Wren, Kowalski and the rest: The summer so far in Nottingham

The Nottingham Panthers announced the signing of Bob Wren to the team sheet for the 2013/14 season on Friday. Wren is a 38 -year-old ex-NHL centre whose time in the NHL saw him play 3 games for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and a single game for Toronto Maple Leafs.

Wren spent the last two seasons playing in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) with ERC Ingolstadt. He comes to the Panthers, with stats that show he can score, set up plays and isn’t afraid to step-up to take the penalties. Playing 112 games in the last two seasons he picked up 80 points, amassed from 25 goals and 64 assists and he sat down for 150 penalty minutes.

Wren started his career in 1994, in which time he has played in some of the world’s biggest leagues including the OHL with Detroit Jr. Red Wings, the AHL with Springfield Falcons, the ECHL with Knoxville Cherokees and he also took to the ice in the DEL with the Iserlohn Roosters

With the signing of Wren, it looks very unlikely that last season’s top goal and point scorer David Ling will be returning.

Panthers head coach Corey Neilson said of the signing: “I remember Bob leaving me for dead in juniors with his speed and skills. His numbers have been very good on every team he has played for and we can’t wait to see him plying his trade in a Panthers’ uniform.

He is a key signing for us. He is a skilled forward with a lot of vision and hockey knowledge. He’s very keen to join us and his enthusiasm for winning is another key factor.”

Neilson started the rebuilding for the 2013/14 season just prior to the playoff finals weekend, when it was confirmed that he would be returning as coach for the upcoming season.

He then announced that MVP Craig Kowalski would be taking up the 2nd year option on his two-year contract with Panthers.

Kowalski back stopped Panthers to a famous Grand slam of trophies last season, when they picked up the Challenge Cup and Playoffs for the third season in row and also winning the Elite League for the first time in 57 years. Last season also saw “Kwall” pick up a goal against Asiago in a pre-season game last September, have a scrap with Devin Didiomete of Cardiff Devils and picking up a record of nine shut outs.

Kowalski will be joined in the net minding department by Dan Green and Sam Gospel.

Green will once again be back up to Kowalski. Between them they have built up a powerful partnership over the last two seasons and will be hoping to have the same presence this coming season.

Gospel dressed for Panthers last season when they were shorthanded and will be doing so again this season when permitted, Gospel will be on a two way contract with Panthers, as well as playing back up for Telford Tigers in EPL.

The defence this season so far sees returnees from last season Jonathan Weaver, Stephen Lee, previous Panther Tom Norton as well as a new face Brent Henley.

Weaver is returning for his second season in Nottingham, with Neilson being on the bench full time this season, he will continue in the role he had last season. Corey signed weaver to take over from him as an offensive defence man when he moved on to the bench to coach full time.

Lee is the second defence man to be returning for the upcoming season. This will be Lee’s 5th season in a Panthers shirt, since moving from Guildford Flames in 2009. Lee may not be the biggest player on the team, but has a reputation for sticking up for his team mates, this has seen him pick up over 330 penalty minutes.

Norton is returning to Panthers after playing in the EPL, where he gained playing experience with Peterborough Phantoms, Milton Keynes Lightning and Manchester Phoenix , he has previously dressed for Panthers in over 150 games.

Henley so far is the only new face on the blue line for this season, he is joining Panthers from the ECHL, Henley looks as though he will be taking on the Enforcer role, that was occupied by Lepine last season. Henley showed he is not afraid to drop the gloves when last season he picked up 145 penalty minutes in just two games.

The forward lines are all but completed at this stage, seeing a mix of returning and new faces to the Panthers and the UK. David Clarke, Robert Lachowicz, Matt Francis, Brandon Benedict, Bob Wren, Jonathan Boxill, Leigh Salters, Lynn Loyns and Chris Capraro.

Clarke is returning to Panthers for what will be his 10th season in the black and gold, Clarke is currently the leagues all time goal scorer, registering at least a point a game in his previous nine seasons. As such a long serving and valuable member of the panthers over the years he has been given a testimonial season for 2013/14. He will play a testimonial game in November of this year.

Top Brit from last season Lachowicz will be in his 6th season with the Panthers having come through the Nottingham youth system, where he played for the Cougars, Lions and Leopards. He had a brief spell in the EPL with Manchester. Last season saw Lachowicz pick up a huge points total of 54.

Francis and Benedict will both be returning for their third seasons with the lace city side and are very similar in the way they play, both being very strong grafters and doing the important work in the corners to set up their team mates.

This season will be Francis’ 3rd season in the UK, where each season has seen him pick up a trophy. In his time in a Panthers shirt, he has picked up 124 points and 90 penalty minutes. Francis was part of the Panthers’ double-double winning team in 2011/2012.

Team Spirit winner last season Benedict will also be icing for Panthers in his 3rd season, he is more familiar with the British game, having spent two seasons with Belfast Giants in Northern Ireland. Benedict was also part of the Panthers’ double-double winning team in 2011/2012.

Benedict has picked up 117 points and 88 penalty minutes, in his time as a Panther.

Wren is the first of the new faces to the UK, who will be playing offence. Wren may be the Ling of the team this season.

Boxill joins Panthers from the high school and college system in Northern America, where he has spent the last eight years, he has spent the last four seasons in the NCAA III league.

Salters is another player who has come with the reputation for sticking up for his team mates, he picked up over 220 penalty minutes in two seasons. Salter has experience of playing in both the East Coast Hockey League and at AHL level.

Loyns is an ex-NHLer forward who has played for both the San Jose Sharks and Calgary Flames. This will be Loyns’ first taste of hockey in the UK, after playing in the DEL in Germany and a short spell in Austria.

Capraro has finally signed for Panthers, after Neilson spent the last five seasons trying to get him to put pen to paper. The American is another player who has experience in the DEL in Germany and the East Coast Hockey League with Trenton Titans, Charlotte Checkers, Wheeling Nailers, Florida Everblades and South Carolina Stingrays.

Rick Strachan will again be joining Corey on the coaching team, last season he helped Neilson behind the bench and they coached the team to their first league title in 57 years.