Not the start the Panthers were hoping for in their season opener, as the Stouffville Spirit controlled play from start to finish, scoring twice in the first period and adding six more in the second.
Zachary Corte led the way for Stouffville with four goals on the night. Other Spirit tallies came from Martineau, McKee, Chavez, and Dunlop.
Anthony Sciere started in net for Pickering, facing 32 shots and allowing five goals, while Daniel Giusti came in relief, stopping 20 of 23. Stouffville outshot Pickering 55–24 overall.
While the scoreline was lopsided, this was the first outing for a new-look Panthers squad with fresh lines and a new coaching staff. Despite the tough loss, there is optimism about the team’s growth and development moving forward.
