LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA -- With the SHL and SMJHL pre-season underway, one man has been extremely busy so far this season. Panthers' prospect Erik Lundqvist has been bouncing back and forth between the Panthers and his junior team, the Vancouver Whalers, throughout this pre-season of play. Lundqvist is 4-0-2 in the SHL as well as 4-0-0 in the SMJHL, and while this would normally excite goalies, Lundqvist has just received the best news so far.

Word has it that you have some news to share today Erik.

Erik: Uh, yeah, GM Nik (Wastlund) has just told me that I'll be starting in the Panther's first few games here.

Does that mean you won't be returning to Vancouver this season?

Erik: No the exact opposite, I'll only be playing the backup league minimum of 6 games and then going back down to the SMJHL.

Any reasoning behind all of this?

Erik: Well, obviously there's the league minimum games played rule for backups, so that does help the situation as they would have to play someone either way.

How do you feel about all this?

Erik: It's a great feeling, I know I haven't made it quite yet but to be able to play in a few regular season games with the Panthers in the SHL will be an amazing experience for myself as a person and as a player to take back to Vancouver.



Speculation is that Tyler Nonerves, Lundqvist's backup in Vancouver, will take over the goaltending duties while Lundqvist is playing at the SHL level. We've also been told that Lundqvist is expected to start all of the Panther's first 6 games as a means to get him back to regular starting duties in the SMJHL as quickly as possible.

The Panthers pay a visit to their northern neighbors the Calgary Dragons before finding themselves at home to face the Texas Renegades, rumour is that Lundqvist will be making the starts for the Panthers in those games. No word yet on if Lundqvist will play for the Whalers in their upcoming games against the newly resurrected Prince George Firebirds.