The Panthers were amped and ready to go against Martha's Vineyard on Monday night in Round One of the MIAA Division II South Sectional Tournament from Gallo Arena in Bourne. It was the first time a Whitman-Hanson team qualified for the tourney since the 2005-06 team that road their success all the way to the sectional semifinals. Unfortunately for the 08-09 edition, Martha's Vineyard came to play.

 

The Vineyard opened the scoring with two goals in the first period on defensive lapses to spot themselves a quick 2-0 lead after one period. Despite knowing the next goal would be huge, the Panthers failed to get it -- Martha's Vineyard scored a few minutes into the second period to gain the 3-0 advantage. Kyle McCafferty got the Panthers on the board just a few minutes later, though, as he stuffed home a power play goal to cut the deficit back to two. The momentum didn't last for long, though -- when the Vineyard took back the 4-1 lead on a bad angle shot into the top corner, they weren't looking back. The wheels started to fall off for Whitman-Hanson, who would give up another goal in the third to drop the game, 5-1. The Vineyard moves on to face Mansfield in Round Two of the tourney.

 

It was a successful season for the Panthers, who qualified for the state tournament and finished third in the Patriot League (8-5-1). Through the good times and the bad, this group battled illness, injury, or whatever else came their way. Hard as it may be, try to remember the 2008-09 Whitman-Hanson Panther hockey squad by their big 3-2 comeback win over Hanover, their 5-2 smashing of undefeated Pembroke, their 68 goals for (28 more than their 2007-08 total), their ten wins (more than the previous two years combined), and most of all, their hard work, going out and competing regardless of the score or the game. Congrats to the Panthers for their success, best of luck to all of the seniors leaving, and to the players coming back for another season -- good luck in the offseason, and be ready to defend the tourney bid next year.