Panthers get off to a flyer

N OTTINGHAM, UK –
After a successful season at the Nottingham Ice Centre with the Nottingham Panthers, winning the Challenge cup, finishing third in the league and reaching the semi finals in the play offs which they were cruelly knocked out on penalty shots by the Belfast Giants, Corey Neilson re-signed as player/coach for the 2010-2011 season. The offensive D-man scored 12 goals and claimed 33 assists last season from the blue line and was an established member of the Panthers power-play unit. His signing is one the Panthers fans had been hoping for to maintain the stability and core of the team. The fans are hoping he can create the team to finally break the league hoodoo on the Nottingham Panthers that they have endured since 1956. This is Neilson’s third year as player/coach of the Panthers, and as he explains he is still learning,
“You are always learning in this sport, we have come a long way already and there is unfinished business but overall it was a good year for the club and I’m proud to have brought silverware to Nottingham in what everyone agrees has been the most competitive season for many years.”  

Neilson’s first signing this off-season was that of Jade Galbraith, widely known as the most skilful player the EIHL has to offer. After scoring 94 points last season, Neilson was fast to make Galbraith his first signing and take Jade into his third season with the Panthers. Galbraith’s soft hands and exuberant style of play has endeared him to the Panthers fans after an on-off first season. Last season his grit, determination and pure class won over many fans and he quickly picked up the nickname ‘Jade 2.0’. He also stuck up for his team mates on a few occasions, showing his pride and loyalty to his team. Galbraith has previous European experience in Germany and has also played in the American ECHL. Corey Neilson said that “Jade loves Nottingham, the style of play and the fans, and he says he can improve on last year’s tally- it is mouth-watering stuff.”
Forwards David Clarke and Marc Levers and Defenceman Danny Meyers, also wearer of the C last season, all made the decision to return to Nottingham for another season. All GB representatives at this year’s World Championships, these signings show the serious way the Panthers are approaching the new season. Clarke was the highest British provider of points for the Panthers last season, scoring 37 goals and 38 assists, his highest ever point tally in his career. Levers showed his grit last season, throwing checks and agitating the opposition at every opportunity. He scored a respectable 16 goals and 18 assists. Danny Meyers was also pleased to return after having a great season and setting examples for his team mates in a way all Captains should.He scored 9 points last season but changed his game from the much more offensive D-man we were used to and created a calming, defensive persona. This allowed the forwards to attack a lot more freely without the worry of being caught short in defence, helping the team and Danny’s importance to the team. Corey Neilson had this to say about the signings
“ These guys are key players. I know the league is going to increase the number of foreign players to eleven next year, that’s one more than last season, but your basic framework and nucleus revolves having competitive level British players in the line-up. These guys have been given an opportunity to excel with the Panthers and they have all grabbed that chance.”
The Panthers next signing of the off-season was the re-signing of 19 year old defence-man Steven Lee. Standing at 6 foot and 200 lbs, Lee was a stand out performer in his first year for the Panthers last year with his hard hits, aggressive play and ability to never be intimidated by some of ice hockey’s most feared enforcers. His maturity for his age was rewarded with extended spells on the blue line and by the end of the season he was a pivotal player on D. He first made an appearance in the EIHL for the Hull Stingrays at 14 years old and then moved to Guildford Flames in the EPL until Nottingham signed him last season.
Last season’s starting net-minder at the NIC, Kevin St Pierre, was announced as Panther’s next summer signing. After impressing last season with a save percentage over 90% in the league and a hugely impressive 92.5% in the successful Challenge Cup campaign, Neilson was quick to retain the goaltender. On average he conceded only 2.96 goals a game. St Pierre’s previous teams include the Fort Wayne Komets of the UHL, the Tulsa Oilers in the CHL and the Louisville Panthers in the highly acclaimed AHL.
Following the signings of Clarke, Levers, Myers and Lee the next British signings were announced as Rob Lachowicz and Tom Norton. Norton returns to the Panthers after an impressive first full season last year where he notched up 0+2, which isn’t a bad return for a youngster with limited ice time on the blueline. Lachowicz comes back to the Panthers after a solid season with the Manchester Phoenix in the EPL. Lachowicz has played for the Panthers before, as well as for the ENL side the Lions.
David Beauregard, the ex-Manchester Phoenix sniper, was the next player to sign on the dotted line for Nottingham and the first new signing of the off-season. After a season in Italy, Beauregard has decided to return to these shores and link up with the Panthers. After scoring 79 league points for Manchester Phoenix in the 2007-2008 season, Beauregard was highly sought after last summer before he eventually signed for Vallepellice in Italy in a big money deal.   Towards the end of the season he joined up with CHL team Tulsa Oilers, where Beauregard had played with lifelong friend Kevin St Pierre in the past. Beauregard was set to play at the highest level of the game, the coveted NHL, but had a freak injury that resulted in him losing sight in one of his eyes, but he continued playing and has worked his way back through the minor leagues.
Neilson had this to say about Beauregard “This is a real coup for us, I have admired David for many seasons and it is a mouth-watering prospect to have him in our line-up for next season. He knows all about our high ambitions and he wants to be a part of it.”
Next up was the signing of the summer was forward Alex Penner, a 6foot 3inch 225lbs monster enforcer. Possibly the signing that will excite most Panthers fans this summer, Penner, nicknamed the ‘Penforcer’ or ‘Weapon X’, is game for a fight and in his own words ‘ loves to beat the hell out of a guy’ when fighting. With an awesome 222 penalty minutes in the CHL last season playing for the Colorado Eagles, Penner got 19 fighting majors. Penner can also play a bit too, scoring 12 points last season but claiming he could get higher points totals with more time on the ice, showing he isn’t just a glorified boxer. Neilson said he was very excited about the signing, “I think it is important that teams know they can’t take liberties with our guys, home or away. Ice hockey can be a very physical game and if anyone steps over the mark we will have our own ‘Penforcer’ to straighten things out. Alex loves the sport, he’s keen and excited to be joining us. He knows our primary job is to play the game but he also knows his role. The fans will love his no nonsense style.”
Forward Billy Ryan was the next player to sign for the Panthers this summer. The centre-man played the last two seasons in the ECHL for the Wheeling Nailors after a season in the AHL with the Philadelphia Phantoms. He has so far had an injury plagued career thanks to a recurring injury, but after having surgery Ryan has assured fans the problem is behind him. With potential to play on the powerplay unit, this adds to Ryan’s value and hopefully he turns out to be a great acquisition by the Panthers.
The last signing at time of writing the Panthers have made is to retain experienced forward Jay Henderson. Jay has played in the NHL for the Boston Bruins and has played for many different teams in the AHL. An experienced tough middleweight, Henderson isn’t adverse to a scrap and enjoys firing his team up. Last season he excited Panthers fans with his extreme passion and commitment, working hard up and down the ice while creating goals for other players. He joined late last season and replaced Mario Larocque, making an instant impact by taking the Panthers to the play off finals weekend by playing a great weekend against the Edinburgh Capital’s in the play off quarter finals. After losing Kevin Bergin and Bruce Richardson, the Panthers needed to maintain a tough core to their team so were more than happy when Henderson made his intentions of re-signing clear.
“You win some, you lose some. Kevin Bergin revealed yesterday that he wasn’t coming back and now Jay has confirmed that he is. He is another guy who will have a bigger role to play for us next season. It is important to keep a core of faces around, he’s great in the locker room, a great leader on and off the ice and he brings a wealth of experience to the club. He’s thrilled to be back and we’re thrilled to have him,” Neilson explained on the club’s official website. Another piece of news on the signing front is that Dan Green has signed for the Panthers as back up net-minder from rivals up the road Sheffield Steelers.
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