Outgunned, outplayed and not having scored a goal in the previous three games who would blame the Port Hope Panthers if they just gave up for game four – but they didn’t.
From the opening face-off at the Jack Burger Sports Complex at 8:30 pm on February 26, 2019 the Panthers gave it their all taking the game to overtime before losing 3-2 in the first round of the Provincial Junior Hockey League playoffs.
The weather was likely a factor with less than 100 fans showing up, but let’s face it with many fresh faces in terms of players and coaching staff, the team is clearly rebuilding for the future.
It was clear from the standings Napanee should be the team to take the series.
In the three games played in the series, the Raiders won them all by a score of 3-0.
So going into the forth game, their wasn’t much hope. But nobody told the Panthers that.
The team played with pure heart, determination and even fun, but without the stellar performance of Panthers goalie Curtis Laviolette who stopped 74 shots the game definitely wouldn’t have gone into overtime. The Raiders goalie only faced a total of 14 shots for the entire game.
The team did everything they could with blocking shots, hard checks, but the Raiders were more experienced, quick and powerful.
Most of the game was played in the Panthers end, but it was Port Hope that came out with the first two goals.
Jacob McPhee scored at 3:36 of the second period with assists by Tristan Walsh and Nolan Stevenson.
At 11:18 of the second, Adam Meijer got the Panthers their second goal with assists by Carson Shuttleworth and Ethan Shore.
In the end it was Napanee that got the overtime goal at 14:04 of the first overtime period ending the season for the Panthers.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
