‘Excited about the prospects for this team’: Port Hope Panthers’ new head coach
By sports correspondent Alan Rivett
Brand new to the Port Hope Panthers’ bench and entering his first-ever coaching gig within the Ontario Junior Hockey League East’s Tod Division, new head coach Drew Allenby is optimistic he can mold a roster of mostly rookie players into a team that plays with fire and consistency.
And following an abbreviated pre-season (the Panthers played its sole exhibition in Frankford against the Huskies on Thursday night after our press deadline), the Panthers are headed headlong into its regular season and home opener against the Amherstview Jets at the Jack Burger Sports Complex on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m.
The lack of a longer pre-season schedule notwithstanding, Allenby is confident his young Panthers are ready to go for the 2026-27 season.
“Yes, I’m very excited to get the season underway,” said Allenby, a Courtice resident hired in late June taking over from former coach/general manager Corey Beer, who’s now the head coach of the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Pickering Panthers. “I’m very excited about the group of players that we have, and the talent and the work ethic that I’ve seen so far.
“A hard-working team can go as far as they want to go with the right structure and the right determination and the right confidence. We’ll get the season going and see where we are and we’ll always be evaluating and seeing what we need to teach and what we need to work on to make sure that we’re as competitive as we can be.”
Allenby is under no illusions it’s going to take some time and patience to truly get the best out of his young team, but he wants to see improvement throughout the regular season that will hopefully culminate in the Panthers being in the thick of the playoff hunt.
“Yes, I am very excited about the prospects for this team, and you know it’s going to be a process and a journey … It’s gonna be a tough season because I think there are a few teams (in the Tod Division) that were already preset. But I’m more than confident we’re going to be competing with everyone and come playoffs, I think we’ll be ready to go,” explained Allenby.
Allenby comes to the Panthers with 13 years of coaching experience in minor hockey all the way up to the AAA level. With his son Caeden joining the Panthers last year, he decided to throw his hat in the ring for the head coaching position and was the successful candidate.
Allenby said he’ll be leaning heavily on several returnees including forwards Colby Hercia, Caeden Allenby, Ethan Baker, Mike Hatfield, Liam Barker and Jacob Bone, Jack Bogyay and Avery Palmieri.
In an active off-season, the Panthers have brought in a host of players including Riley Press, Carson Perry, Eddie Shaw, Ben Laird (via trade), Jordan Smith, Silas Faux, Jack Duncan, Gavin Trick, Carson Stolte, and Kaeden McArthur, who joins the Panthers from the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League where he amassed more than 200 points during his career there, including 74 points last year with the Timmins Rock.
The Panthers will see two young goaltenders making their junior debuts this season. Allenby said Reese Deline and Jaxson McQuade may be new to the league, but both are talented puckstoppers who he’s counting on to adapt quickly to the higher level of competition.
“We’re excited about them … I like their style of play, but it’s just going to be a little bit of a change for them playing against this level (of competition). The talent, the work ethic and the attitude is there to play at this level, so I’m excited to see how they do,” said Allenby.
Allenby also noted that although the roster is pretty much set for Saturday’s league/home opener, the club is still on the lookout for a few more players who could help the team.
“There’s still a few tweaks,” he said. “I think you’ll see we have some room to move, to bring in a few other players if need be. But for the most part, it’s set. “We’re still probably hoping to get one or two (players) on the back-end and maybe one more up-front.”
As for how the league shapes up this season, Allenby said he expects the eight-team Tod Division to be led by the Frankford Huskies.
“I think (they were) strong last year, and I think they’ve built on that, so I believe they’re going to be probably the strongest competition, and then probably looking at Napanee next. I’m not sure about Lakefield.”
Although a fast start to the season would be fantastic, Allenby is counting on his players to play the right way and develop some consistency throughout the season.
“I would like to get off to a good start, but my main goal is playing the game right and being consistent in our play, so we don’t just get off to a fast start, but we get off (to a) consistent start … I think that will develop as we see how these kids play in game situations.”
Allenby will be joined on the bench by assistant coaches Kyle Giroux, Travis Mercer and goalie coach Matt Barbara.
Next Saturday, Sept. 19, the Panthers host the Napanee Raiders at 7:30 p.m.
Eric Thompson has been announced as the Panthers’ game day and community co-ordinator, the club announced on its Facebook site. A long-time Port Hope resident, Thompson said his goal is to “bring Port Hope together around the Panthers and make this the community hockey team that Port Hope deserves.”
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