The Western Hockey League opened its 2021-22 season on Friday and three former Panthers players are featured on the league’s opening night rosters.
The list is highlighted by 2021 Ottawa Senators draft pick and 2003-born right winger Carson Latimer of the Prince Albert Raiders, who was the WHL Central Division rookie of the year in 2020-21. He finished the 2021-22 season with 18 goals and 40 points in 62 games split between the Raiders and the Edmonton Oil Kings. The Surrey native produced an assist in five WHL playoff games.
Latimer, who’s currently attending training camp with the Senators, lead all PJHL rookies in scoring with a goal and 11 assists in eight games for the Panthers during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season.
The Vancouver Giants have two former Panthers on their season opening roster in 2003-born defender Brenden Pentecost and 2003-born forward Sammy May.
Pentecost, who hails from Surrey, got into 21 games with the G-Men last season, finishing with one assist. He also had two goals and an assist in 23 games with the BCHL’s Coquitlam Express.
He played eight games for the Panthers in 2020-21 and had one assist.
May, a Richmond product, split 2022-23 between the Giants, the Langley Rivermen of the BCHL, and the Drayton Valley Thunder of the AJHL. He notched five goals and 15 assists in 44 combined junior A games.
The left winger joined the Panthers early in the 2020-21 season and proceeded to put up three goals and an assist in two games before joining the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL.