With the taste of near victory still lingering, the Peninsula Panthers are hungry to hit the ice and gear up for another high-energy season.

The PanthersB次元官网网址� Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) championship run came to an end at the hands of the Campbell River Storm during the deciding Game 7 last year. The Cats were down by one with just six minutes left in the game before falling 3-0 in the first-round series.

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But head coach Brad Tippet says getting to game seven was an accomplishment of its own, and left his team hungry for another shot at winning the league.

B次元官网网址淚 think thatB次元官网网址檚 still fresh in their memory. TheyB次元官网网址檝e had a little taste of success,B次元官网网址� he said.

The team also now has five 20-year-old players, additions that put the team at the same age levels as most other teams in the league.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e really happy with how our team came together in the end. We fought for a couple years to get all the intangibles in place to where we wanted to be,B次元官网网址� said Tippett. B次元官网网址淚 think the added experience we got in the spring has made everybody a step faster and 10 pounds heavier with some added confidence.B次元官网网址�

In fact, with training two weeks underway and an exhibition game win under their belt, Tippett thinks the Panthers are already four or five weeks ahead of where they were this time last year.

B次元官网网址淐oming in with a majority of guys in place already, we donB次元官网网址檛 have to do as much teaching. ItB次元官网网址檚 more about honing right now,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he guys have come in and done a good job over the summer staying in shape. They were hungry to get on the ice early.B次元官网网址�

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As for this seasonB次元官网网址檚 goals? Well the league championship is always at the top, but Tippett has some internal goals for the team.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e done a lot of work this summer doing some stats and analysis and thereB次元官网网址檚 some specific things within the game that weB次元官网网址檙e going to try to put into place,B次元官网网址� he said. And I think some of the other goals we want to keep internal. It will be the focus of just those guys in the room.B次元官网网址�

The Panthers open the regular season Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m. against the Saanich Braves at the Panorama Recreation Centre. They hit the road to Mill Bay the following day to take on the Kerry Park Islanders.

To purchase tickets, visit the PanthersB次元官网网址� ticket booth at the Panorama Recreation Centre, call 250-652-1804 or email zubersky@shaw.ca.