However, due to the content of the evidence already in the possession of both clubs and the Committee, it has been decided that the following will take effect:-

1. The Match Penalty imposed upon Scott Allison will be reduced to a 5 minutes plus Game penalty. This will allow him to play in the next scheduled Nottingham game.

2. The two Match penalties imposed upon Barry Nieckar will stand and he will miss both of the next two scheduled Nottingham games.

It is stressed that these are interim findings.

Jarret Zukiwsky started the season with Idaho Steelheads (WCHL) but moved to San Diego Gulls (WCHL) after 2 games, but he played just 2 games for the Gulls before moving to Anchorage Aces (WCHL) for the second time in his career.

Jimmy Drolet has joined West Coast side Bakersfield Condurs and picked up an assist on his debut. We wish both, good luck for the season.

Overtime Goals - This page has been updated with details of Game Winner scored by Bracknell in the Challenge Cup back in September.

Man of Match - Updated with Man of the Match for the game in Belfast.

Voting closes on Monday 4th November and the result will be announced the next day (Tuesday 5th). So get voting.

After their Thursday night win over the Manchester Storm the Belfast Giants started this match hoping to add more points to close the gap on the Sheffield Steelers. It was the Panthers that started the livlier and they took a deserved lead on 3.09 when John Purves shot home from a Lee Jinman and Mark Cadotte assist. A game between the Giants and the Panthers is always a rough affair though and this match was no different with 10 penalty minutes given out to both sides after the Giants found an equaliser on a 5-3 powerplay through a goal from Ryan Kuwabara.

The second was once again a hot and heavy period full of many penalties mostly on the side of the Panthers and the Giants made took advantage of two powerplays as Robbie Sandrock and Kevin Riehl scored with in a minute of each other to give the giants a 3-1 lead. The period ended though with both Korlander (giants) and Thompson (Panthers) both being given game penalties for spearing and roughing.

Panthers got back into the game 26 seconds into the third period when Mark Cadotte took an assist from Paek to shot past Bach. The Panthers could not come up with the equaliser despite having a powerplay in the final few minutes but no-one could have predicted what would follow at the final hooter.

On the 60th minute the hooter sounded and the players left their respective benches for the usual post game motions. Purves and Johnson were continuing to have words near the blue line with shoving and pushing that developed into fight. The officials took over half an hour to fill out the score sheets with over 100 penalty minutes being issued.

Belfast's Curtis Bowen received a game misconduct (3rd Man In), Shane Johnson 5+Game (Roughing) and Paxton Schulte 5+Game (Roughing).

The Panthers players received the following, Scott Allison Match (Fighting), Kristian Taubert 5+Game (Fighting), John Purves 5+Game (Roughing). Barry Nieckar received 70 minutes worth of penalties, Game (Illegal Equipment), Match (Fighting) and Match (Travesty of the Game).

The game video's are no doubt on their way to ISL headquarters, with both teams waiting to see what action will be taken.

Man of the Match for Giants : Robby SANDROCK
Man of the Match for Panthers : Mark CADOTTE
Shots - Giants 28, Panthers 28
PIM's - Giants 125, Panthers 198
Referee : Simon Kirkham

2.30pm Nottingham Panthers v Scottish Eagles
6.30pm Sheffield Steelers v London Knights

Tickets are only available from the participating club representatives until late November 2002, when any left unsold will go on general sale. No tickets will be sold by Sheffield Arena Box Office until then. Watch out for any further announcements.

Ticket Prices are:-
�15 per adult
�10 concession (Under 16 yrs, OAP, Disabled)
One ticket will give entry to both games.

Panthers owner Neil Black said : �To be fair to everyone, not least our fans, we have taken the decision to withdraw from Tuesday�s game, the uncertainty wasn�t good for anyone nor was it good for our team. We are enjoying a great season so far and we need to keep our focus going forward, to that end we will gear up for the trip to Sheffield and the game at home to the Eagles.�

The tickets are available to EVERYONE and not just members of the supporters club.

Tickets will be on sale from Monday 28th October until 23rd November. After this date any remaining will go back on general sale. Tickets can be purchased from the Supporters Club kiosk at the National Ice Centre at the Panthers home games.

Ticket Prices are as follows:-
Adult Tickets - �15.00
Junior (under 16's) - �10.00
OAPS + Disabled - �10.00

Storm's game against Panthers on Sunday, although contracted and paid for, was called off by SMG because a rental payment for future games had been missed, amid criticism of smaller crowds this season. Black said: "To safeguard British ice hockey and the GB national team, the Superleague and British National League have to join forces. "It would be fair to say we are two or three months down the line in terms of discussions. "If that means us taking a backward step to go forward then so be it. "But the fans demand variety and entertainment and the only way to do that is by having a minimum 14-team league, but hopefully bigger. "That way we can pool resources, sponsorships and marketing strategies instead of everyone trying to get their share from a very small pot for what is a minority sport. "The Superleague probably set its sights too high and that is why teams like Cardiff, Newcastle and Basingstoke are no longer with us, but now in the BNL. "And, of course, the addition of a Dublin franchise in three or four years time would not solve the problems we are currently encountering in having too few teams."

To enable BNL clubs - which generally have a smaller income from their reduced fan bases - to come in line and afford such a merger, it would mean the current Superleague wage cap being reduced from its current �400,000. It would also perhaps mean teams paying varying amounts, depending on their attendance figures, into a league pot to promote the sport and provide for the upkeep of the national team. But Black refuted suggestions that it would mean a drastic lowering of standards, with fewer top-line foreigners playing over here.

"There were claims that dropping to our current level would lower standards and entertainment but that has certainly not been the case," Black added. "In fact, this season, the standard has never been higher. We have worked very hard in Nottingham to achieve that and now have a solid base. "We've had to encounter some criticism over the years. But the stability of Panthers shows we have got it right and have provided a springboard for the future at a beautiful facility."

The Panthers began the game brightly and had the first PP chance of teh night but failed to convert, London also failed to convert on their first PP chance following a debatable charging call against Jason Clarke. The Panthers were back on the PP at 13:20 following a call against Greg Burke (Hooking) but failed to convert but did open the scoring 15 seconds after Burke returned to the ice, as Cadotte scored up high assisted by Jinman and Thompson.

The second was full of action including 2 fights, first to go was Nieckar and Adams following a holding call against Gerad Adams, Nieckar just about shaded the fight but neither really landed any telling blows. The Panthers increased their lead 4 seconds after the Adams holding penalty had ended as Greg Hadden (Elders/Allison) forced home his 4th of the season. A minute after the goal, saw the second fight of the night as Dody Wood and Chris Slater squared off with no doubts as to who this fight as Dody Wood battered Chris Slater. Knights Ian McIntyre took a 2+10 for Checking from Behind late in the period but their was no further scoring.

The third saw the Knights had 2 powerplay chances inside the first five minutes of the period following calls against Wood (Tripping) and Sandstrom (Leaving the Crease) but the Panthers held firm. At 48:07, Panthers Dody Wood collected 32 minutes of penalties for leaving the bench to join an altercation. Personally I think this was harsh as Wood had left the bench as the extra skater on a delayed penalty call against Gerad Adams.

The Knights pulled a goal back on a delayed penalty call against Jason Elders as Mark Kolesar turned the puck home at the far post but the Panthers killed off any thoughts of a Knights comeback 3 minutes later as Man of the Match John Purves scored the goal of the game, following good work behind the net by Jinman and Cadotte, Purves was allowed to ghost into the slot and fire home an inch perfect pass from Lee Jinman.

The Knights called a timeout at 58:51, pulling netminder Dave Trofimenkoff and calling for a stick measurement against Eric Charron, giving them a powerplay for the rest of the game but the Panthers were never troubled.

With the Panthers game in Manchester cancelled, the Panthers have a week to prepare for the trip to Belfast, where they will hope to carry on their recent good form of just 1 defeat in the last 6 games.

Man of the Match for Panthers : John PURVES
Man of the Match for Knights : Mark KOLESAR
Shots - Panthers 22, Knights 32
PIM's - Panthers 56, Knights 32
Referee : Andy Carson

Latest Team News
The Panthers will be at full strength for this game following the return of finnish defenceman Kristian Taubert, who missed the Sheffield Steelers game last weekend with flu symptons.

Panthers coach Paul Adey is happy to have him back, saying "We missed him against Sheffield, that's for sure. He's a very solid, defenceman, but also has an eye to attack and he has already proved his worth over here."

Jinman narrowly beat his best friend Mark Cadotte for the award, Cadotte has also been in impressive form since signing for the Panthers from Bracknell Bees. Our personal player of the month for September is defencman Eric Charron, who has been superb since signing for the Panthers and in our opinion is easily the best defencman in the whole league.

The Panthers started with Pietila in nets, Paek, Charron, Hadden, Allison and Nieckar but were missing Kristian Taubert (Flu). It took referee Hanson just 52 seconds to call the first penalty against Steelers' Kent Simpson and by the seventh minute he had called 8 minor penalties. Niether side could convert on the powerplay despite both sides going close. By the end of the period Hanson had called 12 minor penalties, never letting the game flow as both sets of supporters had hoped for.

The second period continued in much the same vein, this period saw 11 minor penalties being called. The Panthers were given a 5 on 3 oppurtunity but never really looked like troubling Laing in the Steelers net and it was the Steelers that nearly broke the deadlock as the penalty came to an end, Skysky came out the box and straight onto the breakaway but was stone-walled by Pietila. The Panthers rung the post with a blast from Marc Hussey but still neither team could break the dealock.

The third period belonged to the Steelers as they out-shot the Panthers 22 to 8 but they were helped by some of the calls from Moray Hanson, who gave misconduct penalties to Eric Charron and Mika Pietila in a two minute span, this left the Panthers short benched and struggling on D. The Steelers broke the deadlock as Chris Szysky beat a tired looking Marc Hussey to the puck and feed Warren Norris in front, to net at the second attempt. The game was over 58 seconds later as former Panther Calle Carlsson fired home, more penalties followed including another misconduct penalty this time to Briane Thompson.

Following a scuffle in front of the Steelers, Hanson called penalties against Panthers Hussey and Charron leaving Panthers with just 1 defenceman and Steelers' Willman and Dutiaume. These calls were despite the fact that John Purves and Calle Carlsson had actually dropped the gloves, no punches were thrown but the same referee called a five minute fighting penalty against Panthers' Jason Clarke in Scotland the week before.

With six seconds left the Steelers completed the scoring with a empty net goal, although the Steelers appeared to be yards offside as Brebant and Norris broke into the zone on a 2 on 0. Szysky was also credited with an assist on the goal. The Panthers received a bench minor penalty for disputing the goal.

Man of the Match for Panthers : Jimmy PAEK
Man of the Match for Steelers : Joel LAING
Shots - Panthers 27, Steelers 42
PIM's - Panthers 66, Steelers 34
Referee : Moray Hanson

In a period dominated by the Panthers, it took them nearly 15 minutes to break the deadlock as Nieckar scored from Hadden, on a night that would turn out to be a ball for Nieckar. The Panthers made it 2-0 within a minute as Purves (Hussey) scored what could well turn out to be the goal of the season. The Panthers out-shoot the Blaze 11-4.

The 2nd continued to see the Panthers domiante and it was 3-0 at 22:11 as Nieckar scored his second of the night, assisted by Dody Wood and Scott Allison. The Panthers had a chance to make it 4-0 on a Penalty Shot but Dody Wood fluffed the chance missing the net altogther much to the delight of the Coventry faithful. Jason Clarke made it 4-0 at 31:52 as he top shelved it to quiet the Coventry crowd, who had been given him stick all night long before Jinman made it 5-0 at 38:00 from Jason Elders.

Coventry made a fight of it in the 3rd with former Panther Joel Poirier scoring on the Powerplay to break Petter Sandstrom's shut-out, the goal came just 20 seconds into the period. The final word of the night belonged to Barry Nieckar as he completed his hat-trick, scoring short-handed. Lee jinman was named Man of the Match but after collecting the award he presented it straight to Barry Nieckar much to the delight of the travelling fans.

Man of the Match for Coventry : Joel POIRIER
Man of the Match for Panthers : Lee JINMAN
Shots - Coventry 21, Panthers 34
PIM's - Coventry 10, Panthers 14
Referee : Nigel Boniface

The first period saw the Panthers out-shoot the Bees 11-5 but the period ended scoreless as the Panthers could not make the possession nor powerplay chances count as Joe Watkins made some great saves. The few times Bracknell did make any breaks from their zone they could not beat Mika Pietila in the Panthers net.

The Panthers finally opened the scoring as former Bee Mrk Cadotte netted (his 4th league goal) at 24:47. The Panthers managed to kill a penalty against Jason Elders at 32:07 (High Stick) with ease before Trevor Burgess went to the box at 32:49. Penalties were also called against Marc Hussey at 36:02 (Hooking) and Tero Arkiomaa 36:47 and while the play was 4 on 4, the Panthers netted again as defenceman Briane Thompson jumped into the play to score following good work by Jinman and Cadotte.

The third period saw the Panthers on fire, as it took just 24 seconds to make it 3-0 as Jinman netted his 4th from Cadotte and Purves. A minute later it was 4-0 as Barry Nieckar scored from Greg Hadden before Nieckar returned the favour setting up Greg Hadden to finish the scoring at 47:03. Hadden should have made it 6 at 49:36 but again missed a 1 on 1 chance. The Bees put pressure on the Panthers towards the end but Mika Pietila stood firm to seal his first ever shut-out as a Panther.

Man of the Match for Panthers : Mika PIETILA
Man of the Match for Bracknell : Dan CEMAN
Shots - Panthers 29, Bracknell 32
PIM's - Panthers 10, Bracknell 12
Referee : Andy Carson

Report from IceWeb
Tonight at the National Ice Centre The GMB Nottingham Panthers took on the Bracknell Bees, The Panthers are not icing Moran, But welcome back Neickar. The Bees are not Icing O'rourke and Spring and Ice new boy Trevor Burgess. Pietila was between the pipes for the Panthers and Watkins was the other end of the ice.

The first period was scoreless but the Panthers spent most of it camped in the Bees end firing shots at Watkins and confusing the Bees on a number of occasions. The Bees broke occasionally but the Panthers dealt with each attack quite well and Pietila made some outstanding saves.

The Second the Panthers jumped straight on the Bees and what should have been a routine clearence for the Bees turned into a Goal for the Panthers when the Bees were caught napping and Cadotte went towards Watkins who failed to stop the shot at 24.47. Delisle get hit with a high stick at 32.07 and Elders is sent to the box . The Bees never showed any real chance of scoring as the Panthers dealt with every attack. Both teams then traded penalties in what turned out to be an ordinary period except the Bees Mike McBain Hitting the post at 35.30 and Hadden for the Panthers likewise at 37.01, then forty five seconds later Thompson scored again for the Panthers.

The Third was all Nottingham when with the first two attacks from Nottingham of the Period they scored on both the first from Jinman, twenty four second for the start of the period and just over a minute later Neickar went down the ice passed to Hadden who commited Watkins, passed back to Neickar who rifled the shot into the roof of the net. The Bees were begining to look lack lustre and the Pathers took advantage after another six minutes they scored their fifth goal of the night through Hadden. The Panthers attacked the net and the Bees defence was non existant if it was not for Joe Watkins who tried his hardest in the net and managed to stop a Greg Hadden Breakaway at 49.36. The Bees attacked a few times towards the end of the game, but their shots were aimed straight at Pietilla. who held on for the shutout.

* Panthers� seven-year ISL veteran, Greg Hadden, is five goals behind the all-time leading Superleague goal scorer Ed Courtenay.

* Courtenay moved back to North America at the end of last season with 122 goals from 199 games. Vancouver born Hadden (28) ranks second on the goal list netting 118 from 229 games - all for Panthers.

Latest Team News
The Panthers could well be at full strength with the return of Barry Nieckar from suspension but the Panthers are still waiting to hear if defenceman Eric Charron has recovered enough from his flu-type symptoms to take his place in the team for the Bracknell game.

The Bees are hopeful of having new signing defencman Trevor Burgess in the line up following a mix up with his ITC card which forced him to miss their win of London on thursday night but he is expected to have his ITC card for the game.

The Bees also have injury doubts with defencemen Christian Gosselin and Brad Peddle are big injury doubts. Peddle has a badly bruised shoulder while Gosselin was struck in the face by the puck for the second time this season and is nursing a suspected broken jaw. They also have long-term injuries to Corey Spring and Steve O'Rourke.

They alleged that Wood was reckless with his stick and caused a facial injury to Sheffield player Chris Szysky, and only received a minor penalty.

Following a review of the match video and the match official�s reports, no further action will be taken against wood.

The Panthers took the lead 20 seconds after killing the first penalty of the night as Jinman feed captain John Purves to net. Purves scored to make it 2-0 at 18:26 on the powerplay following a call against Quinnell (interference). The period would end with the Panthers on the penalty kill following a cross checking penalty against Thompson, he also picked up a 10 minute misconduct.

The Eagles pulled one back at 29:32 as Selmser scored from Bauba & Majic but the Panthers restored the two goal lead at 31:58 as Hadden scored from Purves. The period ended with the Panthers again in penalty trouble, With 6 seconds remaining in the period Dody Wood caught Jason Bowen with an elbow and following a melee, Referee Hanson handed out penalties to Wood for elbowing and roughing. He also handed Jason Clarke 5 mins for fighting and Eagles Quinnell 2 for roughing.

The Panthers managed to kill the disadvantage at the start of the third and had numerous chances during the period to see off the Scottish Eagles with Elders having the best chance as he broke for the second time on a 1 on 1 but again he failed to convert. The Eagles pulled netminder McInerney with 87 seconds to go but a penalty against Selmser put pay to their chances of getting abck into the game.

Man of the Match for Scottish Eagles : Sean SELMSER
Man of the Match for Panthers : John PURVES
Shots - Eagles 36, Panthers 27
PIM's - Eagles 10, Panthers 27
Referee : Moray Hanson

Latest Team News
Defenceman Eric Charron has gone down with flu type symptoms and has missed tonight's roadtrip to the Scottish Eagles. Also missing from tonight game is the banned Barry Nieckar together with young Paul Moran, who suffered an injury at the weekend. Dody Wood plays against his former team, as his disciplinary announcement will not be till tomorrow.

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