Tue 8 Apr 2025 - 7:30PM
THANK YOU SAM HERR
Nottingham Panthers forward Sam Herr will retire from professional ice hockey at the end of this season.
The 32-year-old began his career with four years in the American Hockey League before joining the Panthers ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.
Herr scored 30 goals and contributed 29 assists for 59 points in just 46 league matches in the season cut short by the covid pandemic.
He added 17 points (6+11) in 12 games in the Challenge Cup and nine points (5+4) in six matches in the Continental Cup as Panthers won the silver medal.
Herr spent a year in Austria and three seasons in Germany, winning the DEL2 playoffs with Ravensburg Towerstars in 2022-23, before returning to the Panthers ahead of this season.
The USA-born forward scored 48 points (27+21) in 52 regular-season matches and added 12 points (8+4) in 13 games in the Challenge Cup.
Herr said: "My main reason is because of my two little girls. My wife and I feel it's just time for them to get home. We miss our families. It's been over nine years of travelling. I feel like every hockey player knows when it's time and right now it's ours.
"Nottingham is where I wanted to retire and I do feel guilty coming back for a year and leaving right after. This is such a special place and I want to thank everybody for making it so special on behalf of myself and my family.
"It's a special city and a place where hockey players really find their passion for the sport and that's all thanks to the fans. I am just grateful I got chance to be part of that for another year."
Panthers CEO, Omar Pacha, said: "I'd like to thank Sam for coming back to the Panthers and playing the final year of his career in Nottingham. Sam is up there as one of the best players to ever represent this club and it was a big moment when we persuaded him to become a Panther again.
"He leads by example on and off the ice and he has given everything for us and more throughout his final year. Sam will be missed throughout the organisation and I'd like to wish him all the best for the future."
Panthers Head Coach, Danny Stewart, said: "Sam has been an outstanding leader and a class player, not just this season for us but throughout his career.
"We have an outstanding group of guys this year and Sam has led them superbly on and off the ice. He has been a pleasure to work with and he will be missed for sure.
"Congratulations to Sam for such a fantastic career and I'd like to wish his wife Taylor and children Scarlett and Olivia all the best in their new chapter."
Herr admits the decision was so tough to retire, especially as he can see the building blocks are firmly in place for an exciting future for the club.
"I see the future in Nottingham as so bright with the plans that Danny (Stewart) and Omar (Pacha) have," said Herr. "The organisation has been great to the players this year.
"They are so committed to getting Nottingham back to where they used to be - this group and this management. We talk about the atmosphere so much but it really has been amazing.
"The fans have had belief in this team from day one and that's so important during the hard times and that meant so much to us.
"I mean it when I say this, Nottingham is a special place. Top to bottom, this whole organisation, this fanbase, the set-up we have is awesome and I expect great things in the future."
Click below to watch the full 30-minute interview on Panthers TV.
Now it's playoffs!
Herr's final home game is Sunday's playoff quarter-final with Guildford Flames as the Panthers look to book their spot in Playoff Finals Weekend.
Panthers travel to Guildford this Saturday (6pm face-off) for the first leg, before the two sides meet again at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham on Sunday (13th April).
Sunday's second leg faces-off at 5pm and is sponsored by Stems at 24 Flower Studio who won our platinum sponsor prize draw last week.
Tickets for the biggest game of the season are selling fast and you are urged to secure your seats as soon as possible.
This game is approaching a sell-out so make sure you snap those tickets up fast and be part of the #PanthersNation!