Panthers No. 14s

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A bit of a short list for this number, but quite a story.

First to wear it was Dave Webster, but as we broke up at the end of a season more successful than we could have hoped for, little did we know Dave would not be back, as during the summer a serious illness took his life at a tragically early age.

We were all stunned, and it was another three seasons before Brian Dickson came down from Aviemore to take the number and put in a solid season before ending up playing for the fledgling Cardiff Devils. Tragically Brian was killed in Australia in 1995 after falling from a moving vehicle.

Even the main wearer of this number, Nigel Rhodes, didn’t seem sure about it. He had a season in no. 4 in 1986/7, took 14 back, then went on a two season tour of the country (Bracknell and Humberside) from 1990, before returning to claim it back again in 1992.

Since Nigel retired, only two players have worn it, and one of those, Frank Evans, had to leave part way through the season for family reasons.

Is this number jinxed, I ask myself………


1980/81 Dave Webster
1983/84 Brian Dickson
1984/85 Nigel Rhodes
1985/86 Nigel Rhodes
1986/87 Dave Phillips
1987/88 Nigel Rhodes
1988/89 Nigel Rhodes
1989/90 Nigel Rhodes
1990/91 John Churchill
1992/93 Nigel Rhodes
1993/94 Nigel Rhodes
1995/96 A J Kelham
2001/02 Frank Evans

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More memories of these players:

Firstly Nigel Rhodes being on the end of a vicious baseball bat style slash in the face from Mike Rowe. Blood everywhere, and the referee (Nicholson I believe) called nothing. Some things never change!
Secondly, AJ Kelham scoring the winner in a 4-3 win over Sheffield in a B+H qualifier, our first win at the tent of tin in a competitive match. It managed to shut them up for a few seconds ;D

[Fez]

I absolutely LOVE these threads, thank you Stef!

Nigel Rhodes - Serially referred to in our house as "5 goal Nige" after a surprisingly (even to himself) successful evening at LPS. He had a particularly vivid skating style. As he chased down the right wing, hussling into the corner, he would pass right by our seats in the old block 9. This allowed you the perfect view of Nige, tongue firmly stuck out like some people do when concentrating hard, whilst energetically swirling his stick round and round by his waist, in a kind of propeller motion. This made him easy to mimic during games in the back garden. Quality bloke to boot, who still can be seen on occassion at the NIC.

AJ Kelham. Most memorable moment for me would be scoring the opening goal against Sheffield in the 1996 (I think) Wembley final. We were 3-0 with about 2 minutes to go in the second period. It wasn't looking good at all. Rob wilson took the puck around his own net to begin rushing down the ice. AJ, on the forecheck, took Wilson unaware with his lightning pace causing him to cough up the puck. Kelham rifled it with a snap shot past the unprepared Cowley. We scored a further 2 goals in 90 seconds to level the match. Steelers were literally saved by the bell and managed to use the period break to soften our momentum. We eventually lost on penalty shots. I still struggle to understand how we lost that match.

[nuttyrockeress]

jono72 said:

More memories of these players:

Firstly Nigel Rhodes being on the end of a vicious baseball bat style slash in the face from Mike Rowe. Blood everywhere, and the referee (Nicholson I believe) called nothing. Some things never change!

Gosh i so remember that - didn;t they have to get the zamboni on to clear the blood as it was that bad?

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fez2 said:

Nigel Rhodes - tongue firmly stuck out like some people do when concentrating hard, whilst energetically swirling his stick round and round by his waist, in a kind of propeller motion.

That's a great description of Nige - I can picture him now.

Jim Keyes was another great tongue-sticker-outer. Used to scare me - all it needed was a shoulder to the underside of his jaw and we'd have been picking it up off the ice.

[Baz]

all it needed was a shoulder to the underside of his jaw and we'd have been picking it up off the ice

I'm surprised none of his opponents never noticed that particular trait in Barry Nieckar when engaged in an altercation with him - one swift uppercut and "Nip!" game over. Used to worry the crepe out of me.

[cc77]

Ilove these threads Stef they bring back so many memories for me,
i`ve been watching Panthers since they reformed and looking at these names from the past are great.

Back in 1980/81 i was only 15 and myself, my friend and her parents became friends with Dave Webster`s girlfriend Dorinda and Bob Bathams wife Kim, Remember being totally shocked by Daves death. Remember meeting Daves dad awhile later at Dorinda`s 21st party