On Saturday 18th Sept the ISL programme started with Panthers posting a stunning 4-0 shutout of the reigning Play Off winners Cardiff. Unfortunately it was back down to earth with a bump the next night, going down 8-2 to the flying Bees at the Hive. After a series of poor results, Mike held "One to one's" and a team talk in. The resulting 3-1 success against the old enemy from up the road was pulsating. Maybe the Steelers were hung over from their 9-8 aggregate loss in the B&H Cup semi, against the Storm. Whatever the game was a cracker and Panthers' 13 skaters deserved every credit.
On October 22nd Panthers played against a foreign side in a serious competition, for the first time since the days of Racing Club De Paris in the 50s', and came away with an 8-6 victory over Russian side Lada Togliati. In the 2nd game Panthers went down 5-3 to the Devils, as John Brill scored an empty netter to finally kill of the Panthers. In their final group game, against French side Lyon, Panthers came away with a 5-3 win with Ashley Tait & Greg Hadden both netting a brace. Panthers finished the tournament in 2nd place behind Lada but ahead of the Devils, who were on home ice.
On November 9th the NEP reported that Sheffield Steelers had approached Neil Black with a view to offering Mike Blaisdell their vacant Coaching post. Neil Black refused permission to speak to him. Predictably Blaiser wanted the chance to talk and was "angry and frustrated by the cash restraints imposed by Black this season" Blaisdell said "I have never wanted to leave Nottingham. I love the place and was really looking forward to moving into the new arena next year. But I have my pride and I don't think I'm being allowed to do my job properly. It's no surprise that we are bottom of the table given that we have the lowest budget in the league and the smallest squad". Mr Black retorted "Mike is going nowhere and if he resigns I won't accept it. I realise Mike does not like being at the bottom of the table and like all coaches he would like more money to spend. Next season we will be building a team specifically to win the league and I fully expect us to do so". General Manager, Gary Moran, said, "Neil says he will free up some money for more players in the hope that we can still recover and do well in the play-offs". On November 11th, Blaiser resigned as far as the media was concerned. Nominally the Steelers hadn't decided who was to be their next coach. Nov 12th and Panthers were in the NEP again, Blaisdell saying he had been "constructively dismissed" along with allegations that his contract had been breached on numerous occasions. Neil Black sent a warning to Sheffield not to approach him. "He has got a contract until the end of the season and he can't go anywhere under Superleague rules until I agree. It is against the law to induce someone to break their contract and if it is proved that Sheffield approached him, I want them to pay compensation". This looked destined for the courts. By the 16th Black & Blaisdell had come to some arrangement and the Steelers announced him as their new coach.
On Nov 19th it was announced that Alex Dampier was to return to take up the coaching job. Although they do say "never go back" at least Alex was familiar with the pressures of coaching a side at the bottom of the ISL. Alex's first game saw his former side Newcastle at the Ice Stadium. The resultant 6-0 success was both a shock & a delight. Panthers next home game was against league leaders London Knights. Despite being outplayed for much of the game Panthers posted a 2-1 win and lifted themselves off the foot of the table, for the time being at least.
The following home game saw the B&H Cup winners Storm in town. The game was a real barnburner as Panthers came from 6-3 down at the 2nd break, to win 7-6 as "Ash" scored the GWG at 57.29.  On Dec 27th, the day after a narrow 3-2 loss at Sheffield, the return game turned out to be another barnburner as Panthers 13 skaters overcame a full strength Steelers outfit 6-5. The weekend of 8th and 9th Jan saw the most successful ISL weekend of the season so far. After posting a narrow 5-4 win at LPS over the Devils, Panthers traveled to Newcastle where they made it a 4 point weekend with a 7-3 win. The following weekend the high riding Bees came to town and despite trailing 3-1 & 4-2, Panthers stung the Bees in OT to win 5-4. By the last week in January Panthers had, rather surprisingly, made it to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup on the back of their tremendous LPS performances. On Jan 21st it was announced that the arrival of new signing, Jason Mansoff, was imminent. No sooner were Panthers up to 5 recognised D men when Steve Carpenter suffered a back injury. On Feb 5th the Bees were back in town and were looking hot favourites for the league title. Panthers wanted their say though and despite having to chase the Bees around in front of Jordan Willis, who was outstanding, posted a memorable 4-0 win. At the end of February Panthers powerplay, which had been one of the best in the league, came of the rails and their results suffered. As the league season came to a close Panthers put the nail in the Knights' coffin with an astonishing 4-1 win in London to hand the Bees the League crown. As it also counted as the Challenge Cup semi-final 1st leg. The return saw another pulsating encounter. The resultant 3-3 tie saw Panthers overcome the red hot favourites 7-4 over the two games and into the final at London Arena. Panthers went down in that final, in a battling rearguard display, against old rivals and red hot favourites, Sheffield in the Challenge Cup final by 2-1. The game on March 26th was Panthers last game of the season and the old Ice Stadium was already in the process of being pulled down.

Back to Top