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Post by Rob Scott on May 21, 2015 10:41:05 GMT
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Post by panthersnation on May 21, 2015 10:42:54 GMT
There’ll be a new face in goal for the GMB Nottingham Panthers after the signing of top Scandanavian netminder Miika Wiikman.
The paperwork came through overnight from the 30-year-old who is six feet tall and carries both Swedish and Finnish nationality.
Last season he was in Slovakia and then played in the Austrian Elite League with Slovenia based Ljubljana where he went on to post a save per centage of just under 95 in the play-offs.
He has played in the AHL at Hartford and San Antonio and in the East Coast League as well as consistently performing at the highest levels in Scanandavia. Throughout his career he has posted save per-centages of over ninety per cent.
He’s a former SM-Liiga champion with HPK where he won an award for best player in the play-offs and he has played junior internationals at all ages for Sweden. He is a former AHL player-of-the-week.
Said Panthers coach Corey Neilson: “We’ve had great reports on Miika and he knows what’s expected of him in the colours of the Panthers. It is a challenge he is relishing and he’s looking forward to coming to the city and showing us what he can do.”
Last season Panthers ended the campaign with three netminders on the books. Back-up Dan Green will be back with the club and we wish Craig Kowalski and Mattias Modig all the best in the future.
Mattias came in last season (twice) to cover for injuries to Craig, and came within a whisker of back-stopping the club to the play-off finals weekend.
As for Craig, what can we say. We hear he is well on the road to recovery from his latest injury and we wish him well in whatever life brings his way next.
He will forever be remembered for the part in played in recent successes, not least the Grand Slam season of three years ago when Panthers won the league title. Craig will go down in Panthers’ folklore.
We never say never and doors are not being closed.
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Post by Rob Scott on May 21, 2015 10:48:10 GMT
Sounds like we chose not to keep Kowalski then...
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Post by jdizpt8 on May 21, 2015 10:49:19 GMT
He's moved a lot over the past few seasons, not really sure what to make of this signing, have to wait to see him in action although the elite report says that he gives up rebounds and that's not ideal
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Post by panthermatt on May 21, 2015 10:54:17 GMT
So no Kwall next season. Welcome to the Panthers Miika Wiikmann. Looks like a decent netminder
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Post by michael on May 21, 2015 10:54:49 GMT
Played at a good level for a number of seasons. Decent stats too. He'll be a sound netty in this league.
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Post by ashfieldpanther on May 21, 2015 10:58:10 GMT
You could say that reads like the club couldn't take the chance on Kwall not being fit for the start of the season, but didn't want Modig, so signed something in between who might turn out all right, but could be replaced if he doesn't do well and Kwall gets fits. Wiikmann doesn't strike me as the goalie you'd sign to help win the league.
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Post by dreadface on May 21, 2015 10:58:19 GMT
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Post by Rob Scott on May 21, 2015 11:01:42 GMT
Looks a weak signing....  |
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Post by GuinnessMan on May 21, 2015 11:04:08 GMT
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Post by cooperphil156 on May 21, 2015 11:04:16 GMT
He's moved a lot over the past few seasons, not really sure what to make of this signing, have to wait to see him in action although the elite report says that he gives up rebounds and that's not ideal Dont they all. I reckon with the Brit pack signed up, two being augmented with Loughborough University deals, there is plenty in the bank left in the budget. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2015 11:10:44 GMT
Looks good, around 3 goals against per game in some high quality leagues. Only problem is the guy is on a hiding to nothing having to follow in Kowalski's footsteps.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2015 11:21:16 GMT
It's gotta be wait and see for the goalie. The best netminder job at panthers will be the one after the one after Kowalski. Hope people give this guy a fair chance before making judgements.
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Yotes
Forum Admin 
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Post by Yotes on May 21, 2015 11:24:20 GMT
Only problem is the guy is on a hiding to nothing having to follow in Kowalski's footsteps. This, toughest job of any of them to follow in Craig's footsteps. Hope he's up to it. Sad to see Craig go I must say, a huge part of our recent success, although I can see why they'd choose to call it a day. Best wishes to him. |
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Post by cjmatt42 on May 21, 2015 11:26:58 GMT
You'd say his stats should stack up ok for the British League, generally in and around 0.91 Save percentage in much stronger leagues than UK. With a solid enough D in front of him you'd fancy him to give us a chance to win games. Lets remember folks Kwall arrived in Nottingham on the back of a 0.897 save percentage and 4.14 goals per game average in the Italian League and he didn't turn out too bad!
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Shorty
Paul Adey
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Post by Shorty on May 21, 2015 11:34:36 GMT
He looks good to me, and being a European netminder has to be the way to go with the changes to work permits.
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on May 21, 2015 11:36:02 GMT
Good/great numbers put up in Finland, Slovakia, Austria plus a few good years in the states. Always performed above EIHL standard and put up comparable numbers to very good keepers - he managed 91.7% in 32 games for Banska where Josh Unice could only make 2 games and 87% svs... And i really rated Unice.
However he has bounced around clubs in recent years after a great career start.
If he can settle early in the season, build on the faith given to him by Corey then I can see Wiikman being a true force in the EIHL. Unfortunately however, I could also see him being gassed by November. I sincerely hope the former happens.
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Post by panthers4ever on May 21, 2015 11:53:10 GMT
Looks solid enough
Good luck K-Wall
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EMB
Randall Weber
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Post by EMB on May 21, 2015 15:55:27 GMT
Another one that has played with a few well known names, Mark & Kenton Smith, Mike Bayrack,Chris Capraro & our Bruuuce all on the same team. More recently Stefan Meyer.
I just wonder whether Craig has decided not to come or he just can't guarentee being 100% fit for the start of the season, I still think he will be on the horizon somewhere along the line.
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Post by The Flying Shirt on May 21, 2015 17:00:25 GMT
Another one that has played with a few well known names, Mark & Kenton Smith, Mike Bayrack,Chris Capraro & our Bruuuce all on the same team. More recently Stefan Meyer. I just wonder whether Craig has decided not to come or he just can't guarentee being 100% fit for the start of the season, I still think he will be on the horizon somewhere along the line. I think he wanted to come back because he didn't want it to end like it did but the risk and cost of a decent (better than Modig) backup would have just been too high. |
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Post by richard1969 on May 21, 2015 17:58:40 GMT
New netminders coming over here take 6 month to get used to playing in GB at least. And to get used to playing for panthers full stop.
I remember it took Kwall himself a fair bit of time to settle down. He had his ups and down first season he joined.Early on some on here doubted him.
So people should bear that in mind when comparing this guy early on at least.
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Neil
Jade Galbraith
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Post by Neil on May 21, 2015 18:34:44 GMT
The way to compare him to Killer is simple - Has he ever scored a goal !?
Joking of course, looks like a decent pick up.
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Post by kezypanther on May 21, 2015 19:05:13 GMT
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Post by Rob Scott on May 21, 2015 20:55:54 GMT
Kowalski just tweeted to say thanks for an amazing 5 years and that it wasn't the end he was looking for in Notts. He ended the tweet with #whoshiring
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nate24
Greg Hadden
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Post by nate24 on May 21, 2015 21:05:07 GMT
Kowalski just tweeted to say thanks for an amazing 5 years and that it wasn't the end he was looking for in Notts. He ended the tweet with #whoshiring not ready to retire then but to be honest I can't see him getting a significant position with his health over the past couple of seasons. |
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