Depleted Panthers Club sends the Braves packing

On Thursday evening at the Panorama Recreation Centre a Peninsula Panthers Club that has been hit hard by the injury bug continued to find ways to come out on top in VIJHL action.  Winners of their last 9 of 12 games, the Panthers were full value for the victory, albeit, several of their key people were sitting on the sidelines for the night.  Out with a various array of injuries were Jackson Skerratt, Spencer Loverock, Matt Sheeran, Adam Page and Brett Sjerven however, the Squad produced a gutsy performance in capturing a 4-2 win.

Although the Panthers outshot the Braves in the first frame, it was the visitors' Josh Poland who was first to hit paydirt.  Poland was left alone in front of Panthers starter Joey Karrer at the 15:41 mark and made no mistake lifting the biscuit to the top of the cage.  The teams exchanged several chances, but for the most part the Panthers seemed somewhat sluggish in the early going.

But a different squad skated onto the greased sheet after the 1st intermission and although they missed on several scoring chances early, it was just a matter of time before they burst the bubble of Braves starter Jordan Werezak.  And the goals would come fast and furious.  At 14:33 and on the power play 16-year-old Tate Couglin finished on a setup from Cody Breitenstein and Kyle Richardson.  It was just the start.  Exactly two minutes later Coughlin struck again giving the Panthers the lead for the first time in the game and it proved to be on that they would not relinquish.  Connor Logan was awarded with the lone helper.  And then on the power play once again and less than a minute after Couglin's tally, 6'4" defenceman Kyle Richardson blasted one from the point that eluded Werezak.  Assists were given to Cole Glover and Nick Kean and as the two Clubs skated off after 40 minutes were in the books, it appeared as though it was all but over. 

But a determined Braves squad had other ideas and newly acquired power forward Cam MacKay banged a shot past Karrer from what seemed to be from behind the goal line and it was game on.  The clock ticked to under a minute of play and although the Braves were looking for an opportunity to lift Werezak for an extra attacker, Panthers energy duo of Cody Allison and Jordan Law kept the puck low in the Braves zone.  A turnover saw the Braves finally break out and this triggered Werezak to sprint to the bench for an additional sniper.  Braves Captain Sam McMullen lugged the puck into the Panthers zone and after several crafty moves left him only several feet from Karrer, he pulled the trigger.  The puck bounced off a Panthers defender and out of harms way.  Sean Buchanan scooped the puck up and battled along the boards and he was finally able to move the puck into the neutral zone where Logan was "Johnny on the spot" picking up the loose puck and sending it 100 feet into the yawning Braves net, putting the final touch on the win.  There were only eight seconds left.  Karrer turned away 17 of 19 shots directed his way in picking up the win while Werezak was good on 19 of 22 Panthers' attempts.

"I liked the fact that we nailed down this win in our rink," said Head Coach Brian Passmore.  "We had some really good things happen out there tonight.  It is important to keep winning hockey games.  We want to be in good position going into the Playoffs in February and a win now means as much as a win down the road when everyone is fighting for position.  Yes we are a bit banged up but everyone gets the bug at some point in the year, we will never use that as an excuse.  I liked our compete out there tonight."

16-year-old Koby Hale who plays for the Peninsula Midget AA squad was called up for the 8th time this season and played his best game to date.  He was in on a lot of hits and came within an ace of scoring in the 2nd period when he was fed a perfect pass by Allison as the two Panthers broke in alone.  "I would have loved to see Koby get one," said Pete Zubersky.  "The kid is starting to show some confidence, he is starting to make plays.  Confidence is such a funny thing and when you have it everything seems easier.  I thought Josh Gladman looked better than he has as well.  Passy called him up from Saanich Midget AA as well as Tanner Biggan from Juan de Fuca and all three guys contributed in the win.  We have a very unselfish group and I believe this is a big reason why we have found some success in tough times.

The crowd was sparse to start the 2nd period as Skerratt was in the lobby getting his long locks shaved in support of "Locks of Love."  Skerratt went from having the longest hair in the VIJHL to having no hair at all.  He gave a short address to the crowd explaining why he was so involved with the cause.

The Club will travel to Kerry Park on Saturday night to take on the Islanders and will then be back at home next Friday to take on the same Islanders Squad.  This game is tabbed as "Teddy Bear Toss."  The Panthers are asking that all fans bring with them a stuffed animal wrapped in plastic to throw out on the ice when the Club scores their first goal on the night.  The Teddy Bears will be distributed by a group on the Peninsula - Santa's Toys for Tots - to children that would not otherwise get a gift at this time of year and the Club is requesting that fans get into the Spirit of giving to the less fortunate. 

Panthers Tracks....Coughlin, Richardson and the Braves MacKay were named the three stars on the evening....The Kelowna Rockets Island Scout was in the building watching Couglin score his two goals....The Rockets of the Western Hockey League have tabled an offer in the form of a contract to Coughlin and he and his family have been mulling it over for several weeks....Skerratt and Page are expected to be back in the lineup as soon as next Friday night and Sjerven could follow soon after....Loverock and Sheeran are not expected back until after Christmas....The Panthers are working at landing a couple of players prior to the January 10th deadline and may have one in the lineup next Friday.