FIXTURE LIST & GAME SHEETS    CHALLENGE CUP    HOCKTOBERFEST

ELITE LEAGUE    PLAY-OFFS    PLAYER-STATS     HONOURS    SUMMARY

With Basingstoke dropping out there were fears that Hull, Edinburgh & Newcastle may follow suit, however shortly after the 2008/09 play-offs the following was announced:- “The clubs have agreed to a new maximum of ten import (ITC) players per roster on any given game night. The regular League season will see all teams meet each other three times home and away for a 48-game season. The Knockout Cup as we know it will cease, but a new revised Challenge Cup will be unveiled and work on the full format of the competition, leading to a one-game, neutral venue final has begun already. The Elite League is also keen to introduce a new early-season tournament weekend and again, work on an exciting new three-day festival has already begun. And then of course, the culmination of the season will be the post-season playoffs and the goal of every club to get through to the Playoff Finals weekend." Much of this probably went up in the air early in May with the news that Manchester Phoenix would be dropping down to participate in the EPL.
The first signing new was just after the 2008/09 play-off finals weekend when it was announced that both Bruce Richardson & Kevin Bergin had re-signed. By the 3rd week in April, David Clarke, Marc Levers had re-signed and Nick Toneys would also be back, but Mark Richardson would be off to Cardiff to be closer to his Swindon home. There was also a new name Stephen Lee a defenceman from the Guildford Flames, but to balance this Joe Graham would be off with Manchester to the EPL. 
In mid May there was a sudden flurry of activity. It was reported that Geoff Woolhouse would be joining Swindon in the EPL with Sam Bullas and Rob Lachowicz & James Neil with Manchester, all on two way contracts, but that Danny Meyers had re-signed.  The big news though was the re-signing of an old favourite Sean McAslan. Toward the end of May the defensive corps was completed with the signing of Dominic D'Amour and right at the end of May came news that Jade Galbraith had re-signed.. Early in June it was announced that James Ferrara was to return and that Mark Hartley would be Geoff Woolouses' replacement as back-up goalie. June 22nd saw the announcement that Corey Neilson had signed centre Martin Gascon, latterly of the CHL. A few days later came news that Matt Myers wouldn't be back, having been offered a slot with Bakersfield of the East Coast League. That would leave a large hole in the roster. His replacement, of sorts, would be Ross Dalgleish, formerly of Edinburgh.
A whole month then went by before the signing of Cameron Mann was announced. Corey Neilson seemed pretty pleased.
On the rule changes front teams can sign more than the regulation ten imports allowed to be used in any one game. And they can now be alternated week by week instead of having to be de-registered and forced to sit out for a minimum of six games before being permitted to play again, as in previous years.
At the beginning of November, with Panthers in a slump and leaking goals, ex NHL defenceman Mario Larocque was signed. Nick Toneys was the one to sit out, with James Ferrara also leaving ostensibly to keep Panthers within the wage cap.
 
CHALLENGE CUP

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CUP GRP B GP W L D GF GA PTS GD 6 5 0 1 23 15 11 8 6 4 2 0 28 22 8 6 6 2 4 0 19 22 4 -3 6 0 5 1 16 27 1 -11

Panthers Challenge Cup began with a 5-3 success over perennial challengers Coventry, on Sept 6th in the Skydome, coming back from 2-0 down after 3 minutes. The night after Panthers' super 5-2 league win in Sheffield they picked up 2 points in the Challenge Cup away in Hull. A close game despite Hull missing 4 imports. Perhaps a case of; "after the Lord Mayors show" for the Panthers? Next followed a tough 3-2 win in South Wales on Sept 30th as Panthers moved to the top of the group after 3 road games. With 3 to come at the NIC, the prospect of Panthers progressing to the semi-finals looked fairly safe. The next game doubled up as a league game against the Stingrays at the NIC. The game was tied 2-2 at the end of normal time so both sides picked up a point. The evening following Panthers horrendous 6-2 league defeat in Wales, the Blaze came to the NIC for a cup game. Panthers ran out 3-1 winners with Seasn McAslan sealing the win with an empty netter. This victory assured Panthers of a semi-final place. The final group game saw the Devils visit on Oct 25th and lose 6-5 to leave the door open for the Blaze. However a 3-2 loss in Wales for the Blaze saw the Devils progress with the Panthers to the semi-finals.

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HOCKTOBERFEST

The 20/20 Hockey Fest was a new concept. A knockout tournament to be held in Sheffield between the Elite league teams, but only over two periods, running time, with four skaters a side. In their first game Panthers would face the Blaze. The remainder of the first round saw Steelers v Stingrays, Devils v Giants & Vipers v Caps.
Changes to the normal rules to cater for the short game lengths were to be as follows: Penalties awarded to be recorded as: 2 minute minor would be a 1 minute. 2+2 minute to be 1+1. 5+game misconduct, and Match penalties would show on the clock as 3 minute penalties and the player would miss the next game. A game misconduct would result in the player missing the next game. 2+10 minute misconducts for any offence would be show as a 1+5 on the clock, 10 minute misconduct penalties would be served as 5 minutes.
In the first round Panthers performed abysmally in losing 6-0 to Coventry. Neilson & Clarke didn't ice and Johan Molin guested again. We can only hope Panthers poor showing was down to other priorities. Whatever their interest in this competition was over at the first round. The NEP reported the following Monday

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LEAGUE

ELITE LGE GP W(OT) L(OT) GF GA PTS GD 17 13(1) 4 (0) 67 43 26 24 19 12(1) 7 (2) 67 43 26 27 22 13(2) 9 (0) 76 72 26 4 19 11(1) 8 (2) 52 63 24 -11 20 11(3) 9 (2) 77 62 24 15 14 5(2) 9 (2) 51 57 12 -6 17 5(2) 12 (2) 46 59 12 -13 18 3(0) 15 (2) 35 75 8 -40

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RESULTS GP W(OT) L(OT) GF GA 5 2(0) 3(0) 13 16 3 2(0) 1(0) 13 14 2 1(0) 1(0) 4 6 4 3(1) 1(0) 17 14 2 2(1) 0(0) 5 4 4 1(0) 3(0) 10 13 2 2(0) 0(0) 11 5

Panthers opened their league campaign with a 4-1 win over the Giants at the NIC on Sept 5th and followed this up on the 12th with a hard fought 2-1 success over the Blaze again at the NIC. The game saw the shock temporary reappearance of Johan Molin, in for the injured Kevin Bergin. The first league defeat came in the 3rd game, 5-3 away at Newcastle on the 13th. In both games over the weekend Johan Molin was named MOM for the Panthers. Saturday 19th, the Vipers visited the NIC and came within 15 seconds of taking it to overtime as Jade Galbraith scored his 2nd of the game in a 4-3 win. The following night saw another 4-3 win for the Panthers, this time in OT at a much improved Edinburgh. Galbraith again notched 2+1, including the GWG.
The first league meeting against old foes Sheffield came on the 26th, a very satisfactory 5-2 win away. Panthers pulled away in the final period and sealed the win with an empty netter. The first weekend in October saw the Giants leave the NIC on the end of a 6-2 defeat as Marty Gascon scored his first goals for the Panthers, he and Kevin Bergin each notched 2+1. 
October 10th saw the Stingrays visit the NIC for a game which counted toward both the League & Challenge Cup. The game was tied 2-2 at the end of normal time, with Panthers picking up the extra League point as Keving Bergin notched the overtime winner on the PP. The following night saw a 5-2 defeat in Coventry, who seem to have our number this season.
The first game the following weekend was a dreadful 6-2 loss in Cardiff. Once again Panthers inability to stay out of the penalty box saw them pay dearly as the Devils scored no less than four PP goals, including two 5 on 3's. In my opinion it's an almost criminal offence to take a penalty when already a man short, as it almost invariably leads to a goal. Worryingly Panthers last four games have produced less than impressive displays, but when you are regularly giving the opposition power-play opportunities you are bound to pay eventually.
On October 24th Panthers were in Belfast. A revamped Giants outfit, with new signing Jeff Szwez, were too good for the slumping Panthers and ran out 3-0 winners. Panthers had now lost 3 away games on the trot comfortably, 4 if you count the Hocktoberfest debacle in Sheffield. Most notably, after amassing 14 points in 5 games, Jade Galbraith had managed a mere 3 in the last 5. The following night the Devils came to the NIC for a game which also counted in the Challenge Cup group. Panthers ran out 6-5 winners after quite a scare. Cameron Mann finally produced with 1+3, to live up to his pre-season billing, but the slump continued on the 28th with a 3-2 loss at the NIC to Newcastle. On the same night the Giants went top with a 4-0 shut-out of the Capitals.
The following weekend Panthers faced a home and away double header against the Capitals. The first game at the NIC ended 5-3, Bruce Richardson sealing the win with an empty netter. Once again Panthers had made hard work of it, having to come back from 2-0 down at the end of the 1st. The return the following night saw the Capitals win 5-4. Panthers now looked far from a Championship winning outfit. The team defence just wasn't up to the job.
Following the announcement that Mario Larocque had been signed Sheffield visited the NIC and in front of a full house went home well beaten 6-3. For the time being Panthers were back on top of the league, but more surprisingly Sheffield were rock bottom! The day after Panthers lost 2-1 in Newcastle to extend their dreadful away record to six league and cup game losses on the trot.
The losing away run came to an end on the 10th of November with a hard fought 4-3 win in Edinburgh. A much more convincing 5-2 win in Hull followed with Bruce Richardson registering an impressive 2+2. The next night an empty netter sealed a 5-3 win in Wales.
A crucial double header against the 3rd placed Giants started with a 6-3 loss in Belfast. At this point I predict Panthers will finish in a more usual 3rd or 4th. The goals against column exposes Panthers title pretensions as a mere sham. Unless there is a collective turn around in the defensive department Panthers appear to have little chance of a league title, with Belfast or Coventry far more likely candidates. My convictions were affirmed in the return at the NIC the next day as Panthers succumbed 4-0.


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PLAY OFFS

Play-Off text here.

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PLAYER STATS

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SUMMARY

Season summary text here.

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2009/10 HONOURS