I recieved this email from Jono who created and edited The Cats Whiskers, the Panthers fanzine.To be honest, I thought this sort of attitude had died out, with the new arena era, and that there was an enlightenment towards the fans that was prevailing...

WRONG!!

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Dear all,

It is with alot of regret that I have to announce that there will be no more 'Cat's Whiskers' fanzines published.

Unfortunately there has been a series of disagreements between myself, the club and the ISL. I cannot discuss any of the issues as the club have asked me to keep the issues private, and I have to respect that. All I will say is that I have been asked to change 'the product' i.e. pander to the club and the league. I started the fanzine to provide an independent voice, for the fans by the fans, and i will not compromise that for anyone.
If the fanzine stays in it's present format, I would not be allowed to sell it in the arena or have access to players. I did 'The Cat's Whiskers' because I loved doing it, but if I have constraints put on it and me then the fun goes out of it, so this is why I have decided to end it now rather than have to worry about it's content.

So in light of this announcement I have alot of people to thank.

Firstly Sam, Nicky, Phil, Twix, Wigwam, Shaggy, Spik & James at The Hockey Shop, without you guys helping to sell it we would never have sold so many.

Many, many thanks to Paul Balm, JLD, Shorty and Scuff for producing regular articles for every issue without fail.

Many thanks to Chris the Milkman for the photographs.

Many thanks to Kendra, Panthermick, Slate#18, The Hockey Shop & any others who provided funds through advertising revenues.

Many thanks to any one of you who ever took the time and effort to write an article, it was always greatly appreciated by myself.

And most of all thanks to everyone who bought an issue, that's what made it worthwhile.

There is alot to be proud of. 'The Cat's Whiskers' sold 1,720 copies in 4 issues, and raised over £1,250 for the Nottingham Lions.
Maybe some time in the future 'The Cat's Whiskers' can be published again (never say never) until then, enjoy hockey.

Many thanks & regards,
Jono#72 (Editor)
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Very sad indeed...

scuff (Red Steeler)

and needless to say the Steelers took a lot of ribbing , but anything that raises such funds for junior hockey has to be good.

First Jono gets accused of hacking the Panthers site and now this............I smell a cat.

You've got to ask what's wrong with the people who run our sport?

Regards

Doom

Answer - they want to run the sport in a 'professional' manner. The trouble with professionalism is that people tend to take themselves far too seriously, get rapped up in their self important and strangle the fun out of sport. Oh, and money becomes the most important thing.

........ about the demise of The Cats Whiskers. Even though we came in for a lot of stick, it was always good fun to read.

I suspect another conspiract theory here, with Jono's alledged hacking accusation and the banning of TCW far too close together for coincidence.

..