The Panthers’ defenseman Frederik Lefleche (15) had a strong performance picking up three helpers as they beat the Tikis 7-3. The Casselman native scored three goals and picked up 12 assists in his rookie season. Sawyer Helmer photo
Jeff Moore
Record Staff
EMBRUN – The Embrun Panthers had just a single man-up game this past weekend.
Panthers 7 Tikis 3: The Panthers played the visiting Brockville Tikis at the Palais des Sports on Fri., Feb. 23, in a weird setup as the two teams were making up a previously postponed game in Brockville, in the CCHL2. The Panthers’ fate had already been decided before the game even started after the Ottawa West Golden Knights beat the Winchester Hawks the previous night taking fourth place away from the Panthers who will have to start the playoffs on the road with a best of three mini series against the Golden Knights to see who will get to take on the Casselman Vikings in the first round.
The Panthers opened the scoring when Noah Haymes lit the lamp from Marc Brosseau and Frederik Lefleche on the power play just 1:21 into the first period to take a 1-0 lead. Brosseau gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead at 11:32 on the power play from Tristan Whynot and Jacob Lamont but the Tikis answered with a goal at 13:59 to cut the Panthers’ lead in half.
The Panthers took the 2-1 lead into the first intermission. The Panthers made it 3-1 as Joey Larcher buried one from Andrew Burke at 9:10 of the second period. Larcher scored his second of the game just 18 seconds later from Justin Brennan and Jeremy Barrie to make it 4-1 for the Panthers.
Brosseau gave the Panthers a 5-1 lead at 9:53 from Lefleche and took that lead into the second intermission. The Tikis scored two goals early in the third period at 4:17 on the power play and 7:10 at even strength to get to within two.
The Panthers’ affiliated player (AP) from the Metcalfe Jets of the NCJHL scored the team’s sixth goal of the game from Andrew Burke and Philippe Brunet (AP Metcalfe) at 9:55. The Panthers closed out the scoring as Brosseau scored his second of the game from Lefleche and Haymes at 15:36.
The Panthers took the victory 7-3 and will plan their strategy for their first round mini series against the Golden Knights. Picking up the win in the Panthers’ goal was Jean Sebastien Gratton making 25 saves on 28 shots.
Up next: Best of three mini series (to determine the number four seed in the CCHL2’s Martin Division; Game 1 was on Mon., Feb. 26): Game 2: Wed., Feb. 28, 8:30 p.m., Panthers vs. Ottawa West Golden Knights, Palais des Sports, Embrun; Game 3: Thurs., March 1, 7:15 p.m., Panthers vs. Ottawa West Golden Knights, Barbara Ann Scott Arena, Ottawa.
