CUP FEVER - BIGGEST EVER NIC HOCKEY CROWD!!!!!!!!!
Cup fever is gripping the GMB Panthers as the build-up to Wednesday's final second leg gathers momentum. Every seat in the bowl at the fabulous National Ice Centre is accounted for and the special executive box seats are also nearly sold out. At 7pm on the eve of the big game there were 15 seats in the boxes left (£25 each from the box office).
And the NIC has confirmed that the crowd will officially be the biggest ever ice hockey crowd in the building.
After Saturday's massive win over opponents Sheffield confidence in the GMB Panthers camp is sky-high. The six-one thrashing of the Steelers was the first regular season win against the arch-rivals for a long time and everyone in Nottingham knows that more of the same will bring the silverware home.
Coach Mike Ellis has told his team to stick to the gameplan. It worked on Saturday and it will work again on Wednesday. Nottingham hold a 6-3 lead from the first leg.
Meanwhile there's been some tough talk out of the Sheffield camp today. Steelers hit ten goals passed beleaguered Hull in the bmibaby Elite League on Sunday and their captain John Phillips says they've put Saturday's humiliating loss behind them : "I will tell you how many people inside that dressing room think we can win the cup, every one of us. If we didnt think we could win we wouldn't make the bus on Wednesday, and every one of us will be on that bus
"We all know we didn't play well on Saturday, you should have been in the dressing room afterwards, we know we let ourselves down but this is not the time of the year when its good to get down on yourself and the team. This is the time of the year when you have to dust yourself down and get down to work
"We did all we could against Hull, if we play with the same determination on Wednesday then it will be an interesting night
"They won't expect the same Steelers team, they know they dented our pride on Saturday, they know we will be in their faces and ready come Wednesday. Do we believe we can win? You bet we do."
It will be a cracker of a night for the fans.
The GMB Panthers' office has been receiving good luck messages from fans and sponsors since the weekend.
Twiggy from Jo and Twiggy at Trent FM was one of the first on the 'phone today saying : "A great weekend and a great way to prepare for the Cup Final....good luck boys, the city's behind you...bring it home Panthers!"
Nottingham's own British super middleweight Boxing champ Carl Froch said : "Nottingham is a city of winners, good luck to the Panthers, the fans have always been great to me at the ice hockey and they deserve some more success, go for it boys!"
Andy Worth, regional secretary, from main team sponsors the GMB added : "I think everyone was proud of the team effort on Saturday, more of the same, and the winning team will be the one wearing our union's logo at the end of the final!"
SEE YOU THERE!