Wed 6 May 2026 - 6:00PM

ALFARO RETURNS FOR THIRD SEASON WITH PANTHERS

➡️ CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR 2026-27 PANTHERS SEASON TICKET ⬅️
➡️ FULL DETAILS: 2026-27 SEASON TICKET RENEWALS ⬅️
➡️ FULL DETAILS: NEW 2026-27 SEASON TICKET APPLICATIONS ⬅️

Forward Matt Alfaro has signed a new deal to return to the Nottingham Panthers for a third successive season.

The 29-year-old, who led the team as captain, scored 34 points (13+21) in 41 regular-season matches.

He helped Panthers win the Continental Cup and assisted on the fourth goal in the Gold Medal Game 4-2 victory of Kazakhstan side Torpedo.

Alfaro was also part of the Challenge Cup-winning team but sadly missed the final because of injury.

"There is nowhere else I would want to play so when the team started to talk about next year I had no doubt," said Alfaro.

"From my first day here two years ago I knew this was a special place. We've had success and I want to keep it going. We are striving towards something and continuing that culture we have been building here.

"I want to be part of that ultimate goal of winning the league trophy and we are taking steps in the right direction."

After playing three years of college hockey for the University of Calgary in the USports league, Alfaro turned professional with East Coast Hockey League side Wheeling Nailers in 2020-21.

He made an immediate impact and was named Alternate Captain in 2021-22 and became a top-line centre in the league, scoring 70 points (21+49) in 88 matches.

Alfaro also iced 70 times in the highly-rated for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Manitoba Moose and Abbotsford Canucks - and also spent a season in Germany with Ravensburg Towerstars in DEL2.

Head Coach, Danny Stewart, said: "It is vital to get Alfy back for next season. This past season was a bit disrupted through injury, but in the time he played there were so many good signs.

"He’s a bull up the middle for us which is the best way to describe him. He drags us into battles and is very tough to play against, along with his 200-foot game he produces and he makes us better in all situations.

"I think he will be at his best next season with a full summer of training. He would have been ready to play at this point so he will be in good stead come August.

"He’s our leader and after one year under his belt, I know his leadership will grow even more next season. His buy-in for two years has been incredible."