Panthers take one point in chaotic shootout loss against Huskies to begin 2024

By Reegan MacAulay

You couldn't have asked for more of a roller coaster start to a new year for the UPEI Panthers men's hockey team.

The Panthers and Saint Mary's Huskies went back and forth with full force to begin the second half of the season at the MacLauchlan Arena on Friday night, with the Huskies prevailing 5-4 in a shootout.

Head coach Forbes MacPherson described the game as "a lot going on." 

"We had a lot of energy and our power play was obviously on. Then, at the end, our penalty kill was doing a good job. Overall, a lot of guys were playing the right way and doing the things they had to do to contribute.

"But it just doesn't sit well right now. We had to close that game out, that's the bottom line," MacPherson said.

Both teams were quick to get feisty off the opening face-off, with many big hits and altercations. Veteran defenseman and captain Kurtis Henry received a roughing penalty after a tussle with Huskies forwards Ben Boyd and Andrew Coxhead; the latter also received a penalty. 

The Huskies had full control for most of the first period, leading in shots 7-2 by the halfway mark, but rookie goaltender Joe Ranger stood tall in net. Late in the period, veteran forward Kaleb Pearson was sent to the penalty box for interference. 

Although the Panthers killed the penalty early in the second period, their luck stayed poor as the Huskies took advantage of a poor UPEI line change. Declan McConnell scored at 2:50 to give Saint Mary's a 1-0 lead. 

The game took an abrupt turn as two Saint Mary's penalties led to a three-goal explosion by UPEI. A tic-tac-toe play on an offensive rush led to rookie forwards Noah Sedore and Elias Cohen connecting for Sedore's sixth goal of the season at 9:54.

Over three minutes later, veteran forward Pearson fired a one-timer past goaltender Jeremy Helvig for his 14^th goal of the season. Another minute later, Henry snapped a shot far-side top corner to extend UPEI's lead to two goals. 

The momentum continued into the third period as Pearson scored a bar-down goal 14 seconds into the period. The 4-1 lead was cut short at 5:27 after a Bradey Johnson goal, but other than that, everything seemed to be going well for the Panthers. Unfortunately, three UPEI penalties between 14:05 and 17:09 were not what the team nor fans wanted.

Justin MacPherson inched the score closer at 14:30 and Declan McConnell scored his second goal of the game to tie things up at 18:24.

The overtime period was a goaltender duel with Ranger and Helvig not letting either team catch a break. In the ensuing shootout, Charlie Dafonseca and Nathan Dunkley sealed the deal for Saint Mary's, denying UPEI a win for the fourth time this season. Ben McFarlane was the lone scorer for UPEI.

The final shots were 44-40 in favour of UPEI. Pearson was awarded the UPEI Player of the Game for his two-goal performance.

The Panthers continue their home game weekend doubleheader on Saturday night at the MacLauchlan Arena as the 5-11-3 Acadia Axemen come to town, seeking revenge after losing 4-0 to the Panthers on Saturday, Dec. 2. Game time is at 7 p.m. Buy single game tickets at panthertickets.ca.

Photo Credit: Janessa Vanden Broek