Panthers - Lions relationship.

[loupowell52]

Provided The Panthers Owner approves, could not the two teams share  resources in terms of  promotional ideas and sponsorship contacts.  If just ten percent of sponsors cash was directed to the Lions operating costs it would make a huge difference.  Closer links could also benefit the Panthers in the future in terms of the progression of young players.

[kezypanther]

Think this topic crops up once a year, and whilst everyone here thinks it’s a great idea. Those at Panthers HQ think otherwise. I think GM was asked this question on the interview with cats whiskers or something like that, was he not?

[humbucker]

This has been a topic of conversation for a good number of years but to date that is as far as it gets. The Nottingham Junior Section, although established and is growing, does not appear on the Panthers radar until a player is identified as requiring some attention. This tends to lead to a player being sent elsewhere to continue their hockey education. On occasions the club has lost interest in a player and he either stays where he is, moves on, or finishes playing altogether. The set up in Nottingham is second to none but the difficulties occur at the point of providing a local senior team to aid a player's progress. Another problem lies in being able to attract players of the standard required for a future move to the Panthers therefore teams such as Telford, Peterborough (on occasions), and Swindon have become in effect farm teams. Oversight of a players progress can become tenuous being totally reliant on feedback from out of town coaches rather than under the nose of the Panthers coaching team. The funding of a local farm team as feed for the Panthers maybe too much of a burden but perhaps conversations could be opened in order to explore what might be achievable within the Lions limited resources? It was done once before when in Nottingham the Trojans were in effect the farm team for the Panthers. There will probably be only a few who remember those days but looking back at Panthers of the past the Trojans were a springboard for many players to the senior level in hockey and the team where injured players regained fitness. I wonder how many old hockey folk could actually name players who moved up from the Trojans? There were quite a few I can assure you of that. Perhaps this is a question for Spik?

[Baz]

Jun 17, 2019 13:48:38 GMT humbucker said:

This has been a topic of conversation for a good number of years but to date that is as far as it gets. The Nottingham Junior Section, although established and is growing, does not appear on the Panthers radar until a player is identified as requiring some attention. This tends to lead to a player being sent elsewhere to continue their hockey education. On occasions the club has lost interest in a player and he either stays where he is, moves on, or finishes playing altogether. The set up in Nottingham is second to none but the difficulties occur at the point of providing a local senior team to aid a player's progress. Another problem lies in being able to attract players of the standard required for a future move to the Panthers therefore teams such as Telford, Peterborough (on occasions), and Swindon have become in effect farm teams. Oversight of a players progress can become tenuous being totally reliant on feedback from out of town coaches rather than under the nose of the Panthers coaching team. The funding of a local farm team as feed for the Panthers maybe too much of a burden but perhaps conversations could be opened in order to explore what might be achievable within the Lions limited resources? It was done once before when in Nottingham the Trojans were in effect the farm team for the Panthers. There will probably be only a few who remember those days but looking back at Panthers of the past the Trojans were a springboard for many players to the senior level in hockey and the team where injured players regained fitness. I wonder how many old hockey folk could actually name players who moved up from the Trojans? There were quite a few I can assure you of that. Perhaps this is a question for Spik?

Ashley Tait, Randall Weber, Simon Hunt to name a few. On the strength of those names you'd have to say it was a good idea.

Edit; just had a look, here's 85-86 from Elite Prospects, looks an even better idea.

1. Randall Weber (C) 10 28 26 54 9 |
2. Darryl Easson (RW) 15 32 20 52 37 |
3. Nigel Rhodes (RW) 10 23 20 43 28 |
4. John Hobson (F) 12 20 22 42 17 |
5. Gary Clarson (RW) 17 20 15 35 10 |

[loupowell52]

The days when the Trojans were the "second team" are in the past. Nottingham was a genuine HOCKEY CLUB then with a clear structure in terms of age and ability. Juniors would progress through Cougars, Trojans and, if good enough, eventually to the Panthers. There was an official Junior Section within the CLUB. Totally different set-up nowadays. Panthers management have no interest in anything other than themselves. This is as a direct result of owners total focus on the here and now and making profits. What a shame hockey-wise. If I were a talented local young player then I would look to progress my career elsewhere.

[humbucker]

loupowell52, you have hit the proverbial nail upon the head and the drain of talent from Nottingham continues. At one time clubs would be looking at our 18 to 20 year old players and requesting their release, and to an extent that was expected given the change in direction of hockey in Nottingham moving away from the one club mindset with player development to what we have today. I must admit that I lost interest in the Panthers as I saw where the future of 'the club' was heading and handed in my permanent 4 reservations. I returned for the odd freebee but found that my interest in the Panthers could not be re-established. What is happening today is that clubs are now eyeing up our players at junior level and a recent player of 16 yrs of age was attracted away to another club with the usual offers of training up with the senior team and a bright future. Unfortunately, as we have seen, it does not always work out that way and that the link with Nottingham is then lost.
Whether a link and a hope of some progression for some very talented players can be forged under the new leadership at Panthers level can be achieved is yet to be seen but hope forever springs eternal, but I will not be around for eternity and that maybe what is required to achieve that goal?

[iginla]

Perhaps the Lions should now approach Doucet.
Not Panthers,not Moran or Black but approach Doucet directly,it’s the perfect time,he’s the Director of Hockey with supposed control over all on ice affairs.
It would be very interesting to see what happens and who really has any power.

[NickThePanther44]

In terms of a relationship what would people like to see? Panthers do pretty well in bringing Brits through, although they aren’t all via the Nottingham system.

The big thing that the Lions have always seemed short of is cash. To be fair it’s unlikely that Black would invest in an entity that he neither has control over or will likely see any tangible benefits that couldn’t otherwise be achieved.

It’s all well and good looking back at the old days before Black but let’s not forget that the club were going t1ts up!

[humbucker]

NickthePanther44. Just an interest in what the junior section of a club, that is busily producing players for clubs outside of Nottingham might be enough to encourage the talent to stay in Nottingham. Closing the route to the senior team in this city is somewhat shortsighted in my view, but I might be in the minority on a Panthers fan forum in that respect. The senior team in this fair city is in the title as they hit the ice as The Nottingham Panthers and, I believe that was the case even in the 'old days'. I do not look to having a carbon copy of the past just some recognition for a junior club that displays masses of commitment aligned to a good sized pool of potentially top class players. Maybe a pathway might open up with Gui Doucet at the helm but that might depend on how much rope he is allowed before being tugged back and hog tied.

[iginla]

Jun 19, 2019 15:53:02 GMT humbucker said:

NickthePanther44. Just an interest in what the junior section of a club, that is busily producing players for clubs outside of Nottingham might be enough to encourage the talent to stay in Nottingham. Closing the route to the senior team in this city is somewhat shortsighted in my view, but I might be in the minority on a Panthers fan forum in that respect. The senior team in this fair city is in the title as they hit the ice as The Nottingham Panthers and, I believe that was the case even in the 'old days'. I do not look to having a carbon copy of the past just some recognition for a junior club that displays masses of commitment aligned to a good sized pool of potentially top class players. Maybe a pathway might open up with Gui Doucet at the helm but that might depend on how much rope he is allowed before being tugged back and hog tied.

Precisely....
Well they brought in a DOH who “supposedly” has full control on the ice,so If Doucet wants to encourage a tie up with the younger Nottingham teams (and why wouldn’t he) then those teams should go for it.
Then we’ll see who’s really in charge regarding on ice matters.

[humbucker]

The one thing that was forgotten is that the Nottingham Panthers filled the old barn with around 2500 punters at every home game. There were people, including myself before being granted my permanent reservations, turning up outside the rink seeking any tickets for sale. With the permanent reservation you were obliged to buy your tickets or having your PR's taken away so people that couldn't make the game hawked their tickets to willing customers on game night. The financial situation, probably, should not have occurred and I am not aware of the internal dealings that may have led to a successful club beginning to fail. I do know that the junior section, at that time, was very viable, and being part of the Nottingham Ice Hockey Club was fearful of their section being stripped of it's assets in support the then failing Nottingham Panthers. I am of the firm belief that had the Panthers finances been managed better there might never have been a take over of the Nottingham Panthers and the club in it's entirety might have survived. Too late of course and those days are long gone, and I accept that situation, but what I cannot accept is the total dismissal of the Nottingham ice hockey development programme in favour of other hockey development programmes outside of Nottingham. There just has to be something wrong if the senior team, The Panthers, playing within the same venue as a thriving junior club but exhibiting no interest in what they are doing or producing could be viewed, at the very least, as short sighted.

[Jord v4]

Might be useful.

[iginla]

Jun 19, 2019 16:57:56 GMT humbucker said:

The one thing that was forgotten is that the Nottingham Panthers filled the old barn with around 2500 punters at every home game. There were people, including myself before being granted my permanent reservations, turning up outside the rink seeking any tickets for sale. With the permanent reservation you were obliged to buy your tickets or having your PR's taken away so people that couldn't make the game hawked their tickets to willing customers on game night. The financial situation, probably, should not have occurred and I am not aware of the internal dealings that may have led to a successful club beginning to fail. I do know that the junior section, at that time, was very viable, and being part of the Nottingham Ice Hockey Club was fearful of their section being stripped of it's assets in support the then failing Nottingham Panthers. I am of the firm belief that had the Panthers finances been managed better there might never have been a take over of the Nottingham Panthers and the club in it's entirety might have survived. Too late of course and those days are long gone, and I accept that situation, but what I cannot accept is the total dismissal of the Nottingham ice hockey development programme in favour of other hockey development programmes outside of Nottingham. There just has to be something wrong if the senior team, The Panthers, playing within the same venue as a thriving junior club but exhibiting no interest in what they are doing or producing could be viewed, at the very least, as short sighted.

There is something indeed wrong.
It’s that the Panthers aren’t interested unless it makes them money.
Jeez they even beheaded their own supporters club through sheer greed,then refused point blank to entertain a supporters trust.
Get in there with Doucet and see what happens,but I bet that rope you mentioned isn’t very long !

[humbucker]

I believe it is there to be tested but it will also depend on the strength of conviction within both clubs to seek changes that will benefit both clubs. The young guys need to feel that there is something beyond their junior days to encourage them to strive for because I believe all of the kids at the Nottingham club want, one day, to pull on the sweater of a team that proudly bears the name of the city where they learned to play this great game. Am I nostalgic? Yes. Am I a realist? Yes. Am I willing to support the Nottingham Panthers? Perhaps, dependent on also the Panthers supporting Nottingham by providing a chance for local players to achieve their ultimate hockey goals. Not that much to ask surely?

[iginla]

Jun 19, 2019 17:58:55 GMT humbucker said:

I believe it is there to be tested but it will also depend on the strength of conviction within both clubs to seek changes that will benefit both clubs. The young guys need to feel that there is something beyond their junior days to encourage them to strive for because I believe all of the kids at the Nottingham club want, one day, to pull on the sweater of a team that proudly bears the name of the city where they learned to play this great game. Am I nostalgic? Yes. Am I a realist? Yes. Am I willing to support the Nottingham Panthers? Perhaps, dependent on also the Panthers supporting Nottingham by providing a chance for local players to achieve their ultimate hockey goals. Not that much to ask surely?

Well,there’s only one way to find out and that’s to approach Doucet and maybe Wallace,they’re the two who might change things because the Panthers hierarchy won’t unless pressed.