Panthers add depth between the pipes in rookie netminder Joe Ranger

By Thomas Becker

Head coach Forbes MacPherson knows all too well that you can never have enough goaltending. 

Over the last three seasons, the UPEI Panthers bench boss has leaned heavily on his No. 1 goaltender more than any other team in the AUS. In the previous two, all-star netminder Jonah Capriotti played in 37 of 52 games, while Simon Hofley played in all 30 games in 2019-20. 

It's a lot to ask of any goalie, and MacPherson is ensuring he has the crease locked down for years to come, especially with Capriotti finishing up his UPEI tenure after the season.

This year's roster will feature three goaltenders, including newcomer Joe Ranger, who joins the Panthers after a strong Ontario Hockey League (OHL) career. 

"Joe has a ton of Major Junior experience. We had good conversations early, and based on his junior career, we decided to pursue Joe aggressively," MacPherson said. "He's a great teammate and showed signs of wanting to come to PEI, so we're really excited to add Joe." 

Ranger played three seasons with the Mississauga Steelheads before he was traded to the Sudbury Wolves, where he spent his final year in the league. In 83 games, the Carp, ON native posted a 33-32-8 record with a 3.51 goals against average and an .884 save percentage.

In 2021-22, the 21-year-old enjoyed a breakout year with Steelheads, recording a 2.54 goals against average and a .911 save percentage in 29 games. He ranked second among OHL goalies in regular season shutouts (4) and started four games during Mississauga's franchise record 11-game point streak that lasted nearly a month. 

Ranger, who will be studying business at UPEI, said he's eager to bring that level of success to the Panthers and embrace this new chapter. 

"This year will be a fresh start for many of us. We're young and excited to grow as a team and we're looking to surprise the rest of the league," he said.

For the team to succeed, MacPherson understands how vital goaltending is, and with three stalwarts committed to bringing out the best in each other, the position should be in good hands now and in the future.

"We feel like goaltending will be a strength of our team this year. There will be a lot of competition, but we have a plan and the group is on board," MacPherson said. "Joe, like the other two goalies, has strong character, and together they'll be the backbone of our team."

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