The Peninsula Panthers are still in search of their first win of the 2014/15 VIJHL season after they were bounced 3-1 by the Victoria Cougars last Friday night in yet another close game that just refused to go their way.
After a scoreless 1st period, the Cougars’ Sam McMullen scored a pair of markers to give the visitors a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes of play.
Rookie Mitchell Newman then scored his first goal in Junior Hockey when he opened the scoring for the Panthers at the 1:10 mark of the third period to bring the club within a marker.
A costly turnover five minutes later allowed the Cougars’ Howard Howden to pop one past Panthers’ starter Jacob Krupp, and that was the end of scoring for the evening.
Krupp stopped 31 of 34 shots directed his way while the Cougars’ Grant Payne stopped 20 of 21. The three stars in the game were McMullen, Krupp and Newman.
“I know our guys are frustrated and fighting it a bit right now,” said Panthers’ Assistant Coach Rob Mortin, “but we have to continue to battle and I know that when we win one, we will start to win games. We all feel it, we just have to make it happen.”
The Panthers are back at home at the Panorama Recreation Centre Friday night when the Club hosts the visiting Kerry Park Islanders.
The puck is set to drop at 7:30 p.m.