The Panthers trailed at the end of the first period despite leading twice, goals from Ceman, Rushton and Delisle plus some dodgy netminding saw the Bees take a 3-2 lead into the break. Panthers opened the scoring with Taubert netting his first as a Panther, Panthers other goal came from Lee Jinman.

The second period saw the Panthers net just once to tie the game despite out-shooting the Bees 19-10. The Panthers levelled thanks to a blast from the blue line from Marc Hussey, which appeared to be deflected home.

The third period was all action, with 5 goals and fight. The Panthers regained the lead at 41:46 as Cadotte scored against his former team but the lead lasted less than two minutes as Arkiomaa was allowed space to net. The Panthers hit back 10 seconds later as Cadotte grab his second of the night. Clarke and Ruston went toe to toe at 44:58, Clarke having the upper hand against a player rumoured to have been signed for just this game, to do a job on a Panthers player. The Panthers sealed the game with 2 goals in 37 seconds, the first came at 57:03 from Lee Jinman with Scott Allison netting the seventh.

A good performance by the Panthers but there must still be a worry against Mike Pietila, who again didn't look comfortable. On the plus side a goal from Scott Allison should inspire him to more especially considering the reception he got from the travelling Panthers fans.

Latest Team News
The Panthers have a few injury problems ahead of sunday's game in Bracknell. Forward Dody Wood was hurt in a clash with former Bee Paxton Schulte in Belfast on Wednesday but is hopeful of making the game.

Meanwhile Scott Allison has reported no ill-effects after his first game back from injury and Jason Clarke's had has been on the treatment table receving help for a leg injury but will also be in the line-up on Sunday.

The Panthers opened the scoring on the first powerplay chance of the night, as Greg Hadden slotted home with assists to Jason Elders and Briane Thompson at 09:50. The Giants levelled the game at 16:11 as Rod Stevens beat Sandstrom just after the Panthers had returned to full strength following a penalty to Lee Jinman. There was no further scoring in the period, with the Gianst out-shooting the Panthers 20 to 4.

The Panthers regained the lead at 27:16 thanks to a shot from Lee Jinman assists awarded to Mark Cadotte and Marc Hussey. The Giants levelled on a powerplay, following a Interference penalty to Briane Thompson, Rod Stevens netted his second of the night assisted by Schulte and Riehl. The period ends all square at 2-2, with Giants out-shooting the Panthers 34 to 17.

Both teams had powerplay chances in the third but it was an even handed strike from Kory Karlander at 55:07 that settled the game with assists going to Ward and Johnson. The Panthers called a timeout with 59.4 seconds on the clock, pulling netminder Sandstrom but failed to make it count. Belfast put the game beyond doubt at 59:19 as former Panther Curtis Bowen netted into an empty net and to rub it in ex-Steeler Paul Kruse netted another empty net goal with just 3 seconds on the clock. Despite the scoreline the Panthers can be proud of their efforts but will be hoping to return to winning ways when they travel to Bracknell on Sunday.

Firstly, Sheffield Steelers have made a request for Supplementary Discipline to be taken against Dody Wood of Nottingham Panthers for a High Sticking Offence against Chris Szysky during the Sheffield Steelers v Nottingham Panthers League Game played on Saturday 21st September 2002. They allege that the High Stick by Wood was reckless and caused a facial injury to Szysky, and that Wood should have been given a more severe penalty at the time.

Secondly, Nottingham Panthers have asked for Supplementary Disciplinary action to be taken against Sheffield netminder, Joel Laing, for alleged reckless use of his stick against Nottingham player Jason Clarke. Nottingham allege that Clarke was struck on the face by Laing during a goalmouth incident, during the Sheffield Steelers v Nottingham Panthers League Game played on Saturday 21st of September 2002.

The ISL Disciplinary Committee conducted a full Investigation into the claim and after consulting the Match Officials and viewing their reports and the videotape of the game, decided that no further action should be taken.

It was clear from the evidence at their disposal that it was the actions of Nottingham player Jason Elders that caused a high stick to be deflected on to his face, and not the actions of Mark Kolesar.

After no score in the first period, the Panthers took the lead on the powerplay at 21:26 as former knight Marc Hussey fired home is first as a Panther. The Panthers increased their lead at 34:42 as Eric Charron fired home his first also on the powerplay. London pulled one back with 30 seconds to go in the second as Mansi turned the puck home at the far post.

Mark Cadotte increased the Panthers lead at 45:01 and Jason Elders scored top shelf to make the game safe following great work from Dody Wood. London grabbed their second of the night on the powerplay at 58:36 as Jeff Hoad deflected Rich Bronilla shot past Petter Sandstrom. Despite London withdrawing Trofimenkoff at 58:51, they never looked like scoring as the Panthers held firm and booked their place in Sheffield.

Report from IceWeb
Nottingham Panthers clinched a semi final place in the Challenge Cup with a convincing 4-2 victory at the London Arena. The game started 35 minutes late due to referee Andy Carson being stuck in a jam on the M25. Knights at full strength, Panthers missing Scott Allison, Paul Moran and Barry Nieckar.

A quiet opening period yielded few good chances. Knights best opportunity came on a 5 on 3 for 40 seconds late in the period but they only managed one shot.

Panthers special teams took control in the second period scoring twice on the power play through Marc Hussey and Eric Charron. Greg Hadden hit in the face received a cut at 38.37. Knights having hit the post at 22.35 final got on the scoreboard 30 seconds from the break on a move eminating down the left wing hit home by Mansi.

The final period saw Panthers increase their advantage with goals comming form Cadotte and Elders. London fought back with a power play effort on a lofted shot from Hoad that beat Sandstrom in the Panthers net. Bob Leslie called a timeout and then withdrew Trofimenkoff from the Knights goal at 58.51. Despite keeping the puck in the Panthers half for the remainder of the game Knights failed to score.

Man of the Match for London : Mo MANSI
Man of the Match for Panthers : Petter SANDSTROM
Shots - Knights 28, Panthers 31
PIM's - Knights 28, Panthers 16
Referee : Andy Carson
Attendance : 2532

Sheffield maintain their 100% home record and only reigning champions Belfast have emerged from the House of Steel without a mauling from the hard-working Steelers. Ultimately Nottingham took too many penalties and gave themselves a mountain to climb. Cadotte down the right forced a good save from Laing. Rhett Gordon has scored in every game this season and delightful stickhandling in the left circle gave him space to net through Pietila's legs. Laing denied Hussey then Sheffield extend their lead with a feed out from behind the net which Levins lashed home from the right circle. A minute later a bad line change left Jason Elders was clean through down the right. He cut inside but Laing's blocker was equal to the shot and the rebound was cleared. Levins extended the lead from the right when he was given too much space. Steelers failed to contest a face-off on their left and Purves netted. Seconds later Wood and Levins clashed and as the players on the ice paired up Wood and Levins went toe-to-toe and the period ended 10 seconds early.

A pass across the zone found Rhett Gordon alone on the left to pick his spot. a quiet middle session followed in which purves pulled a fine save from Laing and Laniel skied a golden chance.

Levins added a wrap around at the left post before another face-off lead to Cadotte's goal. With Thompson sitting a charging penalty, Levins tipped Brown's left point shot home. Sessa exchanged words with the referee for a second 10 minute misconduct = an automatic game penalty. Then Clarke appeared to bump into Laing in his crease, the argy-bargy spilling over and Thompson went for spearing Gordon during the stoppage. With Sheffield enjoying a two man advantage Calle Carlsson fired home from the left against his former team. Plenty of incident for the big crowd

Man of the Match for Sheffield : Scott LEVINS
Man of the Match for Panthers : Jim PAEK
Shots - Steelers 40, Panthers 24
PIM's - Steelers 49, Panthers 60
Referee : Nigel Boniface
Attendance : 6915

London took the lead after 13 minutes thanks to Kim Ahlroos penalty shot which was given after Briane Thompson was ruled to have ended the knights breakaway, but the Panthers levelled after six minutes thanks to Mark Cadotte goal, which appeared to be more of an own goal than the Panthers forward goal. London regained the lead at 27:27 thanks to Dennis Maxwell's effort at the far post but the Panthers were level four minutes later thanks to a PP goal from Jason Elders (his 3rd in 3 home games). Nieckar's bizarre goal all but seals the Panthers passage to the Semi-Finals in Sheffield. The Panthers must now look forward to a visit to Sheffield on Saturday.

Report from IceWeb
A great first period of end to end hockey with both keepers keeping the opposition at bay apart from a couple of rarities. First the Knights were awarded a penalty shot after they had put the puck into the back of net after the net had been knocked off its moorings and AHLROOS got to his feet after being tripped up on his initial shot, took the penalty shot and stunned the home crowd by opening the scoring. But Nottingham equalised at the death of the session when Cadotte on a powerplay hit the puck from behind the net and a Knights defenceman kindly kicked it home.

Pretty much end to end stuff at the start of the second with nothing between the sides then Panthers left Maxwell all alone at the back post and he fired into the top corner to put the visitors back in front. Nate Leslie went 2+10 for checking from behind on Cadotte and Panthers powerplay took a while to get going before the tic tac toe led to the equaliser and a two-two scoreline on a Tuesday night after two periods.

The game had less than 10 mins to go when Panthers took the lead for the first time with Barry Nieckar's best ever goal for the club, a sizzler off the right wing which rattled in off the bar. Knights had a powerplay from 58.09 and pulled their keeper in the last minute before losing Kolesar to a tripping call at 59.40 and the game.

Bracknell opened the scoring despite Panthers pressure with Delisle finding a way past Pietila, Panthers new captian Purves opened his scoring account to level the game before Ceman restored the Bees lead. Jason Clarke then took his frustrations out on Bees defenceman Brad Peddle by giving one hell of a beating. Panthers squared the game thanks to a well taken goal by Jason Elders on the backhand before the Bees regained the lead with a controversial goal from Kirton before Greg Hadden scored his first of the season to tie the game. Overtime failed to produce a winner despite Panthers pressure.

The Panthers opened the scoring in the second period on the powerplay as Jason Elders scored his first as a Panther. The Panthers held the lead until 52:44 with former Panthers target Brad Peddle, firing home to level the score. Bracknell claimed the two points thanks to Darren Hurley's effort at 61:54. The Panthers will be aiming for revenge on Saturday, when Bracknell travel to the N.I.C for the return game.

Report from IceWeb
The Bees break their nine month duck with a victory in overtime against the Nottingham Panthers. This was a fast paced and heated affair with then Bees pressuring in the first thirty seconds when they hit the post. Then the game got physical with numerous penalties for both teams. Both teams continued to pressure each others netminders and the first period ended 0 - 0.

The Second Period, the Panthers started with a powerplay and they got their reward with a well deserved and well worked goal. The Bees then started to throw everything at the Panthers. Arkiomaa had a great chance at 21.30 and the Bees picked up the rebound and the shot just went wide.

The Bees came out in the third all guns ablazing and both teams continued to pressure with end to end action,and trading penalties. After a great well worked move the Bees tied the game up with a great point blank shot from Brad Peddle. this one was heading for Overtime....

The Bees started the Overtime period started without Gosselin as he left the ice with a cut lip, The Bees then broke their nine month duck and Won with a goal from Darren Hurley.

Man of the Match for Bracknell : Brian Greer
Man of the Match for Panthers : Petter Sandstrom
Shots - Bees 37, Panthers 38
PIM's - Bees 21, Panthers 31
Referee : Dave Cloutman

Panthers coach Paul Adey said "John has experience of being captain before with Utah and that's a high level of hockey. I've been very impressed during my dealings with him and watching him on the ice it is obvious that he has the qualities required of a captain. We have a lot of leaders in the room this year and that's what a successful hockey team needs."

It is hoped that they will be in Nottingham by tomorrow, to meet their new team mates and train before travelling to Bracknell on Thursday to make their Panthers debuts.

The addition of Purves to the squad is very welcome as Scott Allison is doubtful for the trip to Bracknell and the return game with Bracknell at the weekend with the knee injury picked up against Coventry. Allison's condition continues to be monitored daily but Panthers coach Paul Adey is not prepared to risk players at this early stage of the season.

The scoring was opened in the third minute by Lee Jinman and the Panthers increased the lead on the powerplay at 14:33 following a Interference call against former Panther Joel Poirier. Briane Thompson was the scorer with a rocket of a shot.

Coventry pulled a goal back at 23:09 from Andreas Moborg before the Panthers scored twice in a minute, the first coming at 26:34 with Jinman scoring his second before new signing Jason Clarke opened his account at 27:50. The Panthers changed netminders at 29:28 with Petter Sandstrom taking over from Mika Pietila. The Panthers short bench got shorter following a dubious penalty call against Barry Nieckar, who recieved a game misconduct at 39:00 for being third man in.

Coventry scored their second of the night at 44:15, Steve Chartrand the scorer assisted by former Panther Ashlet Tait. The Panthers grab their second powerplay goal of the night at 50:27 to make it 5-2 with defenceman Jimmy Paek tipping in Lee Jinman's shot and they made it 6-2 a minute later as Jinman completed his hat-trick. Coventry scored the final goal of the game to make it 6-3 at 55:11 with Steve Carpenter firing home from the blue line.

Man of the Match for Panthers : Briane Thompson
Man of the Match for Coventry : Steve Carpenter
Shots - Panthers 24, Coventry 33
PIM's - Panthers 52, Coventry 18
Referee : Mike Rowe

Kelham has a wealth of experience in British ice hockey, icing for Nottingham, Telford, and Solihull/Coventry. Kelham is likely to be retained by the Basingstoke Bison as their 9th import to be available to cover for any injuries during the season.

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