NOTTINGHAM, UK. A hectic festive schedule began with the Panthers headed for oblivion amidst a three-game losing skid that saw them over thrown from the EIHL number one slot but an epic team effort against key rivals saw Nottingham taking three 
straight wins and ending the year back within sight of the number one slot.
It’s been a manic start to the season with the Panthers more than once looking like they were out of the running, each time the team have responded by digging deep and bringing home the points. It is still hard to tell if they have the right mix of personnel going forward but for now they are a threat to the all those in the chase for the championship.
As the new year dawns, the Panthers have possibly their biggest crisis of the season. Captain David Clarke has had a recurrence of his shoulder injury and will miss the second half of the season. The loss of the Captain and elite British forward must weigh heavily on the mind of Coach Corey Neilson as an import quality Brit is a rare beast in the EIHL and he has to find a way to fill the void during one of the tightest EIHL title fights in recent memory.
A big second half of the season coming up and all eyes fall to the leading group of Sheffield, Braehead, Belfast, Cardiff and of course Nottingham. All five teams have dropped points but for Nottingham it has been the lower profile games that have cost them dearly, they appear to struggle for motivation without the ‘big game’ label when the puck drops. It will be these smaller battles that will seal the fate of the Nottingham Panthers.
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