Mon 22 Aug 2022 - 07:31AM

PANTHERS TRAINING CAMP BEGINS TODAY

The Nottingham Panthers will take to the ice for the first time this season today as training camp officially gets under way.

The players and all staff at the club met for an induction day at the Motorpoint Arena yesterday, with speeches from CEO Omar Pacha and Head Coach Gary Graham.

With the formalities done and dusted, Panthers will now have daily training sessions ahead of Saturday's pre-season game with Sheffield Steelers.

Graham said: "A key thing from training camp is you want to come out healthy, that's the number one thing.

"You want to make sure you get players in shape and condition them. You want them to get that timing and chemistry - and get them competing.

"But it's also about getting them settled in the town and getting their bearings straight.

"All those things mean a lot to a player being comfortable by the time the real games and the real competitions start up.

"After speaking with the fans at Saltbox on Friday and I met over 100 of them, I was told they want to win exhibition games, so we know we have got to get going and get the chemistry going right away."

Graham arrived in the city last Monday and has quickly settled into his new home in the centre of Nottingham.

"The city is amazing," he added. "They've really rolled out the red carpet for me since I got in.

"The front office staff have been great and got me everything I needed.

"You can feel this is a sports town and they really embrace all their teams and really care about their teams.

"The fact that you can walk to pretty much all the arenas I think is really neat, you don't get that in many cities.

"You can walk to the cricket stadium, walk to the football games or walk down to the hockey games."

Yesterday, Graham spoke with Panthers Radio - in association with Xynomix - and you can hear the full interview by clicking here.

You can see Graham's first game in charge of the Panthers on Saturday as the Steelers visit the Motorpoint Arena in the GM the GM Memorial Trophy (7pm).

Saturday 3rd September (7pm) is Aladdin Cup action against Cardiff Devils and the Premier Sports Elite League season begins with Guildford Flames coming to Nottingham on Saturday 10th September (7pm).

Tickets for all three games are available by clicking here.