Game 3: Tonight (March 9), 7:30 p.m. at Panorama.

For a team coming off two straight Island championships and a the B.C. championship, the Peninsula Panthers sure get a bad rap.

Maybe itB次元官网网址檚 because they finished the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League season in fifth place with 17 wins, less than half of the first-place Victoria CougarsB次元官网网址� 36.

Maybe itB次元官网网址檚 an unfair assessment based on the mid-season change of ownership, which had a negative affect on the team, including the departure of the talented Peterson brothers tandem of Cole and Kyle.

Or maybe itB次元官网网址檚 because their Saanich rivals absolutely devoured them in their last five meetings this season, with the Braves outscoring the Panthers 34-9.

Or maybe itB次元官网网址檚 a little bit from each.

B次元官网网址淲e came in with seven returning players from last yearB次元官网网址檚 gold-meal squad,B次元官网网址� said head coach Rob Armstrong. B次元官网网址淎nd yes, we lost some good players, including Evan Campbell, who was incredible for this team as a player and a leader.

B次元官网网址淏ut this season had its distractions, with the financial stuff. And weB次元官网网址檝e been bringing along some rookies as well, seeing how this team thrives in the playoffs.B次元官网网址�

The ownership situation was particularly sour for fans, Armstrong said.

B次元官网网址淐rowds have grown recently. And home ice is going to be an advantage again for us, where it wasnB次元官网网址檛 at mid-season.B次元官网网址�

Armstrong was on the bench as an assistant coach to former owner Jackson Penney when the Panthers won everything but the Keystone Cup, Western Canadian championship last year.

He believes his team has the firepower to challenge for another VIJHL championship.

But to do it, the team needs its big guns to execute, especially on the powerplay.

Which means quarterback Jake Bryan, hometown boy Trevor Yee and talented Whitehorse imports Joe Densmore and David Stephens taking the lead on the first unit, which they did on

B次元官网网址淥ur powerplay had been inconsistent most of the season. It has to be better. (Overall) we have the firepower but we donB次元官网网址檛 have a large margin of error. Granted (the Braves) are a good team, and we have to play well.B次元官网网址�