Nottingham Panthers

Nottingham Panthers
Nottingham Panthers
City	Nottingham, England
League	Elite Ice Hockey League Champions Hockey League
Founded	1946
Home arena	National Ice Centre
Owner(s)	Neil Black
Franchise history
1946–1960	Nottingham Panthers
1980–present	Nottingham Panthers
Championships
Regular season titles	1950–51, 1953–54, 1955–56, 2012–13
Autumn Cups	1955–56, 1986–87, 1991–92, 1994–95, 1996–97, 1998–99
Challenge Cups	2003–04, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14
Playoff championships	1988–89, 2006–07, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13

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The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League. The team is officially known as the GMB Nottingham Panthers due to a sponsorship agreement with the GMB union.

The Nottingham Panthers have won four league titles (two English National League titles, one British National League title and one Elite Ice Hockey League title), five Championships, six Autumn Cups and seven Challenge Cups during their history. They are the only team to have played in every season where a British league championship has been contested and are the only founding member of the Premier Division in 1983 to have continually participated in the top flight league. The Panthers have 16 members enshrined in the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame and have had 34 players represent Great Britain at the World Championships and in Olympic qualifying.

The club was founded in 1946 after earlier attempts to establish a team were postponed due to World War II. During their first eight seasons the Panthers played in the English National League. They joined the newly formed British National League in 1954, which they competed in until its disbandment in 1960. With no league to play in the club also ceased operations. In 1980, players and officials from the Sheffield Lancers relocated to Nottingham and reformed the Panthers. Both the original and modern Nottingham Panthers played their home games at the Ice Stadium until 2000 when the team moved into the National Ice Centre.

The Nottingham Panthers have one of the largest fanbases in British ice hockey, averaging over 5,000 spectators per game during the 2014–15 season.^[1] Their supporters have shared a number of rivalries with other teams during their history. Currently the Panthers have a fierce rivalry with the Sheffield Steelers. The two sides have played over 200 games, including eleven major finals, since 1992.

Team Photos

A team photo from 1946.
A team photo from 1954-55.
The club in 1989.
The club in 2016.
A program from November 22, 1946.
A program from October 8, 1948.
A program from October 26, 1956.
A program from November 24, 1958.

References

↑ "Swiss stay top". IIHF. http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/attendance-2014-2015/. Retrieved 3 April 2015.

External links

Preceded by Streatham HC	English League Champions 1950–51	Succeeded by Wembley Lions
Preceded by Streatham HC	English League Champions 1953–54	Succeeded by Last Champions
Preceded by Harringay Racers	Autumn Cup Winners 1955–56	Succeeded by Brighton Tigers
Preceded by Harringay Racers	British League Champions 1955–56	Succeeded by Wembley Lions
Preceded by Murrayfield Racers	Autumn Cup Winners 1986–87	Succeeded by Durham Wasps
Preceded by Durham Wasps	Playoff Champions 1988–89	Succeeded by Cardiff Devils
Preceded by Durham Wasps	Autumn Cup Winners 1991–92	Succeeded by Cardiff Devils
Preceded by Murrayfield Racers	Autumn Cup Winners 1994–95	Succeeded by Sheffield Steelers
Preceded by Sheffield Steelers	Autumn Cup Winners 1996–97	Succeeded by Ayr Scottish Eagles
Preceded by Ayr Scottish Eagles	Autumn Cup Winners 1998–99	Succeeded by Manchester Storm
Preceded by Sheffield Steelers	Challenge Cup Winners 2003–04	Succeeded by Coventry Blaze
Preceded by Newcastle Vipers	Playoff Champions 2006–07	Succeeded by Sheffield Steelers
Preceded by Coventry Blaze	Challenge Cup Winners 2007–08	Succeeded by Belfast Giants
Preceded by Belfast Giants	Challenge Cup Winners 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Belfast Giants	Playoff Champions 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Belfast Giants	Elite League Champions 2012–13	Succeeded by Belfast Giants