The Perth Panthers were a Scottish ice hockey team based in Perth. Competing in the Scottish National League, the original club operated from 1936 to 1955 and won several league championships and other tournaments. After folding in the mid-1950s, the club was revived in 1995 and played several more seasons before folding again.
| Perth Panthers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Perth, Scotland |
| League | Scottish National League |
| Founded | 1936 |
| Folded | 1955 |
| Home arena | Central Ice Rink |
| Colours | Orange, black |
| Championships | |
| Playoff championships | 1938, 1947 |
History
edit
Based in Perth, Scotland, the Panthers were founded in 1936 and competed in the Scottish National League (SNL).[1] The Panthers played their home games at the Central Ice Rink in Perth, which was also established in 1936.[2] They were one of five teams in the league during the 1936–37 season, alongside the Glasgow Mustangs, Glasgow Mohawks, Kelvingrove and the Glasgow Lions.[3] They also played games against teams outside the league, such as against Cambridge University.[4] In addition to the senior Panthers team, the club ran a junior squad, known as the Perth Black Hawks.[5]
In 1938, the Panthers became SNL champions and won the Coronation Cup championship.[6] They failed to repeat as league champions in 1938–39, but won both their second Coronation Cup and the President's Puck tournament in the SNL.[7] The following season, the Panthers reached the semifinals of the Scottish Cup.[8] They played little in 1940–41 due to World War II, only playing away games.[9] They thereafter suspended due to the war, before returning in 1946.[10]
The Panthers peaked in popularity in the years after the war, regularly receiving attendances of 3,000.[5] Their lineup consisted mainly of Americans and Canadians who had served in the war, along with "a sprinkling of talented locals".[11] In their first season after returning, 1946–47, they won their second league title.[12] They remained successful in subsequent years, led by Canadian players Bruce Hamilton, Ken Doig, Mike Mazur, and Jack Siemon, along with locals Jimmy Spence, Tommy Lauder and Ian Forbes, with the latter three all being inductees to the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.[5][13] The Panthers won the Scottish Cup during the 1953–54 season.[13] However, the team disbanded at the end of the 1954–55 season.[5]
After a 10-year effort from local figures including coach Mike Fairlie and manager Richard Harding, the Panthers were announced as being revived in late 1995, playing as an independent team.[11][14] Initially announced to play at Dewar's Rinks in Perth, plans fell through and they debuted in 1996 by playing "home" games in Aviemore.[15] They remained in operation for several years and joined the Scottish National League, playing through 2002.[16][17]
References
edit- ^ "1936-37 Playoff Player Stats for Perth Panthers". EliteProspects.com. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
- ^ Brown, Kate (11 August 2022). "Love skate relationship with city's popular rink". The Courier – via PressReader.
- ^ "The Mustangs Come To Perth". The Perthshire Advertiser. 6 February 1937. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Panthers In Rampant Form Against Cambridge University". The Perthshire Advertiser. March 20, 1937. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d "Ice hockey: Panther tracks in history". Daily Record. 26 June 2009.
- ^ "Pantehrs Triumph In Coronation Cup Tournament". The Perthshire Advertiser. January 8, 1938. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "M'Neil And Lane Stars Of Ice Season". Daily Record. May 2, 1939. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Eggleston, Mac (March 12, 1940). "Meandering With Mac". Star-Phoenix. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ice Hockey". The Perthshire Advertiser. March 12, 1941. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Perth Panthers Are Back". Dundee Courier. 13 August 1946. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b Bannerman, Gordon (December 15, 1995). "Perth Panthers return to action after 40 years". The Perthshire Advertiser. p. 44 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Gordon, Bill (February 1, 1947). "Cup Award to Panthers To-night". The Perthshire Advertiser. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Tommy Lauder". British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.
- ^ "Back-to-back wins put Pirates on top". Paisley Daily Express. December 22, 1998. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "First home match – at Aviemore". The Perthshire Advertiser. January 12, 1996. p. 41 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Keating, Steve (February 10, 2001). "Baxter the Highlands navvy turns gold digger". The Independent. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Baxter switches from skis to skates". The Sunday Telegraph. April 14, 2002. p. 104 – via Newspapers.com.
