2013/14 Nottingham Panthers – Their Summer off the Ice

by UK American Sports Fans

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Head Coach Corey Neilson sparked the signing news off by putting pen to paper himself, which will see him back behind the bench next season, and he will be joined by right-hand man Rick Strachan.

The summer unfolded like this:

  • Steve Lee and David Clarke who were already in the middle of two year contracts returned to put on the Panther’s uniform again;
  • Craig Kowalski chose to return on the second half of his current two year deal, his fourth year as a Panther;
  • Former Belfast Giant and workaholic forward Brandon Benedict was the second of the returning players to be announced. This will be Benedict’s third season with the club;
  • The last line of defence was completed and Dan Green would once again be back up to Kowalski;
  • Robert Lachowicz was the next name announced, already coming for his 6th season on the second part of his two year deal, he signed an extension to that current contract;
  • Matthew Myers was the first player to announce that he would not be returning to the club next season. and within days he had signed for his childhood team Cardiff Devils;
  • On the same day as Myers leaving, Jonathan Weaver announced that he would be returning for his second season in Nottingham;
  • Double Double winner Matt Francis was next to put pen to paper and signed for Panthers for a third season;
  • Panthers made a double signing, bringing back Tom Norton, who dressed for Panthers previously in over 150 games;
  • The first new face to be added to the roster for the 2013/14 was Jonathan Boxill. Originally born in Bracknell, but has spent the four seasons playing in America;
  • Grand Slam winning forward Jordan Fox broke the news that after two years in Nottingham he would not be back to defend the trophies he lifted as Panther’s captain last season. He is set to stay in North America where his success with the Panthers  landed him a player-assistant coach role;
  • Panthers look to have gone with experience this season to ensure a strong team to defend their silverware. Leigh Salters was the first of the new imports to join the team. The six feet four inch winger has played in the ECHL and AHL, looks to be an enforcer;
  • Canadian centre Lynn Loyns was next to be added to the roster, he comes to Nottingham having played in the NHL, AHL and DEL. Panthers coach finally got Chris Capraro to put pen to paper for Panthers after trying to sign him for the last 5 seasons;
  • Six feet seven inch defence man Brent Henley signed for Panthers, like Salters he has a reputation as a tough guy but can also skate and play, having spent time in the AHL and ECHL. He will bring size, toughness and ability to the blue line. With the signings of Salters and Henley, this saw last season’s enforcer Gui Lepine move to the ECHL with Evansville;
  • Marc Leavers decided to leave to allow him to get more ice time and signed with Peterborough Phantoms;
  • Another key signing was former NHLer, centre Bob Wren. At 38 he brings a wealth of experience having played in the NHL with Anaheim and Toronto;
  • Panthers continued on the experience front, with the signing of Matt Ryan, the 28-year-old has played four years in the AHL including a call up to the Los Angeles Kings on his resume;
  • Chris Murray was the next import to be added to the roster. The six feet two inch American defence man is a product of the University of New Hampshire;
  • The last import was returning defence man Eric Werner who has agreed terms to return to the club for a second season.
  • Panthers announced that GB international Robert Farmer would be icing for them in their preseason games.

Panthers took part in two preseason competitions, the first one saw them travel to Rotterdam, where they were unlucky to lose both of their games, First against Cologne Sharks, where they found themselves shutout and on the wrong end a 4-0 score line. The next night saw them go down 8-3 to Geneva.

Panthers came back to Nottingham hoping to put their two losses in Rotterdam behind them, and that they did. They kicked off the Aladdin Cup at home to Amiens, with an impressive 7-3 win against the French team. They finished their preseason programme against sister club Braehead Clan where they were edged out in the shootout.