1987

29 Les Strongman

Born 1924 in Winnipeg Manitoba, Les Strongman is another player of the post-war era who holds a unique place in the history of British ice hockey, and in particular the Nottingham Panthers.

Having joined the police force in Winnipeg after three years active service in the Royal Canadian Air Force, he was facing a winter of beat-walking in temperatures of minus 25 degrees Celsius, when a chance meeting with an old hockey-playing friend ended up with him becoming one of twelve players from Winnipeg who formed the first Nottingham Panthers team.

As an original member of the 1946 team, Les Strongman spent a total of eight years in the black and white uniform in two different spells. He represented them in the English National and British leagues, as well as icing two seasons as a Wembley Lion. In those ten seasons, Les Strongman was three times a championship winner, twice with the Panthers, once with the Lions.

Les Strongman was one of the most instantly recognisable players of his day, due in part to him wearing a helmet, before this became a mandatory part of the game. Strongman donned his famous white helmet following a fractured skull injury sustained in 1950. Many people of the time thought it would be career ending, but it was soon reported that “the rangy Winnipeg-born forward made a remarkable recovery and was soon back on the ice.”

Les Strongman also ventured into mainland Europe with playing and coaching stints in Zurich Switzerland and Malmo Sweden respectively.

During his playing career, Les Strongman was a four-time All Star A-team and three-time B-team selection. An outstanding player in an era when many talented Canadian born players came to play in Britain, he continued to serve the Nottingham club and the sport long after he hung up his own skates.

The Nottingham Ice Stadium closed its doors to hockey for a twenty-year period, however re-opened for hockey in 1980 and Les Strongman was there, acting as the first coach of the re-formed club. Amazingly, he laced up his skates one more time for a non-contact game against Canadian Air Force team Baden Old Timers. Aged 56 and almost 35 years after his debut for the Panthers, he scored a goal and two assists for the reformed team in a 14-5 victory. He held the head-coaching role for two years and after stepping down, remained involved with the club. He coached the Trojan’s the clubs second team, and stayed closely involved with the youth development programme, as well as being a regular attendee at latter days Panthers games.

The statistical record for Les Strongman makes for impressive reading:
-GP 626 Goals 515 Ass 388 Pts 903 PIM 368

Fellow Hall of Famer, Clarence ‘Sonny’ Rost spoke glowingly of Les Strongman when he said, “Les was a coaches dream; excellent attitude and ability. An absolute nightmare for the opposition. Les was a tireless backchecker, a visionary playmaker and deadly goalscorer. A tall player with long arms, once he got those legs in gear, there was no chance of catching him.”

Compiled with research, provided by Martin C.Harris – April 1987 with additions from Trevor Boyce.

Footnote:When on March 22nd, 2000 the old Nottingham Ice Stadium staged its last ever game, Panthers vs Newcastle Riverkings in the Ice Hockey Superleague, Les Strongman was there as one of the guests of honour – maintaining his association with the club into a new millennium and a new home for the future, the National Ice Centre constructed adjacent to the ‘old barn.’