The Casselman Vikings welcomed the Embrun Panthers to the J. R. Brisson Complex on Thurs., Sept. 5, for their first CCHL2 preseason game of 2019-20. The Vikings’ forwards, Frederick Gagnier (12) and Kyle Green (28) battle for the puck in front of the Panthers’ goalie, Josh Paradis and defenseman Cameron McMillan. The Vikings battled back from a 2-1 deficit in the third period to take the game 4-2. Moore photo

CASSELMAN—The Casselman Vikings played their first preseason game this past week as they welcomed the Embrun Panthers on Thursday night. 

Vikings 4 Panthers 2

The Casselman Vikings welcomed the Embrun Panthers to the J. R. Brisson Complex on Thurs., Sept. 5, for their first CCHL2 preseason game of 2019-20. The Vikings dressed nine returning players from last season and 11 newcomers to the team. The Panthers went with eight veterans and 13 first-timers. 

The two teams battled to a scoreless first period with the Vikings outshooting the Panthers 11-7. The Panthers opened the scoring when Tyler Cummins pounded one home from the right point from Jeremy Cyr and Erik Skyba at 7:20 of the second period taking a 1-0 lead. 

The Vikings tied the game when Etienne Agues-Pease slapped home a rebound from François Drouin and Maxime Talbot just 22 seconds later. The Panthers retook the lead as Tristan Taillefer snapped one to the back of the net from Alexandre Caron at 11:36. The Panthers took the 2-1 lead into the second intermission despite being outshot 12-11. 

The Vikings tied the game again at 4:10 of the third period as Zach Power slid one home from Mikael Houle and Shane Dickie. 

The Vikings took their first lead of the game when Drouin powered one to the back of the net from Agues-Pease with just 2:34 remaining in regulation. The Panthers pulled their goalie in favour of an extra attacker with just under a minute remaining but it was the Vikings’ forward Maxime Desjardins who slid one into the empty goal with just 38 seconds remaining. 

The Vikings took the game 4-2 picking up their first preseason win of the season. Picking up the win in the Vikings’ goal were Nick Campbell making 16 saves on 18 shots and Tyler Desjardins making seven saves on seven shots. Suffering the loss in the Panthers’ goal were Tyler Lalonde making 11 saves on 11 shots, Josh Paradis with 11 saves on 12 shots and Joshua Ivanski with 12 saves on 14 shots.

Up next

 The Casselman Vikings travel to the Palais des Sports in Embrun tonight Wed., Sept. 11, to take on the Panthers at 7:30 p.m. and then to the Char-Lan Recreation Centre in Williamstown to take on the Rebels on Sat., Sept. 14 at 8 p.m.