Peninsula Panthers players are glad to have seen the last of the Victoria Cougars for a while, but also hope to get another look at them in the playoffs.
The local Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) team wrapped its series of 10 games against rival Victoria Cougars with a record of two wins and eight losses, having lost six straight games. The Panthers suffered their two most recent losses last week, losing 6-3 Thursday, then 3-1 Friday.
While the two teams were undeniably the best the VIJHL offered during last yearB次元官网网址檚 pandemic-shortened season, the Panthers found themselves on the losing end more often not against one of the best teams in the province, according to Pete Zubersky, the PanthersB次元官网网址� general manager.
B次元官网网址淸The Cougars] might not lose another game all season,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e were banged up for almost all of those games and the injuries were almost entirely on defence and that just killed us. And [forward] Josh Lingard who is in any discussion as the best player in our league was out for a protracted period of time as well.B次元官网网址�
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The PanthersB次元官网网址� rash of injuries placed the spotlight on the teamB次元官网网址檚 13 rookies that played during the 10 games against the Cougars with decidedly mixed results.
B次元官网网址淎t times they played great, at other times I thought they were timid,B次元官网网址� said Zubersky.
This said, Zubersky also sees the potential in hoping for an extended rematch against the Cougars. B次元官网网址淭he next time we could meet again would be in the playoffs in March,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 hope it happens as a lot of water will have gone under the bridge and our young kids should be hardened. This was a great way for them to start their careers. A lot of lessons were learned in the past ten games.B次元官网网址�
The Panthers will have two weeks off, then play their next 14 games in 31 days against the Kerry Park Islanders before taking another break just before Christmas.
B次元官网网址淭he Islanders have been winning games so our guys are all looking forward to seeing what they have,B次元官网网址� said Zubersky of the Islanders, whose record of four wins and five losses places ahead of the Panthers, who sit in the basement of VIJHLB次元官网网址檚 South Division. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a crazy season and itB次元官网网址檚 something I hope we will never see again but also something that I will never forget. ItB次元官网网址檚 been quite a journey so far.B次元官网网址�
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