Panthers have reason to celebrate
The Peninsula Panthers will introduce a special third jersey for Peninsula Minor Hockey Association and fan appreciation night at Panorama Recreation Centre on Friday night and they will have a special guest of honour on hand.
“After the first period, a very, very special presentation will be made on ice which promises to not leave a dry eye in the house,” said Panthers owner Pete Zubersky, who is keeping the details a secret, stating only that it involves the Help Fill a Dream Foundation.
“We really don’t want to give away any of the details at this point,” added Zubersky. ”Safe to say, that we have done quite a number of presentations over the life of the hockey club and this one ranks up there with any of them.
“The person does not know it will happen, but I know that it will be a shock and thrilling. We really want to have a packed house for the game, there is just so much happening and all of it is so absolutely positive. In my mind, Friday night, both on and off the ice, is truly what junior hockey should be about. Such an important game and such a positive environment with the activities planned.”
The Panthers will welcome the Westshore Wolves at 7:30 p.m. after the same two teams squared off Wednesday at The Q Centre with the Panthers prevailing 7-4. The Panthers and Wolves are now tied for second place in the South Division, two points up on the Kerry Park Islanders.
For Friday’s game, the Panthers will don a third jersey that pays tribute to this past fall’s Kraft Hockeyville game in which the Vancouver Canucks beat the San Jose Sharks 1-0.
“The jerseys, this time around, are the best the club has ever designed,” Zubersky said. “The front of the jersey boasts the familiar Peninsula Panthers logo, however, the colours are the dark version of the Canucks. The back of the jersey are the dark colours of the Sharks. On one shoulder is the logo of the PMHA Eagles while the other shoulder has a Hockeyville trophy.”
The Panthers will gift the jerseys to PMHA players on the ice after the game in a random draw, but the club will have several more jerseys so that fans in attendance can win as well, but they must remain in attendance.