Now at the final approach

We’re on the final approach now and the season’s start is well within our sights, about time too. Not much of a pre-season to mull over really, especially as I’ve not seen any of it. It’s a little concerning that we have three key players with question marks hanging over them as we approach Saturday’s puck drop. Jay Henderson and Marc Levers are nursing ‘training injuries’ and big French Canadian Guillaume Lepine is likely to be grounded in his homeland, awaiting his visa and clearance to fly into the UK. Hopefully only the latter, at worst, will be missing come the weekend. There can be a few fingers pointed in various directions when the question of blame for late arrivals is posed, however it’s an unfortunate but unavoidable consequence of relying, for want of a better word, on overseas players in a sport like ours. I could harp on about Brock Wilson landing us in it with his late withdrawal but, as much as I am not overly enamoured by the seemingly growing precedent of players reneging on agreed deals, I think the two instances of this sort which have affected us this season have probably been for the better in the long run. Every cloud and all that.

 

One thing you can’t avoid, and I’m sure something that will become even more prevalent as the season really gets going, is the increasing buzz around Alex Penner’s role in the Black and Gold this term. I certainly think Penner, along with the EIHL’s other enforcers, will ignite interest in ice hockey across the city of Nottingham and beyond, both with the fringe fans and new converts. Make no mistake Penner is much more than just a fighter and thus far he’s made all the right noises as far as I’m concerned. Arrogance, confidence and the creation of that thought in the back of your mind that he might well lose the plot at any second all combine to make this guys appearance in front of the Panthers faithful a fascinating sideshow to the main event.

 

So all eyes are on the NIC in Nottingham (via Sky Sports 4, if you prefer) this Saturday at 7pm and then the Skydome in Coventry the following night at 6pm. As opening weekends go they don’t get much tougher than this one.

 

The season opener has the makings of a blockbuster start to the season, however as a Panthers fan you really have to hope we come out of the traps firing on all cylinders; because if we don’t it is highly likely we’ll get off to a less than encouraging start against a Giants side who look strong in all areas. The real duel of the night, or at least the one I think most likely to influence the result, is that of the men between the pipes at either end of the ice. Stephen Murphy had an outstanding 2009/10 campaign and might just be on course this season to disprove the myth that a British netminder cannot backstop an Elite League championship. Craig Kowalski, on the other hand, has the credentials to suggest he could put Panthers there or thereabouts at the season’s conclusion. At the other end of the spectrum both teams are loaded with offensive prowess against which the aforementioned keepers will pit their wits. It promises to be a barnstorming opener in front of what is expected to be a close to full National Ice Centre.

 

On Sunday evening we will see the first instalment of what many seasoned Panthers fans rate as their number one rivalry in the EIHL with a trip to face the Blaze; in front of what will no doubt be a packed and raucous Skydome Arena. You underestimate Coventry at your peril, their ability to quietly go about their business of consistently putting up the points is well reflected in their collection of recent honours and this season could well be no different. The addition of Sean Selsmer, a well travelled veteran (and former Ayr Scottish Eagle) with extensive experience in the AHL and the highly rated Austrian Erste Bank League will add yet more quality to a roster still boasting the likes of Greg Chambers, Jonathan Weaver, Luke Fulghum and Russ Cowley to name but four. Between the pipes for Coventry is Canadian, Brett Jaeger. With three consistent years in the CHL with Texas before arriving in the UK Jaeger certainly has the potential to be a solid backbone for the Blaze. The battle between these two teams will undoubtedly see some intense clashes and I have no doubt this one will set the scene in much that vein. I am chomping at the bit to head down to Nottingham on Friday and will be as excited as kids at Christmas come Saturday afternoon. The hockey is, finally, back.

 

And finally.....

 

This week has seen a true legend of ice hockey announce his retirement from the game across the pond. With three Stanley Cup rings, a huge 1651 regular season and 268 post season NHL games under his belt Chris Chelios brought down the curtain on a 26 year NHL career which took in stints with Montreal, Chicago, Detroit and a final brief swansong with Atlanta. The thing that stuck out for me, and reaffirmed my belief that hockey truly is one of, if not the, most inspiring sport on this planet, was the speech given by Chelios as he announced he was calling it a day. Yes he will retire a very wealthy man but try as I might I just cannot see any of the materialistic sports stars we see on our back pages day in day out choking under the emotion as they make their exit from their lucrative Premier League careers. I accept that guys like Chelios don’t come along very often, I just feel his speech embodies everything this sport is about; it was the stuff that future NHL ‘dream the dream’ type commercials are made of. It may be all about the money on so many levels but moments like this serve as welcome reminders that underneath it all is a game that enriches all our lives.

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