Panthers 'embrace' Challenge Cup win - Stewart

Reclaiming the Challenge Cup for the first time in a decade is a triumph Nottingham Panthers will cherish, says head coach Danny Stewart.

Didrik Henbrant's scored the overtime winner on Wednesday as Panthers pulled off a dramatic 3-2 victory against Coventry Blaze in front of a euphoric packed crowd at their Motorpoint Arena home in Nottingham.

It was the third trophy that Panthers have claimed on home ice in the past 11 months, having also needed overtime to overcome Cardiff Devils in the Elite League Play-Offs Grand Final last year before going on to win the European Continental Cup in earlier this year.

"Nothing great comes easy, right," Panthers head coach Stewart told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"I'm just grateful to be part of this again. It's a collective effort from a group of players that have battled through thick and thin this year.

"In this sport we always move on to what's next, but we have to take a day to really embrace this and appreciate how special it is to win three trophies here in the past year."

Clinching the Challenge Cup for the first time 2016 was also a record-extending ninth victory for the Panthers.

Forward Ollie Betteridge was the only Nottingham player to have been involved in the victory 10 years earlier, and described the latest win as a "surreal experience" after coming from a goal down to lead, before Coventry forced the game into overtime where the Panthers eventually won it.

Michael Pelech had put the Blaze ahead early in the period, only for Mitch Fossier to level for Nottingham.

Jakob Stridsberg linked up with Chase Pearson to edge Panthers ahead in the third period and, after Elijiah Barriga's goal tied it up 2-2 at the end of regular time, Henbrant came up with the title-winning goal in overtime.

"All you want to do while you are here is win trophies and nothing else, and to do that tonight is special," Betteridge said.

"I'm emotional talking about it because I've been part of this club for such a long time."