Panthers add former OHL champion Ben McFarlane

By Thomas Becker 

In order to surpass expectations and reach the pinnacle of sports, everyone needs to be on the same page and embrace the roles they're given.

That's a lesson Ben McFarlane will never forget from his time with the Guelph Storm, where he won an Ontario Hockey League (OHL) championship in 2019. Another lesson he learned may be cliché but holds a lot of weight: never giving up. In the postseason, the Storm earned the moniker "comeback boys" for their ability to steal a series after falling behind. From the second round on, they were down in each series (3-0; 3-1; 2-0) but fought their way back before ultimately claiming the title. 

McFarlane was a rookie then and didn't see much of ice time, but the knowledge gained from that experience is something the newest Panther will bring to UPEI.

"It was such a great experience being part of that winning team," said the Ayr, ON native. "There are so many things I could say I learned from that experience. The biggest ones would be that every player on the roster matters, regardless of their role—first line to fourth line. Everyone has to know their role and do whatever it takes to win." 

McFarlane played in 201 games over five years with the Storm, tallying 29 goals and 36 assists. The 20-year-old right winger doesn't bring a lot of size at five-foot-nine, 174 pounds, but makes up for it with his work ethic and playing a fast, physical brand of hockey that Panthers head coach Forbes MacPherson admires. 

"My biggest skill would be my skating and playing a 200-foot game, as well as my competitiveness and physical play," said McFarlane, who will be studying sociology at UPEI. "I believe in hard work, and I know Forbes likes that too. So I'm going to stand out by showing how hard I can work."

McFarlane is the third rookie forward to come in at under five-foot-10, but MacPherson isn't overly concerned, as he had success with smaller players carrying the offensive load. Last season was a perfect example, as former Panthers Troy Lajeunesse, Kyle Maksimovich and TJ Shea formed the conference's most productive line. 

There's clearly a precedent for success for players like McFarlane, and if he's anything like the players mentioned above, the Panthers will gladly take it. But for now, MacPherson just wants him to bring the relentless energy he's known for. 

"Ben is highly competitive and has a strong engine. He is very hard to play against and gets in on the forecheck," MacPherson said. "We are looking for this forward group to bring energy and enthusiasm. We will have a lot of new faces, and there will be a lot to learn, but we're excited about this group."