Stars with the Benn boys.  I presented the Tsawout First Nation with a framed Panthers Jersey so that they would have something to put on the wall in the lobby of their Administration building to remember the night.  We then had a draw for the jersey which was won by a young First Nation girl named Charlene.  (I hope I spelled this correct!)  Chek TV was there with a cameraman and the evening will be a featured segment for “Game on” in the next week.  The Cameraman interviewed several folks from Tsawout First Nation and a couple of the Panthers, the usual stuff.  When most everyone had cleared out he was cleaning up his gear and I thanked him for coming out.  He turned around and thanked me and said that this was easily the highlight of his day and he was so happy to be able to join us and see the happy faces.  It was really quite an awesome night.
Tonight we will be holding Part 2 of this celebration of First Nation Youth.  Adam Olsen who is First Nation and also the BC Green Party Leader will join us for a pre-game ceremony.  Adam will say a few words and will drop the puck for the ceremonial face-off between our Connor Logan and the Nanaimo Bucs Lynden Eddy.  Both Logan and Eddy are First Nation.  Connor will say a few words and after the ceremony is complete, First Nation and 16-year-old Addie Elliot will sing the National Anthem.  I think it will be a great night for everyone and thank you for joining us.
On the ice I believe we have played our best hockey of this season as of late.  Ten days ago we went into Bear Mountain and played a solid 60 minutes in picking up the win.  And then last Friday we knocked off the Victoria Cougars right here at the Panorama and were really full value for the win.  I read on the Cougars’ website that it was the only time this season that they have been out-shot, yes we played a strong game.  The young kids are really starting to come into their own.  Logan is only 17 but is racking up the points.  16-year-old Tate Coughlin is having a breakout season and is closely being monitored by the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League.  Sean Buchanan is 17 and leads all defencemen in the VIJHL with 9 goals and is really a threat to score every single game.  Buchanan only turned 17 on Tuesday and was just named the VIJHL player of the week.  Braedan Pearce simply gets better and better every single day.  The young man hits like a Wilson’s Bus and when he does, he impacts our entire lineup.

I wanted to touch just a bit more on Tate Coughlin and some of the rules that these kids and parents have to deal with as they navigate through their hockey careers.  Tate will not be with the Panthers next season, he will be ready to move up a level to the BCHL or the WHL.  Last Friday a scout from the Rockets was at our game against the Cougars and was very impressed with the game as well as with Tate.  He told me that the game was the closest thing he had seen to Junior A ever and was equally as happy with Tate’s performance.  He told me that he would be immediately contacting the Rockets to let them know how Tate has developed in the past couple of months.  Early this week Tate was sent a contract by the Kelowna Rockets, they want to nail him down.  I know how excited the young fellow is but now it is time for the family to do some soul searching.  If Tate signs the contract I would think that he will complete this season with the Panthers - and I believe that would be best for his development - but would play 3-5 games with the Rockets just to get his feet wet.  The downside is as soon as he signs the contract for all intents and purposes he gives up his NCAA eligibility.  This is such a young age to make this choice but in our country kids and parents have to figure things out in a hurry.  Nate Looysen and his family went through the same decision- making process in August when the Kamloops Blazers wanted to ink him to a contract, albeit, he was a year older than Tate.  Nobody can tell the player or the family what to do, but only give them all the information to help them to navigate through the process. 

OK, what about tonight’s lineup.  Ben Meek continues to be on the sidelines and we are just unsure when he will return.  It looks like Coughlin is out tonight but I would fully expect him to be back next Friday.  Cole Glover, Iver Oedegaard and Adam Page are all questionable and we will see what happens at game time.  Brett Sjerven might draw back into the lineup, again not quite sure.  Spencer Loverock has joined the Nanaimo Clippers for a three-game road trip into On the ice I believe we have played our best hockey of this season as of late.  Ten days ago we went into Bear Mountain and played a solid 60 minutes in picking up the win.  And then last Friday we knocked off the Victoria Cougars right here at the Panorama and were really full value for the win.  I read on the Cougars’ website that it was the only time this season that they have been out-shot, yes we played a strong game.  The young kids are really starting to come into their own.  Logan is only 17 but is racking up the points.  16-year-old Tate Coughlin is having a breakout season and is closely being monitored by the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League.  Sean Buchanan is 17 and leads all defencemen in the VIJHL with 9 goals and is really a threat to score every single game.  Buchanan only turned 17 on Tuesday and was just named the VIJHL player of the week.  Braedan Pearce simply gets better and better every single day.  The young man hits like a Wilson’s Bus and when he does, he impacts our entire lineup.

I wanted to touch just a bit more on Tate Coughlin and some of the rules that these kids and parents have to deal with as they navigate through their hockey careers.  Tate will not be with the Panthers next season, he will be ready to move up a level to the BCHL or the WHL.  Last Friday a scout from the Rockets was at our game against the Cougars and was very impressed with the game as well as with Tate.  He told me that the game was the closest thing he had seen to Junior A ever and was equally as happy with Tate’s performance.  He told me that he would be immediately contacting the Rockets to let them know how Tate has developed in the past couple of months.  Early this week Tate was sent a contract by the Kelowna Rockets, they want to nail him down.  I know how excited the young fellow is but now it is time for the family to do some soul searching.  If Tate signs the contract I would think that he will complete this season with the Panthers - and I believe that would be best for his development - but would play 3-5 games with the Rockets just to get his feet wet.  The downside is as soon as he signs the contract for all intents and purposes he gives up his NCAA eligibility.  This is such a young age to make this choice but in our country kids and parents have to figure things out in a hurry.  Nate Looysen and his family went through the same decision- making process in August when the Kamloops Blazers wanted to ink him to a contract, albeit, he was a year older than Tate.  Nobody can tell the player or the family what to do, but only give them all the information to help them to navigate through the process. 

OK, what about tonight’s lineup.  Ben Meek continues to be on the sidelines and we are just unsure when he will return.  It looks like Coughlin is out tonight but I would fully expect him to be back next Friday.  Cole Glover, Iver Oedegaard and Adam Page are all questionable and we will see what happens at game time.  Brett Sjerven might draw back into the lineup, again not quite sure.  Spencer Loverock has joined the Nanaimo Clippers for a three-game road trip into On the ice I believe we have played our best hockey of this season as of late.  Ten days ago we went into Bear Mountain and played a solid 60 minutes in picking up the win.  And then last Friday we knocked off the Victoria Cougars right here at the Panorama and were really full value for the win.  I read on the Cougars’ website that it was the only time this season that they have been out-shot, yes we played a strong game.  The young kids are really starting to come into their own.  Logan is only 17 but is racking up the points.  16-year-old Tate Coughlin is having a breakout season and is closely being monitored by the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League.  Sean Buchanan is 17 and leads all defencemen in the VIJHL with 9 goals and is really a threat to score every single game.  Buchanan only turned 17 on Tuesday and was just named the VIJHL player of the week.  Braedan Pearce simply gets better and better every single day.  The young man hits like a Wilson’s Bus and when he does, he impacts our entire lineup.

I wanted to touch just a bit more on Tate Coughlin and some of the rules that these kids and parents have to deal with as they navigate through their hockey careers.  Tate will not be with the Panthers next season, he will be ready to move up a level to the BCHL or the WHL.  Last Friday a scout from the Rockets was at our game against the Cougars and was very impressed with the game as well as with Tate.  He told me that the game was the closest thing he had seen to Junior A ever and was equally as happy with Tate’s performance.  He told me that he would be immediately contacting the Rockets to let them know how Tate has developed in the past couple of months.  Early this week Tate was sent a contract by the Kelowna Rockets, they want to nail him down.  I know how excited the young fellow is but now it is time for the family to do some soul searching.  If Tate signs the contract I would think that he will complete this season with the Panthers - and I believe that would be best for his development - but would play 3-5 games with the Rockets just to get his feet wet.  The downside is as soon as he signs the contract for all intents and purposes he gives up his NCAA eligibility.  This is such a young age to make this choice but in our country kids and parents have to figure things out in a hurry.  Nate Looysen and his family went through the same decision- making process in August when the Kamloops Blazers wanted to ink him to a contract, albeit, he was a year older than Tate.  Nobody can tell the player or the family what to do, but only give them all the information to help them to navigate through the process. 

OK, what about tonight’s lineup.  Ben Meek continues to be on the sidelines and we are just unsure when he will return.  It looks like Coughlin is out tonight but I would fully expect him to be back next Friday.  Cole Glover, Iver Oedegaard and Adam Page are all questionable and we will see what happens at game time.  Brett Sjerven might draw back into the lineup, again not quite sure.  Spencer Loverock has joined the Nanaimo Clippers for a three-game road trip into he Interior and Reece Costain and Buchanan will join the Grizzlies for a three-game trip into the Lower Mainland.  For Costain, it will be his first taste of BCHL action and I know he is pretty darn excited about it. We are bringing up some AP’s tonight including 16-year-old Ethan Waitzner.  We are just in the process of nailing down the others.  Wow, I could go on for another 20 minutes but I am out of room.  Thanks for joining us this evening, we have a slim lineup but would still love a “W.”  Pete Zubersky