Well known local Grant Sjerven named as Panthers' new Bench Boss

"We wanted to take our time and be patient in our search for a new Head Coach and I think that the wait was well worth it," explained Hockey Operations Pete Zubersky.  "Grant Sjerven will be taking over the reins of the Hockey Club and when we open at home on September 5th against the Westshore Wolves, Grant will be at the helm.  We will have a lot of local kids on the team this coming season and we wanted a local coach, someone who will be excited to be part of what we have always tried to do out here on the Peninsula - be a part of our great community."

And with that being said, the Peninsula Panthers ushered in a new era for the Club who battle night in and night out in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.  This is not the first time Sjerven will be involved in the Panthers as he played goal for the Club as a youngster back in the 1988/89 season.  Prior to that, Sjerven played Minor Hockey here on the Peninsula and his roots are based solidly in the community.  He moved onto the BCHL playing in Merritt and Penticton before heading to the Div. 1 NCAA St. Cloud State College where he played three years in the WCHA.  And from there it was an 11-year professional career with stops in Richmond, Chicago, Houston, Manchester, Sheffield, Odessa and Wichita.  He finished off his playing days during the 2004/05 season as an emergency callup with the Victoria Salmon Kings of the ECHL.

"We met on Canada Day for a coffee and discussed the opportunity coming in as the Head Coach," said Zubersky.  "Grant was pretty excited and explained that he felt he had a lot left to give to the game but up to this point the timing was not right.  He has two daughters and just felt that it was too early to commit to coaching, as there were simply not enough hours in the day.  But now the time is right for him and as an organization we are very happy to move forward with Grant pulling on the rope with us.  Community is an important word in our business plan - always has been and always will be - and with Grant being a local and well-known face out here, it's an obvious fit."

Sjerven has a wife who works out in Sidney and two daughters who both go to school in Brentwood Bay.

The Club will be running some development ice in August and then will roll into their Main Camp at the end of August and early September at the Panorama Recreation Centre.  There is still room in both sessions and players both young and old who are interested in attending can check out the information by clicking on the "Camps" button.