The Peninsula Panthers are expected to be one of the youngest B次元官网网址� if not the youngest B次元官网网址� teams in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League again this season.
But donB次元官网网址檛 expect them to be any less skilled B次元官网网址� and all decked out in .
The Junior B hockey club has reloaded for the 2017/18 hockey season and Club Governor and General Manager Pete Zubersky says theyB次元官网网址檒l be competitive on the ice.
A full roster of players will be on the ice this Saturday, Sept. 2 at 8:30 p.m. for the third Panthers preseason game.
They host the Saanich Braves at Panorama RecreationB次元官网网址檚 Arena A. Arena B is undergoing a $2.5 million upgrade, including a whole new rink floor, bench and boards. That means once the regular season starts on Sept. 8, the Panthers will be on the road for about five games.
Peninsula are 0-2 in preseason matches, having dropped two game to a Westshore Wolves squad that Zubersky said is loaded. Or considered by some to be loaded.
B次元官网网址淚 thought we played really well,B次元官网网址� he said of those games.
The first was both teamB次元官网网址檚 younger, non-roster players. The second was more of a mix of both teamsB次元官网网址� veteran and new players.
Peninsula has about 65 per cent of its team so far as returning players. As is their usual practice, the Panthers have drawn in new players from the ranks of the Peninsula Minor Hockey Association. The trio of Tanner Wort, John Lingard and Riley Braun could end up playing on a line together, Zubersky said during a recent practice. They had worked out with the Panthers all of last season and found themselves called up to play on occasion.
Peninsula has added two other rookies B次元官网网址� SaanichB次元官网网址檚 David Edgar and Brendan Martin, who played in major midget last year. Zubersky said both players have a lot of skill.
Another two newcomers are from Winnipeg, thanks to the hockey connections of second year coach Brad Tippett. Skyler Diamond-Burchuck and Matt Lawrence have added skills and confidence to the team this season.
B次元官网网址淭he way they carry themselves, theyB次元官网网址檙e confident, mature.B次元官网网址�
Backstopping the Panthers this year will be Salt Spring IslandB次元官网网址檚 Chris Akerman, making his Junior B debut. Zubersky said last yearB次元官网网址檚 starter in goal, Shawn Parkinson, could be back in the fold B次元官网网址� depending on how the goalie makes out at the Victoria Grizzlies camp.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e probably gonna be the youngest team in the league again,B次元官网网址� Zubesky said, B次元官网网址渂ut this time around, weB次元官网网址檒l have a little bite to us.B次元官网网址�
Among the returning veterans, Zubersky said QuesnelB次元官网网址檚 Marshall Brown has gained weight and confidence B次元官网网址� and has recovered from a broken leg he suffered last season. but heB次元官网网址檚 back, and looking strong. Other vets back on the ice for the Panthers include Trevor Owens, Ty Hermsen, Braeden Hansen and Shota Yamamoto.
Five other veterans have been lost to new levels of hockey. Holden Cochrane is in Hearst, Ontario with the expansion Hearst Lumberjacks of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. Zack Evans has gone south of the border to the Utah Outliers of Salt Lake City. Gavin Yee has joined the Chinese Under 20 team based in Toronto. And Drew Coughlin B次元官网网址� last seasonB次元官网网址檚 top scorer B次元官网网址� went to the Alberta Junior Hockey LeagueB次元官网网址檚 Camrose Kodiaks.
The Panthers open their regular season Sept. 8 on the road at the Saanich Braves. Their first home game, once their home ice is complete, is scheduled for Sept. 29, 7:30 p.m. against the Victoria Cougars.
