The Embrun Panthers welcomed the Arnprior Packers to the Palais des Sports on Fri., Dec. 15, in the CCHL2. The Panthers’ forward Noah Haymes led the way with two goals as the Panthers shut out the Packers 4-0. Haymes is third in team scoring with 19 goals and 18 assists for 37 points in 35 games this season. Sawyer Helmer photo
Jeff Moore
Villager Staff
ALEXANDRIA – The Embrun Panthers had three games this past week.
Glens 2 Panthers 1: The Panthers travelled to the Billy Gebbie Arena in Alexandria to take on the Glens on Sat., Dec 16, in the CCHL2. The Panthers sat in third place in the Martin Division just four points behind the Ottawa Canadians in second after a dominant 4-0 win over the Arnprior Packers. The Glens sat in fifth place five points behind the Ottawa West Golden Knights and were coming off a 4-3 win over the Winchester Hawks.
The teams battled to a scoreless first period with the Glens outshooting the Panthers 20-12 in the first period.
The Panthers opened the scoring at 11:12 of the second period when Michael Armstrong pounded one home from Jacob Lamont and Tristan Whynot to take the first lead of the game. The Panthers fired 17 shots at the Glens goalie but just had the one goal to show for it heading into the second intermission.
The Glens tied the game at 5:55 of the third period on a power play and took their first lead of the game at 14:02. With under a minute showing on the clock, the Panthers pulled their goalie in favour of an extra attacker but the Glens thwarted every attempt by the Panthers to score and hung on for the 2-1 victory.
With the win, the Glens move to within three points of the idle Golden Knights. Suffering the loss in the Panthers’ goal was Jean Pascal Sabourin making 39 saves on 41 shots.
Panthers 4 Packers 0: The Panthers welcomed the Arnprior Packers to the Palais Des Sports on Fri., Dec. 15, in the CCHL2. The Panthers sat in third place in the Martin Division just six points behind the Ottawa Canadians in second place. The Packers sat in fourth place in the Richardson Division and have been sinking like a stone.
The Panthers opened the scoring when Noah Haymes drifted one to the back of the net from Andrew Burke and Justin Brennan at 14:47 of the first period on the power play to take a 1-0 lead.
The Panthers scored their second power-play goal of the period when newcomer Caden Martin fired one home from Jacob Lamont and Brennan with 1:58 remaining in the opening frame. The Panthers took the 2-0 lead into the first intermission. Haymes scored his second of the game at 8:11 of the second period to give the Panthers a 3-0 lead from Andrew Burke and Aidan Whynot.
The Panthers outshot the Packers 14-2 in the middle frame but only took a 3-0 lead into the second intermission. The Panthers made it 4-0 when Mathieu Talbot pounded one to the back of the net at 4:59 from Michael Armstrong and Brennan. The Panthers fired 13 shots at the Packers’ goalie in the third period but they were only rewarded with the single goal and took the game 4-0.
The shots on goal in the game were 34-8. With the win the Panthers pull to within four points of the second place Ottawa Canadians. Picking up the shutout in the Panthers’ goal was Jean Sebastien Gratton making eight saves.
Panthers 5 Timberwolves 3: The Panthers travelled to the Ma-te-Way Rink in Renfrew to take on the Timberwolves on Wed., Dec. 13, in the CCHL2. The Panthers went into the game in third place in the Martin Division three points ahead of the Ottawa West Golden Knights and eight points behind the Casselman Vikings and the Ottawa Canadians who were tied in first.
The Timberwolves have had recent success after acquiring three veteran players from the Arnprior Packers catching the Whitewater Kings who sat in sixth place in the Richardson Division but only one point out of fourth.
The Panthers opened the scoring when Marc Brosseau slapped one to the back of the net just 1:13 into the first period unassisted to take a 1-0 lead. The Timberwolves tied the game at 5:13 but the Panthers retook the lead at 11:44 when Noah Haymes slid one home from Andrew Burke to make it 2-1.
The Panthers took a two-goal lead at 16:48 when Brosseau scored his second unassisted goal of the game. The Panthers took the 3-1 lead into the first intermission. The Timberwolves got to within one again just 2:33 into the second period but the Panthers restored the two-goal lead again when Jeremy Barrie scored an unassisted short-handed goal at 7:14.
Haymes scored his second of the game at 12:14 from Sam Tremblay and Brosseau as the Panthers took a 5-2 lead into the second intermission. The Timberwolves added the lone goal of the third period at 2:18 but it wasn’t enough as the Panthers hung on for the 5-3 victory. Picking up the victory in the Panthers’ goal was Jean Pascal Sabourin making 25 saves on 28 shots.
Up next: Fri., Dec. 22, 8 p.m., Panthers vs. Athens Aeros, Palais des Sports, Embrun; Jan. 5, Panthers vs. Timberwolves, Renfrew.