It has perhaps been a mixed campaign on the ice for those of a Nottingham Panthers persuasion; IIHF Continental Cup and EIHL Challenge Cup winners, but a latter stage drop-off in challenging for the EIHL League title ahead of another run in the Play-Offs.

That matters not though, Danny Stewart’s side now regrouping to defend the EIHL Play-Offs title they lifted last season, beginning with this weekend’s double-headers against a Manchester Storm side that finished sixth in the final league standings.

The Panthers have already beaten the Storm in recent weeks, edging a seven-goal thriller at Planet Ice Altrincham at the start of April, a double from Tim Doherty keeping the visitors in front of a contest that saw Chase Pearson net inside the opening minute, and Bryan Lemos afford a 2-1, first period lead, Loren Ullett’s strike for the hosts sandwiched between.

Doherty’s first of the game stretched the Panthers’ advantage to 3-1 before scores from Dante Hannoun and Rais Francis, tied the game up late in the second; Doherty’s second, and the Panthers’ fourth, in the third, gave the visitors the win, but it was to be too late in the race for the title.

That success was bestowed upon Belfast Giants, with Cardiff Devils finishing runners-up, and the Panthers in third place, a dozen points off the top pace; the Play-Offs Finals weekend takes place the following weekend, at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena.

The other half of the play-offs will pit Belfast Giants against Glasgow Clan (eighth) and Cardiff Devils against Coventry Blaze (seventh), the ties being played this coming weekend, Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 April.

Of their last ten outings the Panthers have won five, lost five, going down heavily in Cardiff (7-2, 15 March, Joey Martin double for Devils) and again on the final day of the regular season (4-1, 5 April); there were highlights of 6-1 (Chase Pearson brace) and 6-2 (Bryan Lemos brace) wins over Coventry Blaze and Fife Flyers in early March, and a 4-2 win in Sheffield.

Ross Armour, Bryan Lemos, Matthew Marcinew, and Jakob Stridsberg netted in the success on 21 March, Joona Huttula and Evan Jasper replying, the Steelers avenging it with the same result, 24hrs later, Didrik Henbrant and Tim Doherty netting for the Panthers, whilst a Mitchell Balmas brace, and one apiece for Robert Dowd and Stephen Harper, gave the Steelers the win.

Nottingham Panthers have also held their End of Season Awards this week, with American forward, Tim Doherty, taking the Top Points Scorer (66pts), Players Player of the Year, and Most Valuable Player awards, he was also runner-up on the Top Goalscorer award (25), one behind fellow American forward, Chase Pearson.

Other awards presented saw Defenseman Josh Tetlow, who’s also been called up to represent Great Britain at the 2026 World Championship in Switzerland, named the Panthers’ British Player of the Year; American forwards, Bryan Lemos and Brendan Harris were awarded the Team Spirit, and Most Entertaining Player awards respectively, and Canadian netminder Kevin Carr the Most Consistent Player award.

Swedish forward, Didrik Henbrant, claimed the Goal of the Season award for the second successive year, this time for his effort against GKS Katowice, in the IIHF Continental Cup, whilst the GM the GM Community Award (in memory of former Panthers GM, Gary Moran) was presented to the Spencer Academies Trust.

Next up for Nottingham Panthers, the play-offs quarter-finals double headers against Manchester Storm. The Panthers will travel to Altrincham for the first leg this Saturday (11 April) night, before welcoming the Storm, to the Motorpoint Arena, the following (Sunday 12 April) evening.

Further information, and interview with Panthers HC, Danny Stewart, can be found HERE

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @PanthersIHC up next Manchester Storm for a place in the Playoff finals.