weekend news Jan 11th

Weekend to Remember & Forget

The Peninsula Panthers started the weekend off with a bang, as they crushed the Westshore Stingers 11-2 Friday night in front off a very large crowd. The large crowd gathered for two very good reasons Friday night, Janeese & Friends, plus Peninsula's Canadian Junior Hockey Gold Medal winner Jamie Benn were both at the game to drop the puck for the opening ceremonial face-off.

Samantha Wilson set up the visit with Janeese & Friends to help raise money for Janeese & Friends Coin Drive that started on January 6th, and runs till February 22nd. Samantha gave a wonderful introduction to Janeese, and presented her with a Panther's autographed third jersey at center ice. Two large buckets of coins were raised, and Janeese and the Panthers thank you for your support. Panthers will continue to collect your coins over the next month to add to Janeese's total.

Former Panther Jamie Benn stepped out onto the ice with a large roar and standing ovation. Benn played his minor hockey here on the Peninsula, and many fans came out to pay tribute to such a fine young man. Benn stopped by the future Panthers dressing room before they made their way onto the ice to play a mini game in-between periods. The players didn't want to leave the room, they were having to much fun with Jamie in the room. Benn sighed lot's of autographs, and posed for many photographs, and even stopped of at the broadcast booth to do a little play-by-play and interview with former teammate and voice of the Panthers Paul Haysom.

Panthers thank both Janeese and Jamie for coming out to our game, and wish them the very best in their future endeavors

The game Friday night was one that gave the fans lots of goals to cheer, as the Panthers exploded for 6 goals in the second period to take a commanding lead 9-2. Cats didn't let up in the third adding two more for the 11-2 win. Seven different Panthers scored as Justin Isaac, Carson Baillie, Greg Simpson and Stewart Hepburn each scored a pair. David Courtney, Erik Larsen and James Kellington added singles. Hepburn led the way with five points, well the VIJHL leading score chipped in with three helpers, and Simpson who sits second in scoring added two helpers for a four point night. Blake Huppert currently in 7th place in VIJHL scoring had two helpers. Rookie defenceman Jake Bryan set up three goals in a game that saw 16 of the 18 players register at least a single point or more.

The Cats could have saved a few of those goals from the night before for their trip to Comox, as the Glacier Kings snapped the 15 game winning streak Saturday night with a 5-1 win.

Panthers went to the sin bin early and offten as they were in the box for eight minutes before the ten minute mark of the first period. Bryce Twa was in the penalty box and Carson Baillie had just stepped out of the box to see Comox score on the power play. The Kings fans never had much time to sit down when Michael Jung made it 2-0 at 10:28. Panthers number one power play in the league went to work moments later as Kyle Wells slap shot found the back of the net for the only time the Cats would beat starting Kings Net minder Chris Croswell.

Kings second goal on the power play ended the night for Panthers starting goalie Scott Ismond 12 minutes into the second period. Erik Waring scored the Kings third power play goal of the night to make it 4-1 at the end of two periods.

Panthers were short another 8 minutes in the sin bin of the third period, and out shot 11 to 4. Brett Powell oddly enough scored one of the few times the Cats weren't short handed in the third period to give the Kings a 5-1 win over the first place Cats.

The Panthers will look to home ice Friday night to get back on track, as another battle of the Cats is on the schedule for Friday January 16th. Things are heating back up for first place over all in the VIJHL, as this meeting between the top two teams in the league will have a huge impact on the standings. Panthers currently have a 7 point lead over the Cougars, and hold one game in hand on their cross-town rival. By the time these two teams meet the Cougars could be just 3 points back as the Cougars travel Monday to play in Westshore, and host Oceanside Thursday night for a possible four point gain. Of course your Panthers would have played three less games, but would need to roll the wins to keep the Cougars at bay.

Both teams will have added a little more depth to their line-ups since their last meeting, a 3-2 Panthers win in Esquimalt back on December 4th. Cougars have Nate Rogers reacquired in a trade with Westshore that sees Tanner Burns going the other way. Rogers played the first half a season with the Cougars last year. Mike Hammond is retuning to their line-up after fighting through injuries playing Junior A with the Grizzlies. Cougars defenseman and team captain Cole Winans returns after missing 30 games this season.

Panthers new additions Ross Pattison and Nick Johnston will be in the line-up for your first look at the new Panthers. Both players come over from Squamish Wolfpack of the PIJHL, in exchange for future consideration. Both David Courtney and Ian Ellenberger return to the blue-line after missing most of November and December due to injuries. This could be the first time since the start of the season that the Panthers could have a full roster dressed for Friday night.

You won't want to miss this one, puck drops at 7:30 pm. Panthers broadcast pregame show starts at 7:20 pm.

See you at the game.

Photo's by Micah Escamilla & Kevin Light

For more photo's please visit Kevin's site at http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinlight/

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