Panthers Nos. 31 to 39

[Deleted]

No. 31

1992/93 Jim Graves
1994/95 Steve Butler
1997/98 Trevor Robins
1998/99 Trevor Robins
2000/01 Robert Nordmark
2001/02 Danny Lorenz


No. 32

1997/98 Mike de Angelis
2001/02 Joel Poirier


No. 33

1989/90 Barry Spours
1990/91 David Selby
1996/97 Derek Laxdel
1997/98 Derek Laxdel
1998/99 Jeff Da Costa, Ashley Tait


No. 34

2002/03 John Purves
2004/05 Curtis Cruickshank


No. 35

1996/97 Marty Dallman
1998/99 Mike Zanier
2001/02 Pasi Hakkinen


No. 36

1996/97 Steve Barnes
1998/99 Graham Garden
1999/00 Graham Garden
2000/01 Graham Garden


No. 37

1999/00 Marcus Adolfsson


No. 38

2000/01 Casson Masters


No. 39

1994/95 Mario Belanger


Getting into silly number territory now.

The stand-out name for me in this lot is Derek Laxdal. The second NHL game I ever saw was New York Islanders v Montreal and featured a young Laxdal playing for the Islanders. He scored two goals in a three star performance that outshone the considerably more famous Pat Lafontaine. We were all talking about him as we came out, and six years later he was playing for us. Such are the fortunes of this game. Top bloke as well.

Honourable mentions as well for the great John Purves and Graham Garden. Also (and if you’re reading this Steve I apologise profusely) I have no recollection of Steve Barnes at all.

[Baz]

Gardsy. Scared of nowt and burst into tears when he left the ice for the last time. I have to admit, I wasn't far off myself when I saw it. Anyone know what he's up to these days?

[Super Pekka Virta]

Steve Barnes played for Manchester before joining Panthers mid season and was a defenceman if memory serves me right

[belak]

Marcus Adolfsson

shudder

[andyd]

Mike Zanier. I remember being in the shop at LPS on B&H Final day in '98 before travelling up to Sheffield. It was when they werre working on the arena so they'd closed the whole front of the old place and had the shop in a cupboard under block 7!

Anyway I was there picking up a new shirt I think when in walks Mike Zanier with a shirt. He went straight to the desk and said

"Hi, can Chili print this for me please, I need it for tonight."

The girl behind the counter replied,

"Yeah sure, what name do you want on it?"

"Errrr...Zanier!" Says Mike only for her to reply the killer line...

"And what's your name sir?"

At this point everyone in the shop fell about laughing apart from the poor girl behind the desk.

Priceless.

[*♥*Shortie*♥*]

Trevor Robins..A great goalie! I remember once he went that far out of his net with the puck he got the assist on a goal..

[Baz]

I talked to the couple who Trevor lived with while playing with the Blades and they told me he is a Police Officer for the city of Brandon, Manitoba, Canada and is doing really well.

[Rich]

Steve Barnes was a true 5th D man in the days of 4D men Lol.
Looked a quality D man in Manchester but didnt seem to adapt to the small ice that well. Having said that I cant remember him making any mistakes!
Jeff Dacosta&Super Mario Belanger=Quality!

[Ian]

TREVOR ROBINS:
One of my all-time favourite Panthers. If I had to pick one netminder to play in a big game, he would be the man.

His focus was amazing, I once went to pick up a ticket from the box office on the morning of a match and Trevor was coming out of the door as I was going in. He was in a totally different world though, his game face was on about 10 hours before face off. Apparently his wife used to kick him out of the house early in the day when he had a match because his intensity was too much for her to cope with the whole day.

When he didn't have his game face on, Trevor was a really nice bloke and his wife Shane was great as well. I remember having the pleasure of their company on our table at a presentation evening dinner - he wore a purple velvet suit as I recall.

GRAHAM GARDEN:
My kind of player - 100% effort and never afraid to take on the bigger guys if necessary. His will to win and commitment to the team were demonstrated by his reaction when he stopped playing. I wish more players cared that much about the club and their own game.

I tripped over his leg once in a crowded corridor at the old stadium and it was like banging your shin on a steel girder. No wonder he was a strong skater.