Sun 23 Aug 2026 - 07:00AM
PREVIEW: PANTHERS START PRE-SEASON AGAINST ANGERS
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Pre-season gets under way today (Sunday 23rd August) with the visit of French side Ducs d'Angers to the Motorpoint Arena in the Aladdin Cup.
The game is sponsored by Diabetes UK and face-off is 16:00.
It's amost a complete sell-out with just a handful of single seats left scattered around the bowl, so make sure your secure the final tickets and see your 2026/27 Nottingham Panthers for the first time.
Angers are coached by Jonathan Paredes who will always be fondly remembered in Nottingham after leading Panthers as Head Coach in the 2023/24 season.
The game also sees a return for former netminder Alex Dubeau who played for the Panthers in the 2022/23 campaign.
Ducs started their two-match tour of the UK last night with a 4-2 defeat by Cardiff Devils at the Vindico Arena. Orrin Centazzo and Sami Tavernier scored for the Ducs.
View from the Bench
Head Coach, Danny Stewart, said: "This will be a really good test for us. I like the fact we have no back-to-backs in the first couple of weeks.
"Of course, we will put in the work in practice but I think it's good not to have two games a weekend at the start.
"It will be a great occasion on Sunday and what a fantastic response by the supporters with such a huge crowd for the first game. I know the guys are excited."
Team News in association with Candid Digital
Twelve players are set to appear on a Panthers gameday roster for the first time, including 20-year-old Nottingham-born defenceman Henry Newell.
There's also two players back in the line-up with Jaakko Niskala making a return after a season in Japan and Joe Hazeldine back after two years with Glasgow Clan.
Around the Rink
Our Charity of the Month, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, will both be with us today.
Pop along to the foyer and find out all about the great work they do in the community and beyond.
There's £2,000 in the Panthers Vault
The Panthers Vault - in association with Interseal - is back for 2026/27 and stands at a cool £2,000. Tickets cost just £1 and if your number is drawn out of the hat, you go on the ice with DJ Ken Feast to try to crack the code. 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. Dare you give up the chance to go for the money to open the Mystery Box?
Chuck-a-Puck
Chuck-a-Puck - sponsored by Motorpoint - is great fun for all the family. 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 and a signed puck. There's a bonus prize too! A remote control car drives around the centre-circle. If your puck lands inside the cockpit of the car, you have a chance to win 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: 46 chances to win
There's a remarkable 46 chances to win in our opening-day Shirt Off His Back. There's a game-worn Matt Alfaro up for grabs as well as a huge mix of jerseys from the past two seasons. Tickets are just £1 each and available from sellers around the rink and in the foyer. Find out more about today's Shirt Off His Back by clicking here.
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 prize. Make sure you buy your tickets to be in with a chance of winning. Lookout for the sellers around the rink.
GVL Jersey Giveaway
How about taking home a Nottingham Panthers replica jersey? Sam Hurst will be in the bowl in the first-period powerbreak for our GVL Jersey Giveaway, so make sure you make plenty of noise to have a chance of winning.
Motorpoint Quick Quiz
New for 2026/27 is the Motorpoint Quick Quiz in the second-period powerbreak. Answer some Panthers quick-fire questions to stand a chance of winning £30.
Dance Cam in association with Doughnotts
Everyone loves a treat, right? Here's your chance to win free doughnuts by displaying your best funky dance moves in the jumbotron. Look out for the Dance Cam - in association with Nottingham-based Doughnotts - in the third-period powerbreak and show us your great moves!
Webcast: Watch the live stream tonight
If you're not with us at the Motorpoint Arena today, we've got you covered with the game being shown live on Panthers TV. Jono Bullard and Dan Green will bring you all the action. Click here to buy the webcast.