SEASON PREVIEW: UPEI Men’s Hockey Panthers ready to roar into new season

There is a palpable buzz surrounding the UPEI Panthers men’s hockey team as they enter the 2024–25 season, and it’s easy to understand why.

Last year, the Panthers were in the midst of a rebuild, and expectations were modest. However, the team defied those expectations, as key veterans rose to stardom and a wave of promising rookies developed into core roster pieces. With the return of those young standouts and some intriguing new additions, the Panthers are primed to continue their upward trajectory.

“We’re all very excited to start the year and see what we can accomplish with a more experienced group,” said assistant captain Kaleb Pearson. “The culture we have built the last couple of years has been huge for our team, and it will only get better.”

One of the biggest strengths of this year’s squad is its depth. Head coach Forbes MacPherson has built a roster filled with quality players capable of contributing in all situations. The team can roll out four lines with confidence, and each line has the potential to make an impact. That kind of depth will be crucial in a league as competitive as Atlantic University Sport (AUS).

“We have guys buying into their roles, taking pride in them, and excelling at them. It’s going to make for some tough lineup decisions every night, but that’s a good problem to have,” MacPherson said. “We’re in a position now where we can handle injuries, suspensions, or illness and still maintain a high level of play.”

The forward group is especially strong and should be a source of firepower for the Panthers throughout the season. Leading the way is Pearson, an all-star last season who broke out with a team-leading 18 goals. Pearson’s leadership and scoring touch will be pivotal once again, but he will not have to shoulder the load alone.

Sophomores Noah Sedore, Elias Cohen, Ben McFarlane, and Josh Currie were all impressive in their rookie campaigns, combining for 39 goals and 84 points in just 30 games. With a year of AUS experience under their belts, these young forwards are expected to take another step forward and become even more dangerous in the offensive zone. Alongside them are gritty, hard-working players like Cade Kowalski, Keiran Gallant, and Patrick LeBlanc who excel at doing the little things that do not always show up on the scoresheet but help the team win.

Adding even more excitement to the forward group are rookie standouts Robert Orr and Brett Bressette. Orr, a dynamic scorer with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, and Bressette, a steady threat with the Erie Otters, were major acquisitions who will push for spots in the lineup and should contribute right away.

Defensively, UPEI aims for improvement after finishing in the middle of the pack in goals allowed last season. The Panthers’ blue line is anchored by captain Kurtis Henry, whose leadership and physical presence will be critical. Sophomores Cole Larkin and Cameron Morton showed promise in their first seasons and are expected to elevate their games even further. Veterans like Alexandre De Gagné and Logan Kelly-Murphy bring stability and experience, while newcomers Zach Biggar and Derek Pys could also play key roles.

The biggest question mark for UPEI heading into the season is in goal. The departure of all-star netminder Jonah Capriotti leaves big skates to fill, both on and off the ice. Capriotti was instrumental in establishing the positive culture the Panthers now thrive on. In his absence, the team will look to the sophomore tandem of Joe Ranger and Jakob Robillard. Ranger showed flashes of brilliance last season, while Robillard battled through injuries. With a year of experience under their belts, both goaltenders must rise to the occasion and provide steady play between the pipes.

While there’s a lot of optimism and anticipation surrounding the Panthers, MacPherson is quick to keep things in perspective. The team still finished with a sub-.500 record last season, and while they’ve made significant strides, there’s still work to be done. The goal this season is clear: to improve upon last year’s results and make a deep playoff run.

“We’re a small school, but our goal is to punch above our weight, get into the playoffs, and hopefully make some noise while we’re there.”