Saturday Night Pre-Season Ice Hockey: A Thrilling Roundup

Panthers Prove Their Mettle, Giants Dominate, Clan Struggle

What a night for ice hockey fans! Saturday’s pre-season action delivered drama, goals, and late heroics across the rink—from Nottingham's last-gasp triumph to Belfast’s commanding display and Glasgow’s tough lesson against the Herlev Eagles. Let’s dive into the highlights.

Nottingham Panthers: Stunning Late Rally

It was a night to remember for the Nottingham Panthers as they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, scoring three goals in the final five minutes to stun Concordia University and lift the GM Memorial Trophy with a 5-4 win.

Jason Grande got the nod between the pipes, backed up by Luca Sheldon. Young British defender Milique Martelly, on a two-way from Milton Keynes, featured on the matchnight roster, while the fourth line boasted Nottingham Lions forward Alex Rushby—celebrating his 17th birthday—and twin forwards Austin and Dawson Osborn.

The game sparked into life after Grande’s early saves, with Didrik Henbrant showing his pace only to be denied. A close-range effort from Chase Pearson was also stopped, but Tim Doherty pounced on the rebound, setting up Mitch Fossier for the Panthers’ first pre-season goal. Concordia equalized on the powerplay through Nicholas Girouard.

After two periods, the Panthers trailed as the Stingers scored twice in 37 seconds—Girouard netting again before Sean Larochelle added another. Edouard Charron made it 4-1 for Concordia, but Bryan Lemos pulled one back for the Panther.

Then came the third-period fireworks. Ross Armour, fed by Henbrant, made it 4-3 , and the same duo combined for the equalizer . With just 29 seconds remaining, Fossier and Pearson worked their magic to tee up Doherty for the thrilling winner.

Belfast Giants: Statement Performance

The Belfast Giants shrugged off a slow opening in their first match to dominate the rematch against Stavanger Oilers. Piccinich and Eriksson gave the Giants a quick 2-0 lead, with Eriksson’s strike coming on the powerplay.

Defenceman Bast dazzled in the second period, netting twice in just 42 seconds to push the lead to 4-0. Lee’s goal early in the third made it five, and Conway added a sixth before Løkkeberg scored a late consolation for the Oilers—ending Gravel’s shutout at 6-1.

In the overtime period, Ben Lake scored the decisive goal for Belfast, but the Oilers claimed the shootout to finish the night on a high.

Glasgow Clan: Lessons Learned

Glasgow Clan endured a tough outing at Braehead Arena, falling 8-2 to Denmark’s Herlev Eagles. Lucas Brine started in net, but Herlev came out firing, building a 4-0 lead in the first period. Brett Neumann’s second-period strike gave Clan a glimmer of hope, but Herlev’s relentless attack saw them rack up eight goals, with Karlstrom and True each netting twice. Rylan Schwartz notched a consolation for Glasgow in the third, but the Eagles departed comfortable victors.

The Takeaway

From Nottingham’s dramatic comeback to Belfast’s offensive clinic and Glasgow’s growing pains, Saturday night was packed with energy. Whether you’re a Panthers supporter celebrating the silverware or following the Clan as they regroup, the pre-season is already serving up plenty of storylines. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s in-depth reports and exclusive interviews—including thoughts from Panthers Head Coach Danny Stewart.