![]() The Panthers finished second to the Harringay Racers in the eleven team competition. In the close season of 1954 the English League and the Scottish League were merged to form a British League. Success returned in 1953–54 when, after a last place finish in the Autumn Cup, the Panthers secured their second English League title by one point over Streatham. The following season Nottingham lost Chick Zamick to injury and fell to the bottom of the rankings. The team also ended the campaign having scored the most goals and conceded the least. After finishing fourth in the Autumn Cup the Panthers won 18 of their 30 league games and clinched the league championship. The club's first major title came in the 1950–51 season. Zamick became one of the most prolific scorers in the league and won the Nottingham Sportsman of the Year award on two occasions, defeating sportsmen such as the Notts County and England international footballer Tommy Lawton. Despite a lack of success in their formative years the team had a number of players who would become local heroes including forwards Les Strongman and Chick Zamick. The club's first coach, Alex Archer, left Nottingham after two seasons and was replaced by Archie Stinchcombe who would coach the team until 1955. The Panthers struggled during their early years and only once during their first four seasons did they finish in the upper half of the league table. The two sides have played over 200 games, including eleven major finals, since 1992. Currently the Panthers have a fierce rivalry with the Sheffield Steelers. Their supporters have shared a number of rivalries with other teams during their history. The Nottingham Panthers have one of the largest fanbases in British ice hockey, averaging over 5,000 spectators per game during the 2014–15 season. ![]() Both the original and modern Nottingham Panthers played their home games at the Ice Stadium until 2000 when the team moved into the National Ice Centre. In 1980, players and officials from the Sheffield Lancers relocated to Nottingham and reformed the Panthers. With no league to play in the club also ceased operations. They joined the newly formed British National League in 1954, which they competed in until its disbandment in 1960. During their first eight seasons the Panthers played in the English National League. The club was founded in 1946 after earlier attempts to establish a team were postponed due to World War II. The Panthers have 16 members enshrined in the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame and have had 34 players represent Great Britain at the World Championships and in Olympic qualifying. They are the only team to have played in every season where a British league championship has been contested and are the only founding member of the Premier Division in 1983 to have continually participated in the top flight league. Panthers are the only British team to win European club honours with one Continental Cup. The Nottingham Panthers have won four league titles (two English National League titles, one British National League title and one Elite Ice Hockey League title), five Championships, six Autumn Cups and eight Challenge Cups during their history.
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