The Boyer Auto Group Pickering Panthers will look to close the gap on Aurora and the final guaranteed playoff spot in the North to just five points as they travel to Brantford Thursday night to take on the 99ers. The Panthers will be on the hunt for their sixth win in eight games, making them one of the hottest teams in the OJHL. A win on Thursday will also put the Panthers two points closer to at least clinching a cross over game with the fifth placed team in the West Division, with the winner guaranteed a playoff series with the top team in the East. With only five games remaining for the Panthers, these are a vital two points to keep the boys in the hunt. Pickering will be looking to take advantage of Brantford’s abysmal home record to grab the win as Brantford will surely throw everything they have at the Panthers to reach for a slim chance at the playoffs. The game takes place Thursday night at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre in Brantford, with the puck dropping at 7:30 pm. Here is your need to know on the 99ers and a player to watch for both teams.

99ers Need to Know

Record: 16-27-0-5

Home Record: 6-17-0-1

Hurricanes Player to Watch:                       Bryan Zurowski (46 GP, 24 G, 29 A, 53 P)

                Bryan Zurowski has been a scoring machine this year for the 99ers. The 20 year old forward is currently in his first season with Brantford after playing with the Buffalo Jr Sabres last season. Zurowski has already more than doubled his point total from last year in only three more games. With Zurowski putting up 17 more points then the next highest scorer on the 99ers, its safe to say that the Panthers should be in good shape if they can keep him off the score sheet on Thursday night.

Panthers Player to Watch:                           Ethan Cardwell (36 GP, 8 G, 18 A, 26 P)

                 Ethan Cardwell is certainly looking like one of the biggest acquisitions in the league on trade deadline day. With nine points in nine games for the Panthers, Cardwell is looking like he might be the missing offensive piece that Pickering has been looking for all season. Since acquiring Cardwell, the Panthers are 6-4-0-0 with three of the four losses being one goal games. A second round pick in last years OHL draft to Saginaw, the 16 year old Cardwell has played six games for the Spirit this season registering a goal. Cardwell is a tremendous skater with a massive offensive upside and should be a sore sight for the 99ers defensive core Thursday night.