CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The UPEI Panthers are excited to host nationals in two years’ time but the team’s bench boss says the focus will be strictly on the upcoming season.
“We feel we’re a good team now,” Forbes MacPherson said. “We don't want to get caught in a position where we’re so focused on two years down the road.”
The Panthers went 15-14-1 last season to finish fourth in the seven-team Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conference. They defeated Moncton in the quarter-final before being swept by eventual national champion UNB Varsity Reds in the semifinal.
“Right now, we’re a competitive team in the hardest conference,” MacPherson said.
“Everybody knows, the hardest part of climbing the mountain is the last few steps,” he added. “As close as we feel we are, there’s still some progress to make.”
The Panthers could have a similar look in 2019-20 with key returnees in Kameron Kielly, Gabe Guertler and Filip Rydstrom up front, Owen Headrick, Doug Blaisdell and Tanner McCabe on the blue-line plus goalies Simon Hofley and Matthew Mancina. They are a sound foundation for a Panthers team looking to get to this year’s nationals, being hosted by Acadia in Halifax.
MacPherson has always been known as a players’ coach, someone who relates well to his charges and a guy who is passionate about the program. He makes numerous calls during the year to perspective recruits, who are weighing their options for life after junior hockey.
He knows the ability to host nationals is a selling card.
“Obviously, it’s going to be one of the first things we talk about when we're recruiting players,” he said.
“Everybody has a goal of getting to the national championship. And, right now, in 2021, on March 17, there’s only one team that can guarantee they’re going to be there. . .
“It doesn't mean that it’s going to be an automatic for players, but it’s certainly going to help us.”
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