Moria will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Jamie Leach and Robert Nordmark, who are both enjoying their coaching careers after leaving the Panthers at the end of season 2000-2001.

Greg Hadden has played for the Panthers 338 times in all competitions scoring 154 goals and 153 assists for 307 points, which is an average of 0.91 points per game. He has also ammassed 348 penalty minutes and is the current longest serving Panther.

Weaver finished the playoffs with 14 points (6+8) from 15 games, he finished the regular season with 57 points (22+35) from 43 games.

Coach Paul Adey said: �Jimmy is a very experienced defenceman, always in great position, a leader within the team, and he is a true professional in every way. We are extremely pleased to have him back in the line-up � he�s as good as they come.�

Explained GM Gary Moran: �There was never a problem with the work permit, it was a straight forward renewal, but we had to wait for various things to be put in place by the government, new people, new criteria agreements had to be signed off, and other aspects led to an unavoidable delay. I rang Jimmy today to tell him that the paperwork had come through and he was delighted.

Two clubs have clearly dominated the European season 2001/02 by winning easily their top leagues : Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and F�rjestads BK can be regarded as the top European clubs of the season. Finally, the Russian champion keeps a close margin in the rankings on the masters of the Elitserien.

Here is the top 10 plus British Rankings :
1 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl - (RUS)
2 F�rjestad Karlstad - (SWE)
3 Tappara Tampere - (FIN)
4 Jokerit Helsinki - (FIN)
5 HPK H�meenlinna - (FIN)
6 Ak Bars Kazan - (RUS)
7 Avangard Omsk - (RUS)
8 Sparta Prague - (TCH)
9 TPS Turku - (FIN)
10 MoDo �rnsk�ldsvik - (SWE)

76 Belfast Giants - (GBR)
97 Ayr Scottish Eagles - (GBR)
103 Sheffield Steelers - (GBR)
115 Nottingham Panthers - (GBR)
118 London Knights - (GBR)
128 Manchester Storm - (GBR)
143 Bracknell Bees - (GBR)

News From:- EuroHockey.net
Rankings From:- European Club Rankings

Stan Marple commented: �I was very surprised to find out that Danny had not re- signed with the Panthers. He had a very good season in Britain with the third best save % in the ISL last year. Danny�s� experience speaks for itself, as he has played over 360 games in the IHL and AHL. He has been a starter for almost his entire career and I am confident that he will make a big impact for the Flames and on the FBNL this forthcoming season.�

The 27 year old left winger has signed a one year contract with the Skydome based team and at 6�2� and 198 lb, will provide a physical presence that Coach Paul Thompson has been looking for.

Originally hailing from Richmond Hill, Ontario, Poiriers� junior career was split between the Sudbury Wolves and Winsor Spitfires in the Ontario Hockey League. Poirier was drafted by the Washington Capitals in 1993 but has never quite made it to the NHL. He turned professional in 1995, joining the Hampton Roads Admirals in the East Coast League. In four years with the Admirals Joel played in over 200 games and returned figures of 54 goals and 83 assists, while amassing 319 minutes in penalties.

At the start of the 1999-2000 season, Poirier moved across the Atlantic to join Newcastle Riverkings in the Superleague and returned the Tyneside the following season, before moving on to Nottingham last year. Returning 28 goals and 45 assists over the three seasons and picking up 200 minutes in penalties shows his ability to perform consistently at any level.

A natural leader on the ice, Poirier has been team captain several times during his career, and is a truly intense type of player. Blaze Head Coach, Paul Thompson, is delighted to have secured his signature :- �I am Really happy to have Joel on board with us for the forthcoming season, he is big, strong and plays the type of game not only the coaching staff appreciate, but also the Fans. I think everyone will love his workrate and tenacity and he will bring something to our offence which we lacked last season, size and toughness. He has been a captain on his teams for the last 3 seasons so that shows great leadership. Joel is a big signing for the Blaze and brings the Craig Chapman attitude to the game.�.

Operations Director, Grant Charman, confirmed �He�s a type of player that we have been lacking for a while and is a great guy to have on the team. We�re sure that Joel will be a huge success, and a new fans favourite, here in Coventry.�

Said Panthers Coach Paul Adey: �Jimmy speaks very highly of Petter and describes him as a hungry goalie who won games for Anchorage single-handed. He wants to compete and he will compete with Mika for the starting spot; that kind of cometition can only be good for the team.�

Said Panthers� GM Gary Moran: �Jimmy Paek says that Petter plays like Patrick Roy and you don�t get a better recommendation than that. As a club we would like to wish Danny Lorenz and Pasi Hakkinen the very best of luck in the future. Unfortunately, for one reason or another, we haven�t been able to offer them contracts to return but they are both quality people and we expect to see them sign for other teams very quickly.�

Petter Sandstr�m is an exciting prospect who has already taken one team to promotion to the Swedish Elite League and now has some North American experience as well.

Sandstrom played 10 games for them average 3.36 goals against and a save percentage of 89.7%. This was after joining the team from West Coast Hockey League side the Anchorage Aces where he averaged 3.25 goals against and 87.3 save percentage.

First to welcome the big winger to the club was his former adversary Barry Nieckar. Who said �What�s past is past. When he walks through the locker room door for the first time I will be the first to shake him by the hand. We�ve had our moments in the past but we settled them like men and everybody knows that I treat team mates like team mates, and I�m sure the same goes for Scott. He knows where the net is and now that he�ll be scoring for the Panthers, that�s fine by me.�

Panthers Coach Paul Adey played alongside Allison in Sheffield and added: �When I found out that Scott was possibly available I wanted to sign him for the good of the Panthers� club. It comes as no surprise to me that some of our other players have already been in touch to say �If you pull it off I�d like to play on his line.� �Scotty is a seasoned professional with the ability to score lots of goals and, more importantly, to come up big in the biggest games. He will be good for the Nottingham Panthers.�

Allison�s agent has told the club that the player is thrilled to have clinched a deal with them. The move to Nottingham provides a fresh challenge and he hopes that the fans will not bear any grudges for things that have happened in the past.

Pietila has an impressive record in Finland and on the continent. For the last two seasons Mika has averaged a save % of over 90 while back-stopping teams like Hameelinna and Ilves Tampere to second and third place league finishes.

Said Panthers coach Paul Adey: �We�ve done a lot of checks on Mika and we like everything we hear � he is an experienced pro� and will improve our team. We have high hopes of Mika becoming one of the league�s top goalies�if not the best. The 29 year old comes highly recommended.�

Adey has first-hand experience of playing against Mika. Whilst playing for Milan, Adey came upon Panthers new signing when he was a first team All Star in the French Elite League with Riems. Added Paul: �Our goalie in Milan was excellent, Mika was better�he stonewalled us!�

Panthers GM Gary Moran commented: �You don�t play in the Finnish Elite League as a starting goalie with one of the top teams unless you are one of the best. Mika has posted good numbers in a league where every forward has a canon of a shot. He tells us that he can�t wait to pull on the black and gold uniform and that�s the kind of attitude that fits the bill. �Pietila has told us that he was looking for something a bit different and the chance to join the Panthers came at exactly the right time. He is a solid family man and is described as technically brilliant.�

LINK:- Augsburger Panther

Panthers general manager Gary Moran said : "A few weeks ago we had a conversation with PC who told us he had an offer from a club in the DEL in Germany. Whilst rumours that he had signed for Augsberg continued to gain momentum, only last Friday PC rang to say he still hadn�t made up his mind and the decision was proving to be the most difficult of his career to date. On Monday he rang to say he felt he should take the challenge of a job in the DEL on board and he asked to exercise an option, which we as a club had built into his contract. Nottingham Panthers wish him well and have agreed to release PC from his obligations to the club. PC Drouin has been a great player for the Nottingham Panthers and this latest move in his career comes as no surprise to us."

"During last season, long before we played in the Ahearne Trophy games against clubs from the DEL a scout from Europe visited one of our home games to check out our opponents� netminder. The goalie didn�t make much of an impression but the scout told us at the end of the game he thought PC had stood out as the kind of player who would do well in Germany. "For his part, PC has wished the Panthers well next season and if things do not work out for him in Germany he has agreed to talk to us first if he ever considers a return to Britain."

In a letter to the club, faxed to Gary Moran last night (Monday), PC wrote: "It is with great regret that I leave Nottingham. It was a difficult decision to make as I have always been happy in Nottingham and was not eager to leave. However, I feel that this is a great opportunity to advance my career and felt that I could not let it pass by. The Panthers� organisation has been very supportive through this entire process. They have always made it clear that they would not stand in my way if an opportunity like this came along. They have been true to their word and have sympathised with my difficult situation."

"I have been following the recent signings and through speaking with Gary and Paul I have great confidence in the team that is being built for next season. This has made my decision to leave even more difficult. I have great hopes for my career in the DEL. However, if it doesn�t work out as I hope it will, I would love to return to Nottingham. It has been a great place to play, I have made many friends and the fans have always been very supportive. Thank you for all your efforts and support. Good luck for next season"

Leach left the Panthers at the end of Season 2000-2001 to pursue a coaching career, but hopes one day to return to the Panthers as coach.

Thirty-year-old Wood had 31 points with the Scottish Eagles last season and is seen as another key player in Panthers bid for honours next season.

Dody had over a hundred games for the San Jose Sharks in the NHL who had taken him in the third round of the 1991 entry draft.

Said Panthers coach Paul Adey : �Dody is an aggressive, grinding forward who will add to our toughness up front. He can score goals too, let�s not forget that. He is a versatile player, he can go on the wing or play at centre and he fits the bill as far as we are concerned. Dody stands at five feet eleven but plays like he�s six feet four.�

Wood�s career has seen him play in the IHL and the AHL where penalty minutes have regularly reached the 300 minute mark. He is great on the powerplay, excellent on the penalty kill, good at face-offs, an all-round power forward.

Negotiations with other players continue and Panthers hope to have more news for fans as soon as possible.

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