Post by chedders on Jan 20, 2004 11:49:45 GMT
This is my first time on the forum, but Steph's memoirs of the 80's set me thinking of my younger years and watching the Panthers in the 40's and 50's. I saw most of the games then and was back for the first game of the 80's. I have been a season ticket holder for many years, this year being dissapointed with the running of ice hockey locally and nationally I have not renewed my ticket.
To give you a feel of the game back in the 40's & 50's game night was a Friday night (except when the Ice Pantomime was on Christmas to the end of February, then it was a Monday night.) Face off was 7.15p.m. Panthers played in Black and White, same strip home and away. Players did not wear any headgear not even the netminders. Sticks had a straight blade, the wrist shot being very deceptive and awesome on the netminder, especially the backhander. There were two referees, one patrolling the area from the red line to the stage end, the second referee patrolling the opposite side and the other end from the red line. Each referee allocated penalties, blew for off side, icing etc. as there were no linesmen. Two rules that spring to mind are
1.- Players were not allowed to body check outside their own defensive blue line. 2.- When leaving the penalty box the player had to skate behind his own blue line before touching the puck and joining in the play. Players did not shake hands at the end of the match nor were there any presentations of man of the match. Yet both teams after showering and changing would meet in the Buffet for a hot meal and then join the supporters in Bar One or Two for a drink with them.
Season after season the old barn was a sell out for the Panthers yet the visiting team that drew the most excitement was the Paisley Pirates in the mid 50's. On one such game one of our own biggest and broadest defenceman body checked the smallest player on the Pirates team just on the blue line. The ref blew for the customery 2 minutes penalty to the Panther with only 1 minute and a few seconds reamaining on the game. The game ended and the Panthers went down to the dressing room leaving the Panther sitting in the penalty box. Pirates grouped together in front of their team bench and skated as a group towards the Panther in the box, quick as a flash the word went out to the Panthers as to what was happening and they returned onto the ice. Paisley turned towards the oncoming Panthers and both teams spread out down the ice in two lines, they skated in the two lines towards the centre of the ice each player choosing an oppenent from the opposite team. Then the Mother of all fights broke out, one Paisley player (now deceased) was well known for his 'Glasgow Kiss' and boy did he deliver that night. One of our own players delivered a punch to a Pirate that knocked him out and he was still out when the players returned to the dressing room. The fight went on and on yet the supporters remained this side of the barrier, not one ventured onto the ice to join in, remember there was no net or plexi glass in those days. The Stadium staff did well to seperate the players and escort them to the dressing room. The most remarkable thing about this though was the fact that the players still went for their meal together after the fight. Needless to say the next time the Pirates were in town and you hadn't a ticket, TOUGH LUCK.
To give you a feel of the game back in the 40's & 50's game night was a Friday night (except when the Ice Pantomime was on Christmas to the end of February, then it was a Monday night.) Face off was 7.15p.m. Panthers played in Black and White, same strip home and away. Players did not wear any headgear not even the netminders. Sticks had a straight blade, the wrist shot being very deceptive and awesome on the netminder, especially the backhander. There were two referees, one patrolling the area from the red line to the stage end, the second referee patrolling the opposite side and the other end from the red line. Each referee allocated penalties, blew for off side, icing etc. as there were no linesmen. Two rules that spring to mind are
1.- Players were not allowed to body check outside their own defensive blue line. 2.- When leaving the penalty box the player had to skate behind his own blue line before touching the puck and joining in the play. Players did not shake hands at the end of the match nor were there any presentations of man of the match. Yet both teams after showering and changing would meet in the Buffet for a hot meal and then join the supporters in Bar One or Two for a drink with them.
Season after season the old barn was a sell out for the Panthers yet the visiting team that drew the most excitement was the Paisley Pirates in the mid 50's. On one such game one of our own biggest and broadest defenceman body checked the smallest player on the Pirates team just on the blue line. The ref blew for the customery 2 minutes penalty to the Panther with only 1 minute and a few seconds reamaining on the game. The game ended and the Panthers went down to the dressing room leaving the Panther sitting in the penalty box. Pirates grouped together in front of their team bench and skated as a group towards the Panther in the box, quick as a flash the word went out to the Panthers as to what was happening and they returned onto the ice. Paisley turned towards the oncoming Panthers and both teams spread out down the ice in two lines, they skated in the two lines towards the centre of the ice each player choosing an oppenent from the opposite team. Then the Mother of all fights broke out, one Paisley player (now deceased) was well known for his 'Glasgow Kiss' and boy did he deliver that night. One of our own players delivered a punch to a Pirate that knocked him out and he was still out when the players returned to the dressing room. The fight went on and on yet the supporters remained this side of the barrier, not one ventured onto the ice to join in, remember there was no net or plexi glass in those days. The Stadium staff did well to seperate the players and escort them to the dressing room. The most remarkable thing about this though was the fact that the players still went for their meal together after the fight. Needless to say the next time the Pirates were in town and you hadn't a ticket, TOUGH LUCK.