Nottingham Panthers

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Nottingham Panthers
League Elite Ice Hockey League
Founded 1946
Reformed 1980
History Nottingham Panthers
1946-60; 1980-Present
Arena National Ice Centre
Capacity 6,500
City Nottingham
Team Colours Black, Silver & Gold
Owner Flag of United Kingdom Neil Black
General Manager Flag of United Kingdom Gary Moran
Head Coach Flag of Canada Mike Ellis
Team Captain Flag of United Kingdom David Clarke
League Championships 1950-51, 1953-54, 1955-56
Championships 1988-89, 2006-07
Autumn Cups 1955-56, 1986-87, 1991-92, 1994-95, 1996-97, 1998-99
Challenge Cups 2003-04

The Nottingham Panthers (for sponsorship reasons officially referred to as the GMB Nottingham Panthers) are an ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are currently members of the Elite Ice Hockey League. The modern day Nottingham Panthers were formed in 1980, and were named after a club of the same name that existed between 1946 and 1960. During the 2006-07 season the Panthers celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of ice hockey's arrival in the city. They play their home games at the National Ice Centre just east of Nottingham city centre. Until 2000 the team played at the Ice Stadium which stood on the same site as their current home.

The Panthers are one of the most financially stable and best supported ice hockey clubs[1] in the United Kingdom. They have played at the highest level of British ice hockey throughout their history and are the only team who were founder members of the British Hockey League's Premier Division in 1983 who continue to hold membership of the top flight league.[2][3] During their history the Panthers have won three league titles, two Championships, six Autumn Cups and one Challenge Cup. The Panthers are the reigning play off champions having defeated the Cardiff Devils on penalty shots in the 2007 final.[4]

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] 1946-60: Original era

An initial attempt to bring a professional ice hockey team to Nottingham was made in 1939 following the completion of the Ice Stadium. A team was assembled and brought to the United Kingdom from Canada to compete in the 1939-40 English National League season but were prompty sent home having not played a single game due to the outbreak of World War II.[5] Seven years later after the war had been won a second effort to bring ice hockey to the city was begun. With a team of Canadians largely from Winnipeg, Manitoba, the Nottingham Panthers played their first competitive game on November 22, 1946 with a 3-2 home victory over the Wembley Monarchs.

The first Nottingham Panthers team
The first Nottingham Panthers team

The Panthers struggled during their early years with repeated mid table finishes in the league and Autumn Cup competitions. In 1948 Archie Stinchcombe became head coach, a position he would retain until 1954. Despite a lack of success in their formative years the team had a number of players who would become local heroes including forwards Les Strongman and Chick Zamick. Zamick became one of the most prolific scorers in the league and won the Nottingham Sportsman of the Year award on two occasions, defeating sportsmen such as the Notts County and England international footballer Tommy Lawton.[6]

Success finally came in the 1950-51 season. After finishing fourth in the Autumn Cup the Panthers won eighteen of their thirty league games and clinched their first ever league title. The team also ended the season having scored the most goals and conceded the least.[7] The following season Nottingham lost Chick Zamick to injury and fell to the bottom of the rankings. Success returned in the 1953-54 season when the team won a second league championship after finishing bottom of the Autumn Cup table.

During the summer of 1954 Stinchcombe left his position as coach and was replaced by Zamick. The league structure also underwent change with the English league and it's Scottish counterpart merging to form a new British National League. The Panthers finished second to Harringay Racers in the twelve team competition. The new league did not prove to be the success people had hoped for and after one season the league's membership fell to five with only the Paisley Pirates representing Scotland. Despite the league's troubles the 1955-56 season proved to be one of the club's most successful ever. The club won the Autumn Cup at the beginning of the season before clinching their third league title by virtue of having won a single game more than the Wembley Lions. The Panthers also traveled to Sweden where they won the Ahearne Cup. This was the last occasion that the original club would claim any silverware and was the last season in which a Nottingham Panthers team were champions of their league.

Over the next four years Nottingham rarely threatened the top of the table in either the Autumn Cup or the league. In 1960 however the Panthers took part in the first British Championship final in thirty years[8] where they met the Brighton Tigers. Nottingham was defeated 3-2 in the first leg but won the second in regulation time by the same scoreline forcing the first overtime period the Panthers had ever taken part in. The Tigers clinched the tie 6-5 after 6.32 of the extra session.[9]

After the 1960 season the British National League collapsed and the Ice Stadium decided to shut down the Nottingham Panthers. Ice hockey would not return to the venue for the next two decades.

[edit] 1980-Present: Modern era

[edit] Ice Stadium years

The Nottingham Panthers were revived largely thanks to the efforts of Gary Keward.[10] In 1980 the Ice Stadium Directors, led by Charles Walker agreed to a request by Keward to give ice hockey another chance and Keward's Sheffield Lancers relocated to Nottingham taking the name of the team that had occupied the same building twenty years earlier, the Panthers. On September 22, 1980 the modern Panthers took to the ice for the first time defeating the Solihull Barons 7-4 at the Ice Stadium.

Gary Keward, the man who brought the Panthers back to Nottingham
Gary Keward, the man who brought the Panthers back to Nottingham

During their first three seasons the Panthers played in regional leagues, first in the English League South and then in Section B of the British Hockey League. In 1983 the British Hockey League reconstituted itself into the first truly national ice hockey league for twenty-three years and Nottingham became one of nine founder members of the league's Premier Division. The Panthers were one of the best supported teams in the league with games regularly selling out[11] but success on the ice eluded them as the team struggled against more established opponents such as the Durham Wasps and the Murrayfield Racers. It was not until the appointment of Alex Dampier as coach in 1985 that the team's fortunes began to change. In his first season Dampier led Nottingham to their first post season since reforming. The Panthers lost each of their four of their quarter final group games and failed to advance to the Finals at Wembley Arena.

In 1986 Nottingham secured their first trophy since reforming and their first overall in thirty years when they defeated the Fife Flyers 5-4 in overtime to win the Norwich Union Trophy at the NEC in Birmingham in front of a crowd of 5,600.[12] Layton Eratt scored the winning goal after 1:53 of the extra session in a game that had seen both the Panthers and the Flyers lead twice.[13] In the league Nottingham again succeeded in qualifying for the playoffs but again failed to register a point. The team repeated this in the Championships the following season bringing the number of consecutive playoff defeats to twelve.

In 1988-89 the Panthers enjoyed their most successful season since reforming. They finished third in the league and were not only able to register their first win in the playoffs but also advance to the finals at Wembley for the first time. Nottingham met Whitley Warriors in the semi final, winning the match 8-6. In the Grand Final the following day the Panthers defeated the Ayr Bruins 6-3, clinching their first Championship title. Another Autumn Cup title followed in 1991 but Dampier left the club in 1993 to join the newly formed Sheffield Steelers. He was replaced by Mike Blaisdell who would coach the team for the next six years.

Blaisdell assembled a strong team in his second year in charge and in December 1994 the Panthers won the Benson & Hedges Cup with a 7-2 victory in the final over the Cardiff Devils. Despite going on a twenty one game unbeaten run, Nottingham failed to claim the league title and the team was further disappointed when they were eliminated from the playoffs in the semi finals. During the 1995-96 season the Panthers advanced to the Benson & Hedges Cup final and Championship final but were defeated on each occasion by the Steelers.

In 1996 the Panthers became a founder member of the new Ice Hockey Superleague. Many of Nottingham's British players who had risen through the ranks of the club's youth development system were dropped in favour of North American imports. The new league had abolished the wage cap and remaining restrictions on the number of non-British trained players a club was allowed. Of Nottingham's locally trained contingent only Randall Weber, Ashley Tait and Simon Hunt were retained.[14] The team acquired Trevor Robins, the club's first imported goaltender since reforming and forwards Marty Dallman, Derek Laxdal and Darryl Olsen. The Panthers again started the season strongly, qualifying for the Benson & Hedges Cup final for the third straight season thanks to a strong preliminary group campaign and 6-3 aggregate victory over archrivals Sheffield in the semi final. In the final they defeated the Ayr Scottish Eagles 5-3, with Nottingham taking the lead at 00.29 and never relinquishing it.[15] After a fourth placed finish in the league the Panthers successful qualified for the Superleague's first playoff finals weekend in Manchester. In the semi finals they again faced Ayr and this time were involved in the longest game in the history of British ice hockey[16] with the match finishing 5-5 after regulation time and each of the following five periods of ten minutes overtime ending goalless. Only in the sixth period of overtime with the two hour mark of the match nearing, did Jeff Hoad finally score the winner for Nottingham ending the game after 115 minutes and 49 seconds.[17] In the final the Panthers met Sheffield where they were defeated 3-1 after taking an early lead.

In 1997 the Panthers franchise was sold after directors revealed the club was in considerable debt. A buyer was found in London based businessman Neil Black and his sports management company.[18] In Black's second season the Panthers signed one of their strongest ever line-ups. In the Benson & Hedges Cup the Panthers easily qualifed from their group before defeating the Manchester Storm in the semi finals despite being plagued by injuries and facing a full strength Storm side.[19][20] The final saw the Panthers taking on the Ayr Scottish Eagles in a repeat of the 1996 final. Here Nottingham came from behind to defeat the Eagles 2-1 with Finn Pekka Virta scoring both goals.[21] In the league the Panthers finished in third, twelve points behind champions Manchester. Nottingham also qualified for the finals of the Challenge Cup and the playoffs but the team were defeated in each. In the first, they lost 4-0 to Sheffield in the Challenge Cup despite outshooting their opponents 39-24. A few weeks later, they lost 2-1 to Cardiff in the Championship final despite outshooting the Devils 36-24.[22] During the course of the season Paul Adey and Greg Hadden scored 141 points between them, four players scored more than twenty goals, six players earned more than thirty assists and seven players achieved thirty or more points.[23]

The Panthers celebrate their 1998 Benson & Hedges Cup victory
The Panthers celebrate their 1998 Benson & Hedges Cup victory

In 1999 the club lost several players. The organisation was preparing to relocate to a new arena and chairman Neil Black wanted the team on a firm financial footing before the move. Paul Adey ended an eleven year playing career with Nottingham and left for Italy, Trevor Robins joined the London Knights and the Panthers were unable to retain the services of many of the highest earners on the team. As a result Blaisdell could only sign a weakened side, something which frustrated him. In October the Sheffield Steelers became interested in employing Blaisdell and he walked out on Nottingham amid acrimonious circumstances; ending a six year association with the Panthers.[24] The Panthers turned to the man who Blaisdell replaced to coach the team for the remainder of the season with Alex Dampier joining the club from the Newcastle Riverkings. Lacking the spending power of many of their rivals Nottingham finished sixth in the eight team league. The club faired better in the Challenge Cup where it made the final for the second successive year but the team was defeated 2-1 at London Arena by Mike Blaisdell's Steelers. In March 2000 the Panthers played their final game at the Ice Stadium before its demolition. Nottingham hosted the Newcastle Riverkings. Jamie Leach scored Nottingham's final goal at their home of fifty-four years but the club was defeated 2-1 in overtime.[25]

[edit] Move to the National Ice Centre

The Panthers moved to the new National Ice Centre in September 2000. The new building held more than double the capacity of their old rink and attendance levels increased by 72%.[26] The team endured a terrible first season in their new home. They barely scraped into the elimination rounds of the Benson & Hedges Cup, and were knocked out at the semi final stage by the Steelers. In the league the Panthers suffered a dire first half of the season and, by Christmas, the team faced the prospect of not qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 1985. Form improved during the second half of the season, and the team won five of their first seven home games during 2001 including a 6-4 victory over the Sheffield Steelers marred by a violent bench clearance brawl.[27] By the end of the season, Nottingham had given themselves a good chance of qualifying for the playoffs and in their final game faced the Newcastle Jesters away in a crucial match between eighth and ninth place teams. The Panthers required a win in regulation time, something they had not done away from their home ice all season, the Jesters needed only to tie. With 10.1 seconds to go the game was locked at 2-2, but with an extra attacker they won a faceoff next to the Newcastle goal and Robert Nordmark scored with 4.4 seconds remaining to take the Panthers into the playoffs and eliminate Newcastle.[28] Their qualification for the playoffs failed to inspire the team and their 5-0 win over a financially troubled Sheffield Steelers[29] was their only victory of the post season.[30]

The National Ice Centre - Nottingham's home since 2000
The National Ice Centre - Nottingham's home since 2000

The following season numerous changes were made to the playing staff and goalscoring legend Paul Adey returned to the club as coach. Nottingham would eventually finish in fourth place in a league now reduced to seven members, two points off the second place Ayr Scottish Eagles but a distant twenty-three points behind champions Belfast Giants. In the Championships the Panthers won only once in the preliminary stages and finished sixth overall. One of the highlights of the season came in a challenge game against Dynamo Moscow on Boxing Day which saw the Panthers hold the Russian side to a 3-3 draw.[31]

In 2003 the Superleague collapsed after financial problems; it was left with only five members[32] and faced the prospect of having only three.[33][34]In a greatly weakened league the Panthers finished the league season in third place; lost 3-2 in the Challenge Cup final to the Steelers and were eliminated 4-3 in the semi finals of the playoffs by the London Knights, who scored the game winning goal with just 0.2 seconds remaining.[35]

After a summer which saw uncertainty over which league the Panthers would be taking part in[36][37] and even uncertainty over the future of the club itself,[38] Nottingham became a founding member of the new Elite Ice Hockey League. Changes to regulations regarding the number of non British trained players and a lower wage cap necessitated numerous changes to the squad and in came a number of highly rated British players including forwards David Clarke and Marc Levers and several new imports including Finns Kim Ahlroos and Mikko Koivunoro and Canadian John Craighead. The new team started strongly and by the end of the year Nottingham were at the top of the table. However they struggled against archrivals and chief opponents Sheffield Steelers who were able to overtake the team after a string of wins over the Panthers, before establishing a commanding lead at the top of the table. Eventually Nottingham finished in second place, their highest league finish in twelve years. The team also qualified for the Challenge Cup final after a dominating 11-5 aggregate victory over the Giants in the semi final. Their opponent in the two-legged final was again the Steelers, a team that Nottingham had failed to beat in each of the six finals the two club's had contested. The first leg ended in a 1-1 tie in Nottingham, with David Clarke scoring for the home side. In the second leg at Sheffield Arena the Panthers raced to an early two goal lead however Sheffield dominated much of the remainder of the game and eventually leveled the score, forcing overtime. After only 53 seconds of the extra session Kim Ahlroos scored the winning goal, ending an eight year wait for the Panthers to beat the Steelers in a showpiece final, and securing the club's first silverware in six seasons.[39] The Panthers followed up their trophy win with a strong playoff campaign, but after a 6-1 win over the Manchester Phoenix in the semi final, the Steelers avenged their Cup defeat with a narrow 2-1 win in the Grand Final.

Their Challenge Cup success saw them earn a place in the Continental Cup, the team's first competitive foray into European competition since 1956. The Panthers were placed into a group with host team Gothiques d'Amiens, Italian side Milano Vipers and Slovenian side Olimpija Ljubljana. Nottingham tied their first game against Milan before recording 1-0 and 3-1 victories over the Slovenians and French and narrowly missed out on a place in the second round of the competition due to Milan's better goal difference.[40] Domestically the team struggled for much of season and only during the end of season playoffs did the Panthers replicate the form they showed in Europe where despite being depleted by injuries they qualified for the a second successive Grand Final, losing 2-1 in overtime to eventual Grand Slam winners Coventry Blaze.[41]

In the summer of 2005 Paul Adey left his position as coach and was replaced by former coach Mike Blaisdell. Despite such a high profile signing of the winningest coach in British ice hockey history[42] the Panthers finished third in the league and failed to reach the finals weekend for the first time since 2002.

Another coaching change came during the summer of 2006 when Mike Ellis joined the club having guided the Bracknell Bees to a number of titles in the British National League and English Premier League. Ellis made numerous changes to the playing staff and led the Panthers to a fifth place league finish. In the play offs Nottingham dispatched of the Sheffield Steelers, Belfast Giants and Cardiff Devils to clinche their first Championship in eighteen years. All games were decided on penalty shots with goaltender Rastislav Rovnianek saving all seven shots he faced during the course of the competition.

[edit] Honours, Awards and Records

League Championships

  • 1950-51, 1953-54, 1955-56

Championships

  • 1988-89, 2006-07

Autumn Cups

  • 1955-56, 1986-87, 1991-92, 1994-95, 1996-97, 1998-99

Challenge Cups

  • 2003-04

Player of the Year Trophy

  • Dan Dorion : 1991-92

Coach of the Year Trophy

  • Alex Dampier : 1986-87, 1988-89
  • Mike Blaisdell : 1994-95

Alan Weeks Trophy (Best British Defenceman)

  • Graham Waghorn : 1994-95
  • Stephen Cooper : 1999-00

First Team All Star

  • 1948-49 : Chick Zamick
  • 1950-51 : Les Strongman
  • 1950-51 : Chick Zamick
  • 1951-52 : Les Strongman
  • 1951-52 : Chick Zamick
  • 1952-53 : Lorne Smith
  • 1952-53 : Chick Zamick
  • 1953-54 : Gerry Watson
  • 1954-55 : Les Strongman
  • 1954-55 : Chick Zamick
  • 1955-56 : Chick Zamick
  • 1955-56 : Gerry Watson
  • 1957-58 : Chick Zamick
  • 1958-59 : Verne Pachal
  • 1958-59 : Jack Siemon
  • 1959-60 : Jack Siemon
  • 1988-89 : Dave Graham
  • 1988-89 : Darren Durdle
  • 1991-92 : Dan Dorion
  • 1994-95 : Rick Brebant
  • 1994-95 : Garth Premak
  • 1994-95 : Chuck Taylor
  • 1995-96 : Darren Durdle
  • 1995-96 : Garth Premak
  • 1996-97 : Paul Adey
  • 1996-97 : Garth Premak
  • 1998-99 : Paul Adey
  • 1998-99 : Greg Hadden
  • 2000-01 : PC Drouin
  • 2000-01 : Jimmy Paek
  • 2002-03 : Lee Jinman
  • 2003-04 : John Craighead
  • 2006-07 : Jan Krajicek

Second Team All Star

  • 1949-50 : Wally Black
  • 1949-50 : Chick Zamick
  • 1951-52 : Bill Ringer
  • 1953-54 : Jack Siemon
  • 1953-54 : Les Strongman
  • 1953-54 : Chick Zamick
  • 1954-55 : Jack Siemon
  • 1954-55 : Gerry Watson
  • 1955-56 : Jack Siemon
  • 1956-57 : Tom Lemon
  • 1956-57 : Gerry Watson
  • 1957-58 : Lorne Smith
  • 1958-59 : Lorne Smith
  • 1958-59 : Les Strongman
  • 1959-60 : Art Hodgins
  • 1959-60 : Lorne Smith
  • 1982-83 : Terry Gudziunas
  • 1998-99 : Trevor Robins
  • 2001-02 : PC Drouin
  • 2002-03 : Greg Hadden
  • 2002-03 : Jimmy Paek
  • 2004-05 : Calle Carlson
  • 2006-07 : Rastislav Rovnianek
  • 2006-07 : Sean McAslan


[edit] Club Records

  • Most goals in a season: Paul Adey, 120 (1994-95)
  • Most assists in a season: Rick Brebant, 156 (1994-95)
  • Most points in a season: Rick Brebant, 241 (1994-95)
  • Most penalty minutes in a season: Barry Nieckar, 352 (2000-01)
  • Highest points per game average (one season): Fred Perlini, 4.7 (1986-87)
  • Highest save percentage (one season): Curtis Cruickshank, 93.1% (2005-06)
  • Lowest goals against average (one season): Curtis Cruickshank, 2.0 (2004-05 and 2005-06)
  • Most career goals: Paul Adey, 828 (1988-1999)
  • Most career assists: Paul Adey, 781 (1988-1999)
  • Most career points: Paul Adey, 1609 (1988-1999)
  • Most appearances: Randal Weber, 845 (1985-2002)
  • Most career penalty minutes: Simon Hunt, 1226 (1988-2000)

[edit] Current Roster

As of March 6th, 2007, 2006-07 EIHL season

Goaltenders
Number Player Catches Acquired Place of Birth
4 Flag of Slovakia Rastislav Rovnianek L 2006 Martin, Slovakia
20 Flag of United Kingdom Geoff Woolhouse L 2003 Sheffield, England
Defencemen
Number Player Shoots Acquired Place of Birth
2 Flag of Czech Republic Jan Krajicek L 2006 Prostějov, Czech Republic
19 Flag of United Kingdom Danny Meyers R 2006 Ascot, Berkshire
53 Flag of Canada Mike Rees L 2006 Calgary, Alberta
76 Flag of Canada Corey Nielson R 2006 Oromocto, New Brunswick
Forwards
Number Player Shoots Position Acquired Place of Birth
5 Flag of United Kingdom David Clarke - C L RW/LW 2003 Peterborough, England
8 Flag of United Kingdom Matthew Myers R C 2004 Cardiff, Wales
9 Flag of United Kingdom James Cooke L LW 2004 Edmonton, Alberta
12 Flag of United Kingdom James Neil L C 2005 Nottingham, England
17 Flag of United Kingdom James Ferrera R LW 2006 Peterborough, England
24 Flag of Canada Joe Cardarelli L LW 2005, 2006 Burnaby, British Columbia
27 Flag of Canada Ryan Shmyr L LW 2006 Fairview, Alberta
28 Flag of Slovakia Matus Petricko L RW 2006 Šaca, Slovakia
37 Flag of Canada Sean McAslan R RW/C 2006 Okotoks, Alberta
38 Flag of Canada Rod Stevens R RW 2006 Fort St. John, British Columbia
44 Flag of Canada Mike Ellis R RW 2006 Burlington, Ontario
71 Flag of Canada Trevor Gallant L C 2007 London, Ontario

[edit] Honoured Panthers

The Nottingham Panthers have retired the numbers of four players.[43] The club retired the number 3 of defenceman Gary Rippingale in 1992 following Rippingale's sudden death at the age of eighteen.[44] The number 10 of Randal Weber was retired in 2002. Weber played for the Panthers for a seventeen year period spanning his entire professional career and holds the club record for number of appearances.[45][46] The number 11 worn by Greg Hadden was retired in 2003. Hadden joined the club at the beginning of the first Superleague season and played for the Panthers throughout the league's seven year existence. Hadden holds the Superleague records for number of appearances for one team and goals scored.[47] Paul Adey's number 22 jersey was retired in 2003. Adey joined the Panthers in 1988 and during the next eleven seasons would become the club's record goal, assists and points scorer.[48]

Nottingham Ice Stadium
Nottingham Ice Stadium

Ten people who have been associated with the Panthers are members of British ice hockey's Hall of Fame.[49] As a member of the Great Britain team that won gold at the 1936 Winter Olympics, Panthers coach Archie Stinchcombe was inducted in 1951. The club's first coach, Alec Archer was posthumously elected to the Hall of Fame as a member of the Olympic winning team in 1993. Forward Chick Zamick, who played for the Panthers between 1947 and 1958 and holds the original club's records for most goals and most appearances, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1951 while fellow forward and team mate Les Strongman who went on to serve as the modern club's coach, secretary and as a club director[50] was inducted in 1987. Coaches Alex Dampier and Mike Blaisdell were inducted in 1995 and 2004 respectively while Paul Adey was inducted in 2006. Former players Stephen Cooper, Chris Kelland and Rick Brebant are also members of the Hall of Fame.

[edit] References

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Stewart Roberts, Ice Hockey Annual 2006-07
  2. ^ Panthers 1983-84 season information. panthershistory.co.uk 1983-84 season information. Retrieved on November 28, 2006.
  3. ^ Panthers 2006-07 season information. panthershistory.co.uk 2006-07 season information. Retrieved on November 28, 2006.
  4. ^ Panthers win after penalty drama. bbc.co.uk. Retrieved on April 8, 2007.
  5. ^ Mick Holland, Nottingham Evening Post Football Post (November 18, 2006), No. 18, Vol. LXXXVI
  6. ^ Chick Zamick. panthershistory.co.uk Chick Zamick Profile. Retrieved on November 30, 2006.
  7. ^ Panthers History (2007). 1950-51 season summary. Peter Walch (Panthers History). Retrieved on February 6, 2007.
  8. ^ Championship British Championship Winners. azhockey.com List of British Championship Winners. Retrieved on November 30, 2006.
  9. ^ Lawrie Simpkin, Nottingham Evening Post (taken from scrapbook, date unavailable)
  10. ^ Panthers History (2007). Gary Keward information. Peter Walch (Panthers History). Retrieved on February 6, 2007.
  11. ^ Mick Holland, Nottingham Evening Post Football Post, No. 18, Vol. LXXXVI
  12. ^ Mike Chambers, Nottingham Panthers Statistical Guidebook 1946-2000
  13. ^ Nottingham Panthers 5-4 Fife Flyers. Gamesheet of the 1986 Norwich Union Trophy final. Retrieved on November 30, 2006.
  14. ^ 1996-97 Player Stats. Player Statistics for Panthers players during the 1996-97 season. Retrieved on December 4, 2006.
  15. ^ Gamesheet for the 1996 Benson & Hedges Cup final. Retrieved on February 10, 2007.
  16. ^ Mike Chambers, Nottingham Panthers Statistical Guidebook 1946-2000
  17. ^ Gamesheet for 1997 Championship semi final vs Ayr Scottish Eagles. Retrieved on February 10, 2007.
  18. ^ Panthers History (2007). 1950-51 season summary. Peter Walch (Panthers History). Retrieved on February 6, 2007.
  19. ^ Panthers History (2007). 1998 Benson & Hedges Cup summary. Peter Walch (Panthers History). Retrieved on February 6, 2007.
  20. ^ Panthers History (2007). 1998 Benson & Hedges Cup semi final second leg gamesheet. Peter Walch (Panthers History). Retrieved on February 6, 2007.
  21. ^ Gamesheet for 1998 Benson & Hedges Cup final. Retrieved on February 10, 2007.
  22. ^ Mike Chambers, Nottingham Panthers Statistical Guidebook 1946-2000
  23. ^ http://homepage.ntlworld.com/peter.walch/Years/98-99.htm#PLAYER STATS
  24. ^ Panthers History (2007). 1999-00 season summary. Peter Walch (Panthers History). Retrieved on February 6, 2007.
  25. ^ homepage.ntlworld.com/peter.walch/Gamesheets/2000m22.htm. Retrieved on February 10, 2007.
  26. ^ homepage.ntlworld.com/peter.walch/Years/2000-01.htm#summary. Retrieved on February 10, 2007.
  27. ^ BBC (2001). Brawl taints Panthers' victory. bbc.co.uk. Retrieved on December 29, 2006.
  28. ^ BBC (2001). Panthers progress in dramatic finale. bbc.co.uk.
  29. ^ BBC (2001). Steelers mauled by Panthers. bbc.co.uk.
  30. ^ Panthers History (2007). OFFS 2000-01 Playoff summary. Peter Walch (Panthers History). Retrieved on February 6, 2007.
  31. ^ Mick Holland (Nottingham Evening Post) (2002). Nottingham Evening Post article via Panthers History. Peter Walch (Panthers History). Retrieved on December 31, 2006.
  32. ^ BBC (2002). Eagles forced out. bbc.co.uk. Retrieved on July 2, 2006.
  33. ^ BBC (2002). Bees to quit Superleague. bbc.co.uk. Retrieved on December 27, 2006.
  34. ^ London Knights (2003). The Knights' Future. londonknights.co.uk.
  35. ^ BBC (2003). Giants to face Knights. bbc.co.uk. Retrieved on July 2, 2006.
  36. ^ Sport Focus (2003). Governing Body Decline to Affiliate Elite League. sportfocus.com. Retrieved on June 25, 2006.
  37. ^ BBC (2003). Elite League "will go ahead". BBC News. Retrieved on July 2, 2006.
  38. ^ Panthers History (2003). Nottingham Panthers 2003-04 season information. Peter Walch (Panthers History). Retrieved on December 29, 2006.
  39. ^ Panthers History (2004). Challenge Cup Final Second Leg gamesheet. Peter Walch (Panthers History). Retrieved on December 29, 2006.
  40. ^ Panthers History (2005). 2004-05 Continental Cup summary. Peter Walch (Panthers History). Retrieved on December 31, 2006.
  41. ^ Panthers History (2005). 2004-05 Playoff summary. Peter Walch (Panthers History). Retrieved on December 31, 2006.
  42. ^ Ice Hockey Journalists UK (2004). Mike Blaisdell. Ice Hockey Journalists UK. Retrieved on December 31, 2006.
  43. ^ http://www.azhockey.com/No.htm#Nottingham Panthers
  44. ^ http://www.azhockey.com/Ri.htm#Rippingale, Gary
  45. ^ http://www.azhockey.com/We.htm#Weber, Randall
  46. ^ Panthers History (2007). Randal Weber information. Peter Walch (Panthers History). Retrieved on February 6, 2007.
  47. ^ Panthers History (2007). Greg Hadden information. Peter Walch (Panthers History). Retrieved on February 6, 2007.
  48. ^ Panthers History (2007). Paul Adey information. Peter Walch (Panthers History). Retrieved on February 6, 2007.
  49. ^ Ice Hockey Journalists UK (2007). Hall of Fame. ihjuk.co.uk. Retrieved on February 7, 2007.
  50. ^ Game Night Programme vs Basingstoke Bison, April 2, 2006

[edit] External links


Elite Ice Hockey League
Basingstoke Bison | Belfast Giants | Cardiff Devils | Coventry Blaze | Edinburgh Capitals | Hull Stingrays | Manchester Phoenix | Newcastle Vipers | Nottingham Panthers | Sheffield Steelers
Inactive teams: London Racers
Franchise rights Holders: Milton Keynes Lightning
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