It took three minutes and 26 seconds of overtime on Saturday night in Mill Bay before Panthers’ rookie forward Braedan Pearce squeaked one past Kerry Park Islanders’ goaltender Jackson Jane to give the Panthers a 3-2 win.
It was the Panthers’ 55th shot of the night but the most important one as it gave them the all important two points in VIJHL standings.
Head coach Brian Passmore said he was happy with the effort from the young team but would have liked to see them put the game away a bit earlier.
“It was our best team game of this season,” Passmore said.
“We kept up the fight and it was great to see Braedan get his first goal in junior-level hockey and an overtime winner to boot. It’s a process with these young guys but we have so much potential.”
One night earlier the Victoria Cougars ventured into the Panorama Recreation Centre and walked away with a 4-0 win.
Two hours prior to game time that night, the Panthers signed 20-year-old defenceman Matthew Sheeran.
Sheeran had been playing in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League for a team in North Battleford but hails from Victoria and was looking for an opportunity close to home.
Although he had not seen game action for a number of days, he jumped right in and was selected as the night’s second star.
The Panthers host the Oceanside Generals at home this Friday at 7:30 p.m.