The Storm were the first visitors. After a sluggish start Greg Hadden scored Panthers first league goal of the season. Panthers didn't look back and with the power-play working well, 3 goals in 6 attempts, ran out comfortable 6-1 winners. 
The second home game against Belfast Giants was different. Under the cosh for all but the first ten minutes, Panthers, somehow, managed a 4-3 win. 
The first away game in London saw a 3-1 loss. 
After a miserable 4-3 home loss to the Eagles, two 5 on 3 PP goals called by Ref Carson, Panthers managed something they struggled to do until the death the previous season - win away, 1-0 in Manchester. 
After a day's reflection following the next home game, a 3-2 loss against the Bees, I am no less depressed. After working hard to score two, Panthers gave up two PP goals and a complete breakdown of communication led to the Bees game winner. 
At this stage the first line differs only in having Steve Moria in place of Dave Struch. Last year they scored the bulk of Panthers points, this year they are struggling to have any impact. I personally think that when fit Lee Jinman should be tried out at centre.
On Oct 3rd the Steelers made their first visit and despite being 2nd best, went away with a 2-1 win, courtesy of another Carson 5 on 3 PP goal. 
The following Saturday witnessed an extraordinary. After being totally out-skated & out-passed by the visiting Knights, Panthers staged an astonishing 3rd period comeback. 5-1 down entering it, Panthers set about the visitors and stormed into a barely believable 6-5 lead before a late PP goal for the Knights saw the game end at 6-6.
By mid October Panthers had slumped to the foot of the table and coach Adey was still juggling the forward lines. The threat of changes still hovered in the air.
On Oct 12th the Storm were once again the visitors and went away 4-2 losers. But this was basically a game between two moderate sides.
There followed the next evening a fairly predictable loss at the Steelers, 6-4.
Panthers next game was away to the Giants a 1-0 win. A great result against prospective Champions.
The following Saturday saw Panthers against the Knights at home. Having had the upper hand in the 1st & totally dominated the 2nd, Panthers went into the 3rd 2-1 up, but weren't at the races. Even then it took a Knights goal 1 second after a minor to Calle Carlsson ended, to level it. Instead of settling for a point, Panthers cut their own throats and PC turned the puck over at the Panthers blue line with everyone else heading in the other direction and Mansi rifled a shot past Lorenz with 1.9 seconds left on the clock.
An away ISL/CC game at Ayr followed and Panthers came away with a creditable 3-3 tie.
Next in town were league leading, Giants. Despite ref Moray Hanson awarding the Giants a goal when the net was clearly off it's pegs and disallowing a Panther goal when Patrik Wallenberg swept a rebound off Cavallin into the gaping net, Panthers were 3-2 victors.
The following night despite dominating the game Panthers came away from Bracknell 5-2 losers.
The Bees visited the following week. The game ended 5-5. Panthers were all over the Bees for most of the game, outshooting them 42 to 26, but despite only having 13 skaters the Bees quick transition game continually caught out Panthers "D".
The night following Panthers were in Manchester and came away 4-2 winners. A Steve Moria power-play strike had edged Panthers in front just after the mid point in the final period, before Patrik Wallenberg sealed it with an empty-netter.
The next game was at the Bee Hive, who they hadn't beaten for about 4 years. The resultant 8-2 victory was stunning.
Tues 13th Nov Panthers made it 4 games on the trot undefeated with a hard fought 2-1 win at the NIC over the Knights.
On Sat 17th the Giants visited and played like champions running out 7-1 winners. It wasn't that Panthers had a bad night. The Giants were just too good. Many games like this and the league will be a one horse race, like last year.
The following Wednesday Panthers paid an immediate return to the league leading Giants. Minus Hadden & Savoie with Wallenberg, Carlsson & Evans suffering from flu. The 4-5 loss was probably a good result, particularly after being 0-4 down early in the 2nd period. 
On the 24th the Eagles were the visitors. For two and a half periods Panthers were appalling. But with their goal leading a bit of a charmed life and Danny Lorenz in great form, the PP finally worked and 2 PP goals saw us  win 2-1.
Panthers next game was away at old rivals Sheffield. Panthers racked up a whopping 71 minutes in penalties as the Steelers ran out 4-0 winners with two 5 on 3 PP goals and an empty netter at the death. The ref was, unsurprisingly Carson. Pope, Poirier & Lorenz all copped major penalties for abuse in the 71 mins total.
The following night saw the Giants, once again. Despite a spirited display the Giants ran out 5-4 winners with giant forward, Jason Ruff, proving too hard to handle with 2+2. The talking point from this game was an horrific cross check from behind by Jason Bowen on Joel Poirier, which saw Poirier carried from the ice. 
Despite their recent poor run Panthers came away from their next away game in London with a 5-3 win. Jinman, Savoie, Poirier & Lorenz were all missing, but the Knights were similarly hampered. PC grabbed a hat-trick, his best return of the season, with back-up Hakkinen saving almost 93% of 42 shots. 
On Sat 8th Dec the Steelers were in town and Panthers registered a pulsating 3-1 win. New signing Christian Sjogren iced and looked a useful acquisition. Danny Lorenz was outstanding and received Panthers MOM award. As the fixture also counted toward the Challenge Cup, the result saw Panthers qualify for the semi-finals.
The following night's lacklustre 5-2 defeat in Ayr after the long road trip was something of an anti-climax.
Dec 16th the Steelers returned. In a passionless game Panthers scraped a 2-1 win. All the excitement was crammed into the last five minutes after Panthers picked up yet another 2+2 for accidental high sticks during which the Steelers pulled it back to 2-1.
Panthers followed this with a 2-2 tie in London. Just when it looked as if Panthers would lose 2-1, Greg Hadden stole the puck and grabbed a short handed effort.
Panthers next game was against improving Manchester. Although outshot, Panthers were good value for their 4-2 win. Steve Moria bagging an empty netter as Storm searched for an equaliser.
The following night Panthers went down 5-4 in Sheffield despite taking a 3-2 lead into the final period. During the game Ash was checked from behind into the boards and was out injured for almost a month.
Panthers first game of the new year saw them lose 3-2 at home to the Eagles, with help from the most abject display by the men in stripes I've witnessed. Eagles 2nd goal saw a replacement climb over the boards into Panthers defensive zone long before the puck entered, but the linesman missed the offside. Late in the 3rd ref Rowe blew up having lost sight of the puck, which was five feet away from prone goalie Gage on the end of Wallenberg's stick.
The following weekend Panthers at least made a decent start with a 3-3 draw at the Bee Hive.
The next home game saw Panthers draw 2-2 with a depleted Steelers side. Man for man Steelers are without doubt better in all departments to the Panthers. Despite this, two soft breakaway goals, a host of glorious chances passed up and the pipe-work (twice), saved the Steelers from defeat.
Wed Jan 16th, 2nd placed Bees visited. Despite being on the wrong end of ref Boniface's calls Panthers won 4-2.
Rather predictably Panthers went down 3-2 to under-strength Steelers in Sheffield the next weekend. 
There followed a game at the NIC against injury struck London Knights. A rather fortunate 2-0 win ensued, with the Knights twice striking the inside of the post from close in.
On 22nd Jan we learned that ex-Panther Jimmy Paek was to replace Frank Evans.
The following evening Panthers went to Ayr for the Challenge Cup semi 1st leg. Panthers hadn't had much success against the Eagles this season and tonight 3-0 loss didn't buck the trend. Could Panthers overcome this deficit? As our best result against the Eagles had been a 2-1 home success it looked doubtful.
Sat 26th Jan the Bees went away from the NIC with a 4-4 tie. At 3-0 up Panthers showed their usual lack of tactical awareness. Down to only 4 D men, you'd have thought we'd have tried to close the game down and run the clock off, but Panthers over commitment to attack saw the Bees efficient transition pull it back.
The next night the Panthers came away from London with a creditable 2-2 draw after being 0-2 down and giving the Knights a host of PP opportunities. Once again we contrived to give up a goal in the first exchanges. That's the fourth time this month we've given the opposition a flying start.
Jimmy Paek made his return from Anchorage in the Feb 2nd game at home against the Eagles. The D and the whole team seemed to gain confidence from his presence. But those mainly responsible for the great 4-1 win were Lee Jinman, PC, Patrik Wallenberg & Danny Lorenz was was outstanding as he saved 40 of 41 shots.
A 4-2 success in Bracknell followed, with Wallenberg, Jinman & Drouin again to the fore.
Sat 9th Feb, the Eagles came for the 2nd leg of the Challenge Cup semi. Panthers took an early lead and looked well on top, but an equaliser by Byram took the wind out of Panthers sails. In truth both Pope & Lorenz should have done better. After that, although the Panthers got their noses in front on several occasions the Eagles kept coming back. In a final throw of the dice with just over 2 mins to go and 4-3 up, coach Adey pulled the goalie for the extra skater. Unfortunately Panthers found themselves with 2 extra skaters and a 2 minute, Too Many Men penalty. Although Lorenz stayed off the Eagles scored a 5 on 5 empty netter to seal a 7-4 aggregate win.
While I was away in Malta Panthers split two games winning 4-2 at the NIC against the Storm, but going down 4-2, as per usual, in Ayr. Runner-up spot was now beyond us.
Panthers final league game saw them go down 6-3 in Belfast. Nuff said.

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A novel international tournament was held in British rinks. Named after long time BIHA president "Bunny" Ahearne, the tournament comprised all the ISL clubs hosting two teams each from the German DEL. The Ahearne trophy winners would be the first league to amass 15 points. Points were as follows: 2 Pts for a win, 2 for an OT Win, 0 for a loss and 1 for a draw. As many of the top Germans were away at the Olympics, the ISL teams at least shouldn't be embarrassed by their wealthier German counterparts. 
Panthers were the hosts for Iserlohn Roosters and Dusseldorf EG. In the first game against Iserlohn, Panthers suffered a narrow 2-1 loss, but held their own throughout. Against Dusseldorf, despite being comfortably outshot, Panthers turned in a disciplined performance. Danny Lorenz was solid and Panthers won 3-2. A great result. For the record the Germans collected the Ahearne Trophy, finishing with 16 points to the ISL's 12.

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