The Nottingham Panthers will be a part of a special Elite Series which will involve four teams, 24 regular games, two semi-finals and a best of three final series.

Panthers along with arch-rivals Sheffield Steelers plus the Coventry Blaze and the Manchester Storm will headline the event at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham.

The teams will feature top British players from across the league plus top imports.

The event will be true to the Elite League product that fans expect. The four teams have pressed the button and recruitment is underway.

Games will be played behind closed doors with a comprehensive streaming service bringing every second of the action to fans across the country.

Details on the schedule will be released soon along with plans for a “GB players’ draft”.

There will be daily testing and a full COVID-19 protocol. The plans have been put in place against the changing landscape of the government’s roadmap out of the pandemic. It's been almost a year since the Panthers played following the suspension of the Elite League due to the COVID-19.

The Great Britain team was in danger of going to their toughest ever World Championship challenge with many of their players, usually involved in Elite League action throughout the year, under-prepared. This Elite Series will help plug that gap.