Skip to content

Panthers head coach leaves bench

Last week busy; filled with player trades, acquisitions
96099sidneyPNRPanthersOct.8POct0814
Peninsula Panthers (#27) Braedan Pearce battles two Kerry Park Islanders in front of the visitors’ net in VIJHL action last Friday night.

Last Thursday, after the the Peninsula Panthers went winless in nine games, head coach of the Peninsula Panthers Grant Sjerven stepped down.

The week started with 19-year-old Panthers forward Jordan Law being traded to the Westshore Wolves for 18-year-old defenceman Brett Carpendale.  On Tuesday afternoon, Panther management pulled off another transaction, sending 18-year-old forward Connor Logan to the Campbell River Storm for future considerations.

On Thursday after a quiet meeting with Panthers owner Pete Zubersky, Sjerven decided that the team needed a new direction behind the bench and announced his plans to leave. In the final transaction of the week, Zubersky acquired 18-year-old forward Josh Poland from the Saanich Braves for future considerations.

“We decided that some moves had to be made and I think the team responded really well on both Friday and Saturday night,” said Zubersky.

Zubersky added the Panthers treated their fans to perhaps the best effort of the season last Friday when they outshot the visiting Kerry Park Islanders 36-21, but unfortunately they still came out on wrong end of the scoreboard.

“We lost at home to the Islanders and then lost by a goal again on Saturday up in Mill Bay. Our lineup is decimated with injuries to almost all of our key guys and the young kids that we have brought in really responded to the challenge. I think we will be ready for the Nanaimo Buccaneers on Friday night.”

Zubersky said he is still in talks with other clubs on some more changes to the team, including a new head coach appointment, but that a freshly-adjusted lineup will be back in action this Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Panorama.

See ppanthers.bc.ca for updates.