NOTTINGHAM, GB. Challenge cup qualification for the Nottingham Panthers is the reward for a hard fought weekend and off ice news is providing just as much as excitement. It is an interesting time in Nottingham and Head Coach Corey Neilson recent declaration of love for his team appears to be matched by a large proportion of the clubs fan base.
The weekend began at home with a game against the Coventry Blaze, in a game of three periods the Panthers had put this one away after just two with a dominating 6-0 lead. The Blaze broke netminder Miika Wiikman early in the third denying him his first EIHL shutout, he stepped aside to allowed back up Dan Green to log some ice time. Green allowed just one goal whilst facing a barrage of shots and once again proved a worthy back up. The game finished 6-2 and left those watching with a feeling that this is a team playing for each other.
Sunday saw the Panthers travel to battle the Manchester Storm where they nabbed another two points for the challenge cup. The Storm were not quite so easily overcome, the EIHL new boys made the Panthers fight hard for every goal and for two periods Wiikman had to stand tall between the pipes to keep Nottingham in the game. Maybe it was the night before taking its toll but Neilson’s men pulled it together in the third to break the deadlock and pull through to a 4-2 win. Not the prettiest of games but points are points and the Storm were never going to be pushovers as they have begun to hit their stride.
A return to the ice for British Captain David Clarke was a welcome sight as he iced in his first game after being side lined for several weeks due to suffering a dislocated jaw against the Belfast Giants. Clarke wasted no time in making his presence known through an early power play goal. His return will see the forward core returning to near full strength with just Evan Mosey absent as he bolsters the blue line to cover the injured defencemen Geoff Waugh and the new signing jumping through the immigration hoops, did I mention who that was?
David Ling has finally completed the signing process, the veteran forward who first established himself during the 2012/2013 grand slam winning season will return to the Panthers once his visa has cleared. I spoke about Ling a lot last week so there is not much more to be said though this has been the worst kept secret in British Hockey. Lucky guess or a leak from those in the know has ensured this realised rumour has been around since the conclusion of the 2015 play offs, maybe even earlier.
Ling, a Canadian native with 20 years senior professional experience gathered from many of the world’s hockey hot spots. He comes into a Panthers roster that is riding a hot streak and with chemistry between team mates in full flow and it is unsure where he will fit in. Ling is no stranger to this kind of situation though and notching nearly 100 points in his last EIHL campaign it is fair to see he knows the league well.
The 40 year old sniper has played in the NHL, AHL and KHL amongst others and with British prospects Ollie Betteridge, Robert Farmer and Robert Lachowicz all looking to boost their development maybe Ling will be perfect taking the youngsters under his wing. Speculation aside it will be interesting to see where Neilson slots Ling back into the line-up, the Panthers depth chart looks better than it has done in many seasons and though the decisions will be difficult it is by far a good problem to have.
All eyes now turn to the blue line. Nottingham are allowed one more import and with the d-core still showing a huge Theo Peckham sized whole, time will tell if there is a plan to fill it. Mosey is performing his defensive duties admirably well but the injury to Waugh demonstrates the ever present fragility to a team’s structure. The ship did not go over this time but should another blue liner go down it is hard to say whether the Panthers can maintain such a solid defence.
A huge weekend looms as the Panthers head to Sheffield to face the Steelers, the CHL hardened roster are pulling together well and with the possibility of Ling in the Panthers line up this should be a clash not to be missed. The Fife Flyers head to Nottingham on Sunday and will be looking to take advantage of the tired Panthers post derby clash but as they have are playing three games in three nights in three countries, the effects may be cancelled out. It is October and it is safe to say the season is now in full swing!
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