Sun 10 Dec 2023 - 11:07AM

REST IN PEACE MIKE URQUHART

The Nottingham Panthers would like to send our thoughts to the family of our former player Mike Urquhart who passed away this weekend after a short illness.

Mike first arrived in the UK to play for the Panthers in 1982 and spent four seasons at the club, scoring over 150 points at more than a point per game.

More recently, Mike coached junior age-group teams with Nottingham Ice Hockey Club - as well as the Nottingham Lions - and his enthusiasm and dedication to the sport rubbed off on so many young players in the city.

Many supporters will remember him as a security steward at the entrance to Block 4 at the Motorpoint Arena. Mike always had a smile on his face to greet you and his stories of ice hockey were legendary.

Mike was not only an experienced player in the UK, also icing for Oxford, Cardiff, Chelmsford, Guildford, Bracknell and Milton Keynes, but was also a top-class coach

He won the BNL league and playoff double as Assistant Coach of Guildford in 2000-01 and had great success as a coach in the Great Britain set-up.

Mike was Head Coach of Great Britain Women in the 1990s, before taking up coaching roles with the GB Men's Under-20s and Under-18s.

He won three medals with the under-20s; gold in 2006 and bronze in 2000 and 2007, as well as a gold medal with the under-18s in 2004.

Mike also had a distinguished domestic coaching career including winning the league and playoff double with Guildford Flames in 2000-01.

He was inducted into the UK Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007. Click here to read more about his amazing career.

Mike is a true legend of the sport, especially here in Nottingham, and our thoughts are with his wife Laura, his children Jessica and Jack, and the whole family.

Rest in Peace Mike.