Port Hope Panthers’ goaltender Liam Diarias gets all-star nod after rough start to junior hockey season
By sports correspondent Alan Rivett
Adapting to junior hockey hasn’t been an easy-peasy proposition for Port Hope Panthers’ rookie goaltender Liam Diarias who’s experienced his share of peaks and valleys in the short time he’s played at this level.
But the 17-year-old (soon to be 18) netminder used hard work and a positive attitude to power through his earlier disappointment to build back his confidence with the Panthers. And now, he’s just been named as an all-star, even though he’s only been putting on the Port Hope jersey for a short time.
Diarias and rookie forward Riley Press will represent the Port Hope junior hockey organization at the annual PJHL Prospects Game in Streetsville and Walpole Island on Saturday, Nov. 7.
According to the Provincial Junior Hockey League, the annual Prospects Game is the marquee event on the PJHL calendar, highlighting the next generation of stars while providing players a unique platform to showcase their speed, skill and potential in front of fans, scouts and coaches.
The event will bring together 80 of the best players from across the league, split into two head-to-head inter-conference matchups starting at 1 p.m. at the Vic Johnston Community Centre in Streetsville and at the Walpole Island Sports Complex.
Diarias and Press will play on the East Conference squad that’s matched up against the South Conference all-stars in Streetsville.
For Panthers’ head coach Drew Allenby, his two players are equally deserving recipients of the honour of representing the Panthers.
“I’m very excited for them,” said Allenby, the Panthers’ first-year head coach. “Liam started with us I guess about a month ago and he’s been doing fantastic, and Riley continues to improve his game.”
Allenby describes Diarias as a highly-motivated player who wants to improve with every game and practice.
“He’s a very driven goalie. He wants to be as good as he can be in every game,” said Allenby. “He analyzes pretty much every goal that goes in on him and you know, he’s a true competitor.”
As for Press, Allenby said he’s aiming to be an all-round player who can play a physical style of play while also possessing an above-average shot.
“He brings a good physical aspect (to the ice). He’s got a fantastic shot, and he works hard consistently when he’s on the ice. So he brings a very good work ethic to the team as well,” said Allenby, of Press.
Diarias said he’s grateful to be named as an all-star with Port Hope in his first season with the club.
He had previously attended training camp with the Panthers earlier this year, then received an offer to play in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Whitecourt Wolverines of Whitecourt, Alta. and made the decision to relocate to that western Canadian town. He was with the team for several months before being let go.
“I feel like it’s honestly, it’s really good. I’m really proud of myself, especially through the ups and downs that I’ve been through in the past three months, you know, going away from home, playing out there (in Alberta), getting cut, and then building it back up from the start (back in Ontario), you know,” said Diarias, a Vaughan resident who played his minor hockey in that town.
Meanwhile, Press, at age 16, is possibly one of the younger players to be named to the PJHL’s Prospects Game. Press, who sees himself as a prototypical power forward who enjoys playing a physical game, said he’s excited to represent the Panthers.
“As soon as I found out, I was really excited,” said the Grafton resident, who gave thanks to the coaches and management of the Panthers for believing in him. “I immediately thought what an opportunity this is, and it was just a great feeling all around.
“This is the biggest thing I’ve ever been asked to go to or (been) invited to, and I was just super thrilled and excited.”
Having played his minor hockey in Northumberland until U15 before jumping up to the AAA level with the U16 Greater Kingston Junior Gaels, Press said he has enjoyed all aspects of playing junior hockey thus far.
“I think it’s gone really well for me coming into junior and not knowing what it was gonna be like and just immediately bonding with all the boys,” he said. “It’s been super good and everyone’s super welcoming and it’s just been great so far.
“We’re looking to get a lot more wins and develop as a team.”
Diarias admits the season has been a mixed bag for him as personal growth as a goaltender hasn’t been met by wins in the early stages of the 2026-27 season. The Panthers currently sit last in the PJHL’s Tod Division with only one win in their first 11 games.
The club has lost its last four games by close scores, including a tough 1-0 loss to the division-leading Frankford Huskies at the Frankford Arena on Saturday, Oct. 24. Diarias faced 60 shots, while giving up the lone goal to the Huskies late in the third period.
“Those ones definitely do sting (the loss to Frankford), but it’s just a part of keeping a positive mindset going through it and I did my part. I think we can really get something going if we can get the goals going. I think we can be a good team,” explained Diarias.
Press, too, believes that his teammates are working hard and that wins will follow down the road.
“At the start of the season, we had a lot of new guys, and no one had really played together, and now we’re all starting to come together (and) our (last four) games have been super close,” noted Press. “We just played Frankford, the top team, and we lost by one goal.
“That just shows that anyone could beat anyone on any given night and we're getting there.”
Allenby is staunchly supportive of his young players, noting he’s confident the Panthers’ season is going to turn around.
“I’m very impressed with the play of the kids. We were getting better every game and (on Saturday, Oct. 24) we played the first-place team (to a 1-0 loss),” said Allenby.
“We were out shot, but I think we kept a lot of the shots as best we could to the outside, and Liam (Diarias) took care of the rest, and they were able to get one in the third period, and we had our chances to score as well.
“The work ethic is there, I believe the structures are there, and the execution as well. We’re really coming together as a team and it’s a lot of fun to see,” he continued.
The next home game for the Panthers is against the Amherstview Jets at the Jack Burger Sports Complex on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
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