NORTH SAANICH B次元官网网址� The Peninsula Panthers have had young teams for the last few seasons, always with an eye toward developing local talent.

The clubB次元官网网址檚 work is paying off this season, as nine players from the North Saanich-based squad have been named to the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey LeagueB次元官网网址檚 (VIJHL) Prospect Game.

The league says the annual Prospects Game features 42 rising stars in Island Junior B hockey will take to the ice in Campbell River on Jan. 7, in a North versus South matchup.

Listed on the South roster are the nine Panthers: forwards John Lingard, Tanner Wort, Marshall Brown, Matt Lawrence and Riley Braun, defencemen Shota Yamamoto, Skyler Diamond-Burchuk, Thomas Spink and goalie Bryce Schiebel.

Added to the alternate list (should any of those players not be able to hit the ice next month) are PanthersB次元官网网址� forward Carson Cox and goaltender Chris Akerman.

B次元官网网址淲e obviously have a young squad and a lot of prospects,B次元官网网址� said PanthersB次元官网网址� General Manager Pete Zubersky in a statement. B次元官网网址淏次元官网网址� This is a nice gift for nine of our guys and I expect that we might just add one or two more players before all is said and done.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a truly special experience for the players assembled from across the VIJHL who have the opportunity to showcase their skills before hundreds of the passionate hockey fans in Campbell River and the scouting staff in attendance,B次元官网网址� said VIJHL President Barb Byrne on announcing the lineups this week.

For the full Prospect Game rosters of both North and South division teams, visit vijhl.com.

The coaching staff for the two teams will be assigned by Christmas.

PanthersB次元官网网址� Head Coach Brad Tippett noted the club is proud of all of its players.

B次元官网网址淥ur philosophy is to mold a tight knit group of players who want to get better individually and collectively every day,B次元官网网址� Tippett said. B次元官网网址淓ach of our guys is deserving of being there. Night after night we call in them as B次元官网网址淕o-ToB次元官网网址� players in critical situations B次元官网网址� and they love it! It will be interesting to see how much they stack up when they playing against a whole team of players their same age.B次元官网网址�

The 2018 VIJHL Prospects Game will be broadcast live on HockeyTV as the free VIJHL Game of the Week (https://vijhl.hockeytv.com).

The Panthers are taking a break over Christmas and return to the Panorama Recreation Centre Jan. 1 at 3:30 p.m. to host the Saanich Braves.

B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址 staff