Incoming and outgoing players are part and parcel of any sporting enterprise, and sometimes, there comes a time when those players are your favourites, even club legends, akin to that recently announced as having departed the Nottingham Panthers, theirs being that of Matthew Myers.

At 38-years-old, Myers, who has spent the past two seasons at the Motorpoint Arena, had already immortalised himself in Panthers history, this being his fourth spell at the club, his first, spanning five seasons, starting back in 2004, near two decades ago.

Overall he’d spend eleven seasons in Nottingham, with varying degrees of success, including the ultimate of helping the club win the Elite League title back in 2013, that coming alongside five play-off successes, and five Challenge Cups, the last of which was just seven years ago.

Born in Cardiff, Myers was but a teen when he first arrived at the club, joining from his hometown club, Cardiff Devils; after those first, five seasons in Nottingham (2004-09), Myers would spend a season stateside, in the East Coast Hockey League, where he turned out for both the Bakersfield Condors, and the Johnstown Chiefs.

Returning to Nottingham in 2010 ushered in his most successful spell at the club (in terms of number of honours won), it being crowned with that Elite League championship, along with the winning the play-offs, and a 5-3 aggregate win over the Sheffield Steelers, in 2013.

Speaking of his departure from Nottingham, Myers said: “I love this city and the team – and Nottingham is a place that is really, really special to me.

“Nottingham is like my home and it will always be like that for me. It brings me so many good memories and a place I will always think fondly about Nottingham.”

Watch the full interview with Matthew Myers below:

Home came calling for Myers in 2013, he spending six of the next seven seasons with the Cardiff Devils, they bookending a season back in Nottingham (2015-16) for his third spell at the club.

After leaving the Devils in 2020 there was a season at the Sheffield Steelers, ahead of spending the past two seasons at the Motorpoint Arena, seeing the club into the play-offs last time around, these last two taking his time at the club to an impressive, eleven seasons, taking the role of captain in his final season.

Panthers CEO, Omar Pacha said of Myers’ departure: “Matthew has been a massive part of the club over a period of two decades.

“He gave everything on the ice and was popular in the dressing room and with supporters.

“His contribution to the club has been huge on and off the ice and we’d like to wish him the best of luck.”

In addition to his spell in club hockey, Myers was also a constant on the international scene, making more than a century’s worth of appearances for Great Britain, only the fourth to do so, captaining against Sweden at the 2021 IIHF World Championships.

Myers has represented his country at U18, U20, and full level, dating back to 2001-02 and the World Junior Championships, claiming further success on the international stage, making his debut back in 2004 in Oslo, Norway.

At the time of his hundredth cap, Myers would say that: “It’s very special to reach 100 caps and I’m so honoured to reach the milestone.

“To also be captain (this afternoon) is truly humbling….. I have some great memories of playing for the national team and I want us to create some more.”

Myers has represented Great Britain at the 2019, 2021 and 2022 World Championships; his Panthers Roll of Honour is as follows –

Elite League: 2013

Play-Offs: 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016

Challenge Cups: 2008 (9-7agg vs. Sheffield Steelers), 2011 (4-3agg vs. Belfast Giants), 2012 (10-4agg vs. Belfast Giants), 2013 (5-3agg vs. Sheffield Steelers), 2016 (1-0 OT vs. Cardiff Devils)

Grand Slam: 2013

Please contact sarah@panthers.co.uk if you would like to sponsor a player during the 2023/24 season (NB – Player sponsorship is available on a first-come, first-served basis; and, existing player sponsors will get first refusal on returning players).

Season tickets for the 2023/24 season are now on sale, with Bronze, Silver, and Gold, available to Panthers fans; you can get more information on those here.

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*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @PanthersImages Matthew Myers spent eleven seasons in spells at Nottingham.