The Embrun Panthers welcomed the Casselman Vikings to the Palais des Sports on Fri., Feb. 2, in the CCHL2. The Panthers’ forward and Alternate Captain Andrew Burke (16) scored a hat trick with a goal in the first period and two in the second as the Panthers surprised the Vikings 7-5. Burke is tied for first in team scoring with 23 goals and 31 assists for 54 points.      Sawyer Helmer photo

Jeff Moore
Record Staff
EMBRUN – The Embrun Panthers played two games this past week.

Panthers 7 Vikings 5: The Panthers welcomed the Casselman Vikings to the Palais des Sports on Fri., Feb. 2, in the CCHL2. The Panthers have struggled as of late with losses to teams they probably should have beaten but won their last game against the second-place Canadians 4-2. The Panthers sat in fourth place just two points behind the Ottawa West Golden Knights in third place but only led the Alexandria Glens by four points in fifth with the Glens holding five games in hand. The Vikings went into the game in first place in the Martin Division leading the Ottawa Canadians by seven.

The Panthers opened the scoring when Andrew Burke slapped one home from Joey Larcher and Jeremy Barrie just 1:38 into the first period to take a 1-0 lead.

The Vikings answered at 9:29 when Ethan Wensink sniped one from Sebastien Plante and Brady Cloutier on the power play. The teams took a one-all draw into the first intermission. The Panthers regained the lead when Burke scored his second of the game from Marc Brosseau and Larcher just 1:11 into the second.

The Vikings tied the game at 6:21 as Jason Cossette slid one home from Olivier Brunet but the tie was short-lived as Burke completed his hat trick from Barrie and Larcher at 8:17. The resilient Vikings battled back again at 9:48 evening the score as Brunet fired one to the back of the net from Isaac Lavallee and Cossette.

The teams took a three-all draw into the second intermission. The Panthers made it a 4-3 game when Brosseau batted one home from Jacob Lamont and Nathan Brown at 5:12 of the third period and 5-3 as Barrie scored a power-play goal at 7:34 from Larcher and Sam Tremblay.

The Vikings chipped away at the Panthers’ lead again and at 13:33 Brendan Doherty blasted one home from Lavallee and Plante to make it 5-4. The Vikings tied the game when Plante bulged the twine at 16:36 from Doherty and Noah Haymes. The Vikings took a late penalty and the Panthers made them pay as Brosseau scored his second of the game from Justin Gagnon and Haymes making it 6-5.

With 1:17 remaining in regulation, the Panthers made it a 7-5 game as Larcher bagged one from Barrie and Brennan and hung on for the 7-5 victory. With the win, the Panthers moved into a third-place tie with the Golden Knights.

Picking up the win in the Panthers’ goal was Jean Pascal Sabourin making 24 saves on 29 shots and suffering the loss in the Vikings’ goal was Nick Campbell making 16 saves on 23 shots.

Panthers 4 Canadians 2: The Panthers travelled to the Earl Armstrong Arena in Ottawa to take on the Ottawa Canadians on Tues., Jan. 30, in the CCHL2. The Panthers went into the game in fourth place in the Martin Division just one point behind the Ottawa West Golden Knights in third and four up on the Alexandria Glens in fifth.

The Canadians started the season on fire holding on to first place up until just before the Christmas break but have been able to stay in second place seven points behind the Casselman Vikings in first.

The Panthers opened the scoring when Marc Brosseau snapped one home from Justin Brown at 10:58 of the first period. The Panthers took the 1-0 lead into the first intermission. The Panthers made it 2-0 when Joey Larcher buried one from Brennan at 16:28 of the second period.

The Panthers outshot the Canadians 14-10 but only got one to the back of the net taking a 2-0 lead into the second intermission. The Canadians got one back just 25 seconds not the third period and tied the game at 6:16. The Panthers retook the lead when Noah Haymes fired one to the back of the net from Andrew Burke and Brennan at 13:27 on the power play.

With time winding down in regulation, the Canadians pulled their goalie in favour of an extra attacker but with just 11 seconds remaining Brosseau scored his second of the game into the empty net at the far end from Burke. The Panthers took the game 4-2 but failed to gain any ground on both the Glens and the Knights as they won their games as well.

Picking up the win in the Panthers’ goal was Jean Pascal Sabourin making 24 saves on 26 shots.

Up next: Wed., Feb. 7, 8 p.m., Panthers vs. Brockville Tikis, Brockville Memorial Centre; Fri., Feb. 9, 8 p.m., Panthers vs. Richmond Royals, Palais des Sports, Embrun; Sun., Feb. 11, 1:30 p.m., Panthers vs. Perth Blue Wings, Palais des Sports, Embrun.