Sat 21 Sep 2024 - 06:00AM

GAMEDAY PREVIEW: IT'S PANTHERS AGAINST COVENTRY

🎟 TONIGHT (7PM): PANTHERS v COVENTRY - BUY TICKETS HERE 🎟

Nottingham Panthers play Coventry Blaze this evening at the Motorpoint Arena in the Challenge Cup (7pm face-off).

The game - which is sponsored by Lincs Air Testing - is a battle of two unbeaten sides as Panthers started their cup campaign with victories over Manchester and Guildford, while the Blaze beat Glasgow at the Skydome.

You can pay in-person at the Box Office ahead of face-off tonight or secure your seats online now by clicking here.

Four former Panthers are back at the Motorpoint Arena with the Blaze including Archie Hazeldine and Jack Hopkins.

It's an early return to Nottingham for last year's Assistant Coach Kevin Moore who is now Head Coach of the Blaze, while forward Zaine McKenzie also returns after joining Moore in Coventry this season.

The Panthers would like to extend a very warm welcome back to both who were with us last season and a special thank you to Kevin who helped steer us through the most difficult time in our history.

Head Coach Danny Stewart comes up against his former club for the first time since his move to the Panthers in the summer.

Stewart said: "Watching their game against Glasgow at the weekend, they are a disciplined team.

"They didn't get out their shape too often and they managed the puck well.

"They are a team that skates well and have some good size. It will be a tough match-up and we will have to be at our best."

Team News in association with Evolve Injury Clinic
The Panthers will be without defenceman Cooper Zech (lower body injury) for tonight's game with the Blaze.

Ryan Bednard and Rok Stojanovic will be the goalie tandem, while Luca Sheldon will ice for Nottingham Lions.

Panthers Pre-Game Show in Saltbox from 5pm
The pre-game show is the perfect start to your hockey night in Nottingham with the action getting under way from 5pm in Saltbox.

Sam Hurst is your host and this week's special guest interview is announcer Stef Litchfield who will discuss over 40 years of Panthers memories.

As ever, there's Panthers prizes in the competition which will see two contestants go head-to-head on-stage.

This will be followed by the pre-game podcast to preview all the action and look back on the past week.

Around the Rink
- September's Charity of the Month is Stonebridge City Farm - a city farm charity in the heart of Nottingham. Lookout for them in the foyer tonight. They'll are also holding a raffle with a replica jersey signed by the whole team up-for-grabs.

- We're also joined by our Charity of the Year, Framework, who will be in the foyer, so why not pop and have a chat with them and find out what they do. You can spin their magic wheel for on-the-spot prizes.

Panthers Vault is now a massive £2,500 or gamble for the Mystery Box
The Panthers Vault - in association with Interseal Fire Protection - is now at a massive £2,500. Tickets cost £1 and if yours is drawn out of the hat, you go on the ice with DJ Ken Feast to try to win the money inside the vault in the second intermission. Choose one of the players from the Panthers roster shown on the jumbotron to reveal a four-digit code and see if it unlocks the vault.

The contestant who goes rinkside won't be leaving empty-handed whether they crack the code or not, with two tickets for an arena show on offer at each home game. The tickets are kindly donated by the arena's main sponsor, Motorpoint. New from this season there's a twist. Dare you give up the chance to go for the money to open the Mystery Box? What's inside? Nobody knows!

Chuck-a-Puck
It's fun for all the family and Chuck-a-Puck - sponsored by Motorpoint - is back for another season. It takes place in the second intermission and the winner is the person who lands their puck closest to Paws at centre-ice. The winner gets a photo with their favourite player at the end of the game, a signed puck and a voucher for two pizzas.

This season there's a bonus prize! There will be a remote control car driving around the centre circle. If your puck lands inside the cockpit of the car, you have a chance to win the bonus prize of two tickets to an event at the Motorpoint Arena. Pucks cost £1 each and are on sale from sellers around the rink.

Shirt Off His Back: Matt Alfaro
Tonight's Shirt Off His Back is forward Matt Alfaro. Tickets cost only £1 each and are available from sellers around the rink.

The winner will go rinkside post-game and get the shirt presented to them on the ice.

50/50 is your chance to win a big cash prize
Tickets for the 50/50 raffle are sold for £1 each. The lucky winner will go home with a fantastic cash prize.

GVL Jersey Giveaway
Want to win a Panthers jersey? Lookout for a chance to win in the first-period powerbreak!

Pass the Pizza in association with Jon Doe
Once again we're giving away 10 pizzas at every home game this season thanks to Jon Doe. The giveaway takes place in the second-period powerbreak. If you're holding a pizza box when the music stops, take it to the Panthers Kiosk in the foyer to exchange it for a voucher code to claim your pizza.

Dance Cam in association with 2Fawcett
​Here's your chance to get on the jumbotron by displaying your best moves. Look out for the Dance Cam - in association with 2Fawcett - in the third-period powerbreak and show us your moves!

Live Stream
If you can't get to the game, we've got you covered with the game live on Panthers TV.

Join Jono Bullard and former Panthers netminder Dan Green for all the action. Click here to buy the webcast.