It's The Best Time of The Year

Any hockey fan will tell you that the best time of the season is the playoffs. Putting everything on the line for the ultimate goal makes for the best hockey. And for the Panthers that starts now. 

The Panthers finished a top the Jr. C division meaning they will face the 9th place team, the Sackville Storm. The Storm and the Panthers will play a best of 5 series starting Friday, February 20th in Sackville (usually the team that finished higher in the standings would get home ice advantage but because of some scheduling conflicts the series gets underway in Sackville) with game 2 taking place Saturday, February 21st in Hartland. Game 3 is yet to be determined. 

The Storm have had an interesting first season in the NBJHL, finishing with a 5-23-2 record good enough to sit in the final playoff position edging out the Fundy Cobras, and the Sunny Corner Thunder. They saw consistent close games with the Kent Koyotes (who finished 2nd in the standings) and even beating the defending Jr. C Champs the, Hampton Hurricanes. 

The two teams played each other three times this past season with the Panthers winning two out of the three. The first meeting was the first game of the season for the Panthers which ended up being a commanding 6-1 victory. The teams split the last two games, both being very high energy, scrappy games. The ingredients for what should make for a excellent series. 

The other two teams playing in the Jr. C division are the Grand Lake Moose (7th place) and the Tri-County Rivercats (8th place). That series will begin Saturday in Minto. 

Make sure to keep it locked right here for all the playoff updates!