FIXTURE LIST WITH LINKS TO MEMORABLE GAMES

Once again Alex had decided to go with two import defencemen. Retained were Terry Kurtenbach and Paul Adey. Chosen to replace Darren Durdle was Duncan McPherson. He apparently disappeared while on a pre season trip to Europe. Whether he ever re-appeared I do not know. (His remains turned up 14 years later in the summer of 2003 near Neustift in Austria). His last minute replacement was Yves Beaudoin, a player about who Alex Dampier admitted he knew very little. Beaudoin reputedly had a cannon of a slapshot. Ice Stadium regulars saw little of it, although his points return wasn't bad. Beaudoin was on a hiding to nothing when in direct comparison to the previous season's performance of Durdle. As Panthers season ambled on Beaudoin was released, his replacement Keith Stewart came from the same College background as Jim Keyes, Terry Kurtenbach & Darren Durdle. He too, like Beaudoin, suffered in comparison to the impact Durdle had achieved. A moderate Autumn Cup was followed by a moderate league campaign, Panthers only clinching the last play-off place after an end of season slump by Ayr Bruins. In the play-off qualifying round Panthers squeezed in second in the group behind Cardiff thanks to their comparative successes against Cardiff compared to group rivals Solihul. In the play-off semi-final against Murrayfield Panthers produced one of their better displays of the season. with Racers 4-3 up Panthers pulled goalie Graham. As the game reached the last minute and with the extra skater on Gavin Fraser tipped in the tying goal. However with the game approaching OT and Graham back in goal, Jim Mollard hit a speculative slapshot from outside the blue line which somehow managed to find a way between Grahams pads and the season was over.
Regardless of the outcome of the playoffs I feel we've had a successful season, managing to bring through more young players and now being in a position where Nottingham are self sufficient in local talent. Many of the lads are quite young, but with a blend of older players I feel we have a strong team for next season. Obviously it's important to try and acquire a re-classified player, something we are working on, but with so few available it's a difficult task. (Alex Dampier, March 90)