When the Pickering Panthers needed stability down the stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs, Anthony Sciere delivered exactly that.
The veteran goaltender has been a steady presence in the Panthers’ net all season, but his play has elevated even further as the games have taken on greater importance. From late-season battles for playoff positioning to the opening round sweep of the Wellington Dukes, Sciere consistently provided the calm, confident play the Panthers needed behind them.
In the first round playoff series against Wellington, Sciere was outstanding. He capped the four-game sweep with a 37-save shutout in Game 4, earning his first shutout of the postseason and helping secure Pickering’s 2-0 victory. Over the course of the series, Sciere posted a 1.50 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage, repeatedly frustrating the Dukes with timely saves.
That performance was the continuation of a strong finish to the regular season. Sciere recorded several key victories for the Panthers in February, including a 34-save performance in a 7-2 win over Haliburton, a 30-save effort in a 4-0 victory over Aurora, and a 22-save win over Lindsay that helped Pickering maintain control of third place in the East Conference standings.
Beyond the numbers, Sciere’s consistency has been crucial. In several games the Panthers leaned on their goaltender early before their offense found its rhythm. Time and again, Sciere made the key save that allowed Pickering to settle in and take control.
That reliability was evident throughout the series with Wellington. In each of the four games, once the Panthers gained the lead, Sciere and the Pickering defense were able to shut things down. The Dukes were held to just six goals across the four games, allowing the Panthers to complete the series sweep and advance to the next round.
With the first round behind them, the Panthers now wait to learn their second-round opponent. What they already know is that their goaltending is in good hands.
And if Anthony Sciere continues to play the way he has over the past several weeks, the Panthers will be a difficult team to beat.
