Panthers v Sheffield Steelers Ice Hockey Game
Panthers v Sheffield Steelers Ice Hockey Game
Saturday 23rd October marked one the city’s biggest sporting events, with the Nottingham Panthers facing off against their fierce rivals, the Sheffield Steelers. This is the fourth time these ice hockey titans have clashed this season, playing at the 7000 seat Motorpoint arena to a sell out crowd.
With both away stands full, and a strong home crowd rallied by our lovable mascot Paws, the atmosphere was electric for this Saturday night showdown. With the spectators singing along to their favourite songs, on-ice entertainment during the intervals, and the occasional fight between players, a Panthers home game is a must for any student in Nottingham.
After a neck and neck 60 minutes, the game was tied at 2-2. It all came down to 3 on 3 sudden death overtime. Both goalies had put in formidable performances all game, and the extra period was no exception. After surviving an aggressive Steelers powerplay, Kevin Domingue finally scored the winning goal with just one minute to spare, bringing the home crowd to their feet once again.
Ice hockey is the UK’s most popular indoor professional sport, and once you set foot inside the Motorpoint Arena you will quickly understand why. The game is played at lighting fast speed, by players geared up for gladiatorial combat in head-to-toe protective gear. It won’t be long until you see why they need every piece of it. This is a full contact sport, with on-ice hits, or ‘checking’, a core part of the game.
The first time you see, or rather feel, a player being shunted into the boards that border the ice rink you’ll quickly understand the thrilling physicality on display. Fortunately, there is substantial protection in place for the crowd, with a 10-foot-high plexiglass screen enclosing the ice rink, and mesh netting behind both goals to catch any wayward pucks. But with a solid rubber puck being hit at up to 110 mph, the players aren’t the only ones who should be keeping their eyes on the ball at all times.
The game is played over three 20-minute periods, with intervals between each one. The ice rink is also split into 3 zones indicated by the two blue lines, with centre ice and each team’s respective defensive zones. The main rule worth understanding for newcomers is the offside penalty. If a player is carrying the puck across the blue line into the opposing team’s defensive zone, then they must be the first one to cross the line, preventing their teammates from goal hanging.
If the puck leaves the defensive zone, then all the attacking players must leave and reset before crossing the blue line again. If a player is pulled up for one of the multiple conduct penalties then they will be placed in the sin bin, usually for 2 minutes at a time. The other side then begins what is known as a Powerplay, fielding their best lines to score whilst the opposition are a man down.
Both teams field a team of 6 onto the rink comprised of 3 forwards, 2 defencemen and 1 goaltender. Those new to the sport will no doubt be bamboozled by the complex system of rolling subs who rotate on and off the ice, so I will try to break it down here. Each team has 20 skaters and 2 goalies. The skaters are split into 4 units of 5 players, known as ‘lines’. The best players are in line 1, and typically face off against the opposing teams first line as well. When you see players coming on and off the ice, they are performing a ‘line change.’
Growing up watching football and rugby, where players often complete a full game of 80 to 90 minutes, it can be hard to understand why ice hockey has this system in place. Having played the game myself for the past couple of years, I can give you an inkling why. The sport is incredibly intensive, with every inch of ice contested, and it’s rare that a player can dawdle on the ice or simply hold their position. The rink is small, and the action is constant. But above all of those factors is the ice itself. Skating magnifies the effort needed by a massive margin, and within just a couple minutes even professional skaters need a break.
Nottingham is home to one of the UK’s best student ice hockey clubs, the Nottingham Mavericks. It is a joint venture between both UON and NTU, with players from Derby, Lincoln, Leicester and Loughborough Universities also allowed to join. Fielding 4 teams at all levels, there is something for everyone and the club welcomes beginners. For those of you drawn more towards recreational or figure skating, there is the NTU Ice Skating Society, which holds weekly discounted sessions that can be attended by non-members. Student prices are also available at the public skate sessions held at the National Ice Centre, so lace up your skates and give it a go!
The Panthers next home game is at 19:30 on Friday 29th against the Belfast Giants, follow the link to book, and make sure to select the student discount tickets; don’t forget to wear your best Halloween costume, prizes are awarded to the best dressed this weekend! Most importantly, keep your eye out for news on the biggest student sporting event of the academic year, the ice hockey varsity series.
The Nottingham Mavericks is spilt down the middle between UON and NTU, and they play each other not once, but twice. First up is the Battle of Notts around March, between the C/D teams and played to a crowd of 3000 students. And the main event is the April Varsity between A and B team players, with a sell-out crowd of 7000 at the arena. A true highlight of the year and covered by our own Trent TV, be sure not to miss it.
By Max Adams
Feature Image: Unsplash
