The Black and Gold Wire

I wasn't expecting to be writing this now, but here we are. The EIHL decided to call off the season on Friday, and whilst it absolutely was the right decision, it does sting a bit, as I genuinely think that this is the best Panthers team we've seen in many years. I never thought I'd be saying that after the mess we were in during October, when the season being called off would've been a blessing. Looking at the problems we had in  my article for the Cat's Whiskers back then and comparing it to where we've found ourselves is truly incredible. The resilience and work ethic shown allowed us to sneak into the title race, and were even some people's favorites to be crowned champions for a very brief period.  The early months of the season weren't even a blip. We found ourselves in a literal crisis. Years of failure made game night somewhat of a chore for fans, and after a summer rebuild, it didn't just remain the same, it got worse. As in, heading to ...

Signing high quality free agents midway through the season can be an incredibly difficult task, as the majority of the best players are already snapped up. The market is significantly smaller than in the off-season, but Guillaume Doucet has done brilliantly to bring in 5 additions to the squad that have had a massive impact on the Panthers success, which has seen them claw their way back into the title race, even if it is arguably out of sight now.  Jake Hansen Eyebrows were raised when ex-Coventry winger Jake Hansen was announced, not because his CV was poor, but because at the time, Panthers were crying out for a go to goalscorer. However, his 25 points in 23 games for Coventry still showed he was capable of making an impact, and what an impact it has been.  The 2007 Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick proved many of his doubters wrong as he has become a key figure in the Panthers offence, putting up a phenomenal 60 points in all competitions at the time of writi...

Panthers Brit core has been an interesting talking point this season. The departures of Robert Farmer and Steve Lee have hindered the depth of the roster, and there is a good chance this will be an area addressed during the off-season, especially with the import limit decreasing from 14 to 13, meaning the players you have outside of this bracket will become more significant to your chances of success.  Panthers current British contingent consists of:  Brett Perlini  Jackson Whistle  Joe Hazeldine (2-way) Jordan Kelsall (2-way) Josh Tetlow  Ollie Betteridge  Robert Lachowicz  Sam Gospel (2-way)  With many of those players still developing, a marquee British signing would do wonders for the Panthers going into next season. Brits are prized possessions in the EIHL, as there isn't exactly an overload of homegrown players out there who meet the required standards to play in the UK top flight. As a result, clubs typically hold on...

Panthers title hopes were given a massive boost this past weekend, with a crucial 4 points picked up to snap a 3 game losing run.  It comes as a welcome surprise, as the atmosphere in the fanbase had somewhat dwindled beforehand, with losses to Guildford and title hopefuls Cardiff handing the club their first losses of the new decade and providing a massive setback in the race for that all important top spot. Cardiff would add more salt to the wound by knocking the Panthers out of the Challenge Cup just days later, as 3 late goals completed an incredible comeback after being 2 goals down.  There's never a good time for an away day at Sheffield to come around these days, but Saturday's clash in the Steel City probably came at one of the worst times it possibly could've. Going to a building where we'd blown a 2 or more goal lead on a whopping 4 straight occasions to gift at least a regulation tie after doing the same thing that week on the back of a potentially cost...

Sam Herr has had quite an impact in the first half of his first season as a Nottingham Panther to say the least. Having been bought in after 3 full seasons in the AHL, where he was in a much more defensive role, the 27 year old has become an offensive powerhouse who has wowed fans continuously with his quick reading of the offensive zone, aggressive forechecking and clinical scoring touch.  In the last 13 games, Herr has picked up points in 12, highlighting his consistency. His ability to get into dangerous areas quickly makes him an opposition defence's worst nightmare, but a teammates dream as he anticipates plays effectively that brings out the best in his linemates. It's helped to make Panthers attack incredibly exciting to watch as scoring chances are coming thick and fast.  Herr is the third highest scoring player in the league currently, just 2 points shy of the red hot Brendan Connelly at Sheffield. With 35 points in 28 games to add to his 17 in 10 in the ...

Unlike during the early months of the season, being a Nottingham Panthers fan is actually fun again. With the dreaded December period in full swing, there’s more than one reason to believe this one could be different to those in previous seasons, with the club having the third best record in the league over the last 15 games. Add that to qualification for a second Continental cup final in three years and it’s clear that things are looking up.  Of course though, getting carried away is the worst thing a Panthers fan can do, especially at this time of year, but when you look at the disastrous state the club was in earlier this season, the change in fortunes has been quite drastic. Fans boycotting games, ownership investment being questioned, forwards not producing and non-existent game management among other things made turning up to games a bit of a chore not so long ago, but things are starting to come together rather quickly. Here’s 5 reasons the performances are finally on t...