✍️ Wednesday View: Edge of glory?
Panthers title push – fuelled by emotion
Not many people would have had Nottingham Panthers still in the title race as we head into the final regular season weekend of the season, but here we are.
A year ago, Panthers and their fans had suffered the worst possible season.
The tragic loss of Adam Johnson in October 2023 understandably hung over them for the remainder of the campaign. How Adam’s team-mates could possibly have found the strength to keep going was highly commendable.
It saw them finish 2023-24 in the bottom two of the Elite League – the first time they’d missed the post-season in EIHL history and the first time they’d missed any play-offs since the 80’s, barring the COVID era of course.
Truth is, no-one cared. There wasn’t the sort of anger and frustration most teams’ fans would have shown in that instance. Rightly, hockey didn’t matter. Their achievement was finishing the season in itself.
Now, they come into the final weekend of the season in third place, sitting four points behind current leaders Belfast Giants needing two regulation time wins over the men from Northern Ireland and hoping Sheffield Steelers come a cropper at the hands of Cardiff Devils and Coventry Blaze. Can you imagine that scenario playing out?
In light of those tragic circumstances, it’s fair to say there will be many who would love to see Panthers overcome the two teams who have won trebles in the last two seasons and cap off a transformative year for the organisation.
The fans are feeling the love of the club again and those who helped heal the wounds in the immediate aftermath and the remainder of the season – namely last season’s coach Jonathan Paredes, former assistant Kevin Moore, GM Omar Pacha and many others have played their part in their own way for the club’s current.
Which brings us on to current head coach Danny Stewart, a long-serving name in UK ice hockey scene, who himself suffered a tragic loss with the death of assistant coach and good friend, Dayle Keen while at Coventry Blaze in February 2024.
Both tragedies united not just the respective fans of both clubs, but the hockey world as a whole. It makes complete sense to assume that both Panthers and Stewart will want to do it in memory of Adam and Dayle respectively.
When Stewart left the Blaze last summer to take the reins at Panthers following Paredes’ departure, it’s not unreasonable to suggest Keen would have followed Stewart to the Motorpoint Arena and played a key role in this season.
It’s all culminating in what could be the most exciting end to a title race in a long time and just when Panthers had thought they were out of the running on Saturday, Belfast’s surprise loss to Manchester Storm on Sunday suddenly left the door ajar for them.
Nobody would grudge them their first title success since 2013 and if it were to happen, it would be a wonderful to a combined story that began nearly 18 months ago.
Belfast and Sheffield, however, in the pursuit of glory themselves, won’t feel so sentimental.
Photos by Panthers Images
🏟️ AROUND THE RINKS
Time to round up what else has been happening around the Elite League to bring you up to date:
🗣️ There was a “Killer” announcement from Cardiff as the Devils’ MD Todd Kelman announced he was taking part in Joey Martin’s testimonial - or was he? 🤨 - Cardiff Devils on X
🏒 Fife Flyers got in on the April Fools act with a splendid effort of their own 🤣 - Fife Flyers on X
📰 Going into such a crucial weekend, the Elite League have posted the state of play in the hunt for the title, which will be decided this weekend - Elite League website
🏅 Dundee Stars announced the winners of their Player of the Year awards. Check out the thread to find out who won in which category - Dundee Stars on X
😂 And finally, this from Fife based Anstruther Fish Bar, who fancied an April fool with an ice hockey theme…
