FIXTURE LIST WITH LINKS TO MEMORABLE GAME SHEETS

This season saw the inauguration of a new format where the top nine teams in the country would face each other in regular league competition. gone were the smaller teams which had been present the previous season. Teams were now limited to three "imports". Panthers employed Neil McKay, a diminutive centre, Mike Urquhart, a left wing or defenceman and Greg McDonald, a rushing defenceman, in these import roles.
Panthers struggled to compete with the dominant Northern & Scottish teams, as is evidenced by the open letter from Dwayne Keward, extracts of which are reproduced here:
"I am writing this letter hoping for it to find space in the programme where it can be available for most hockey "followers" to read and learn. Firstly I would like to apologise to the crowd who unfortunately found themselves between me and that so-called supporter. My sudden outburst was quite out of character. What I said at the time was said in a "heat of the moment situation". I was defending abuse not only thrown at me but at my team mates also. "I have paid good money to watch this rubbish," was thrown at me as an opener. For the record I would like to state the following: (a) Apart from the three contracted players the remainder of the team receives no wage at all, not a penny! (b) We are all employed in full time jobs. Because of this and the heavy schedule of the stadium, training is restricted to two nights a week between 10.00pm - 12.00pm and one night between 8.00pm - 10.00pm. We play two games most weekends, often returning home on a Monday morning at 3 or 4am, after playing away. This leaves 2 out of 7 nights a week away from hockey. We dedicate our lives to this sport and to you the public. We go out to give 110% each game & try to entertain you. But for what? To be continually abused by what seems to be a growing minority. Right now our team is way below strength. We simply don’t have the quantity or quality of players to win the British Championship. Shouting abuse at what few players remain loyal and dedicated to this club not only undermines our confidence but it boosts our opponents."
Granted, we have lost a lot of games, but there have been a number of high spots. Those pulsating draws with Streatham & Fife. The splendid games against the three touring teams. Dwayne Keward’s 200th goal & Paul O’Higgin’s 100th. Above all the night we ground Murrayfield into the ice. Low points include the first Scottish weekend. The Ayr United football supporters who, with the collective IQ of a plant pot, bring a distasteful aspect to watching hockey in Ayr. (Programme Editor’s Notebook, 28/4/84.)
You know, it is easy to tell when a Nottingham crowd is watching an exciting hockey match. In between shift changes there is a babble of conversation discussing the last play. Also the atmosphere turns distinctly misty. This is mainly caused by 2,800 people yelling for all they’re worth, but is helped by a number of folk for whom a tense encounter induces chain-smoking. (Ed’s Notebook 18/02/84.)