Game on: two Nottingham Panthers talk the upcoming ice hockey season

What do you remember about the moment you were first called up to the Panthers roster?

Luca: My first time was just before COVID, and I was working a, quote unquote, ‘real job’ at the job centre in town. I remember they rang me saying one of the goalies was injured, so they wanted me to go down and train to see if I could maybe back up for a game. It was pretty exciting. I remember I ran around the office screaming!

Jordan: I was seventeen and playing in Swindon actually, I’d moved down there to play, and I remember my Dad telling me that Corey Neilson, who was the coach as the time, asked if I would come up and do a couple days of practice with the team, so he could see if I was any good. Me and another lad came up for practice; I had a really good two days and a few weeks later I signed.

As someone born and raised in Nottingham, what does it mean to you to wear the Panthers jersey and be the home team at the National Ice Centre: one of the best facilities in the country?

Jordan: It's really good. I've played at other places in the league and elsewhere but to play in Nottingham is special because our families are here – it’s our home. Not many people in the ice hockey world have the chance to play for a living, and also where they’re from! I definitely don’t take it for granted. Our crowds have been through the roof, it’s definitely one of the best atmospheres in the league. We’re really lucky to play here because not everyone is as privileged as we are with the facilities that we have. We don’t take it for granted. Everyone likes coming to play here

Luca: My dad has been a Panthers fan his whole life and I think I went to my first game when I was six months old. I guess growing up lots of kids dream of playing football for whoever; I always wanted to play hockey for the Panthers. It's pretty unbelievable that it's now a reality! There's some places in the country you could go that wouldn't be as fun as coming here every morning. I think we're very lucky to be able to come to these facilities.

As Nottingham lads who came through the local system, how important is it to you to inspire more kids from the city to pick up a stick and get on the ice?

Luca: I think it's massively important, even just as I started playing as a kid, I think the exposure and a lot more people seem to know about the Panthers and ice hockey in general, I think we need to keep that trend going and get as many Brits as we can in the league. Yeah, I think that's greatly important.

Jordan: I would agree, whilst it's come a long way, there is still so much we can do. I don't truly think we do enough to try and get people into the sport. It's really difficult with funding and everything. We're not an Olympic sport yet.
Compared to other sports, obviously, kids can easily get a football or, quite easily play cricket, tennis, or all the rest of it. Ice hockey is quite a big financial commitment, but the more we can get people even coming to watch a game and getting them interested that way, the better!

Jordan, this is your eighth season at home, not many get to be both local and long-tenured - what’s kept you in Nottingham? And can you talk to us about your involvement with the club off the ice?
Jordan: Yeah, I've been here a while now, it makes me feel old, but it's a really good fit for me. I'm really happy with what I've got going on and it doesn't mean I don't want to get better. I'm still trying to improve obviously every day, but to be at home, along with the facilities, and the team that's in contention to win every trophy, every year… I don't really see the need to change that.

Two years ago I was offered the chance to join the backroom team too, which involves expanding their commercial partners, and getting the community involved. I run a programme with Adam Goodbridge which focuses on giving clubs, schools and charities a chance to come down and watch us for a reduced price. Every time they come down, they raise money for their own football, tennis, rugby club, you name it. We have, I think, ninety different organisations and it's only growing! It's an initiative we've tried to help grow the game in the UK because most kids have probably never been to an ice rink.

Luca, not only are you the ‘Most Entertaining Character’ on the team, according to teammate Chase Pearson, you’re also the ‘Most Entertaining Player’ on the ice, voted by the fans last season. How important is it to you to be that kind of presence – someone who lifts the organisation and connects with supporters too?

Luca: Well, I mean, without pumping my own tyres too much, I think it is an important role. I'm under no illusion – I'm not going to be, especially this season, the starting netminder making the saves every weekend. My role is to kind of be a character and sort of keep the boys together. I guess it's not easy being this funny all the time, eh?
But seriously, I know I've said I'm not going to be starting, but I've still got to put the work in during the week. I don't want people to have this idea that all I do is just mess around. Sometimes I do hard work as well.

Jordan: He really brings everyone together and that shouldn't be undervalued. I call it the hardest job in hockey, we go to some tough rinks and Luca keeps everyone together.

Talk to us about winning the playoffs last season…

Luca: I don't even know where to start! I think that's probably up there with one of the best weekends of my life.
I’ve supported [Panthers] my whole life, so being in the team that won is surreal and it makes it even better that it was against Sheffield. I'm so happy we beat them, I can't describe it. That was awesome!

Jordan: It was great. Obviously loads of fun, and great emotions when we won, but I've also played here when we've finished 5th, 6th, 7th, or not made finals. Like Lucas said, I grew up watching the team as well and I saw the team winning every single year and I hadn't had that experience yet. We won the elite series, but that's kind of different. To actually win a regular season trophy, kind of felt like the work you're putting in over the years – that's a reward for it. I didn't want to finish my career having played for the team and not won anything, so the fact that we did it was just amazing.

And what are the team’s hopes for this season?

Luca: I think we want to get as many trophies as we can. That's what we're all looking towards and going after!

Jordan: I would agree, we've got all the pieces, but every team league is good. It's a long season. What happens now doesn't necessarily define it, but on the other hand, if we have a really bad start it's going to really hinder us for the rest of the year. It's just about trying to win as many games as we can at the start, then build on it.

Through November catch Nottingham Panthers play against Manchester Storm, Sheffield Steelers and Glasgow Clan. Head to their website below for dates and tickets.

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