Bowns ready to play after rollercoaster season

Photo: Graz99ers

Ben Bowns was the first overall pick in the 2021 Elite Series Draft, being the subject of a big trade between Nottingham and Manchester. The Panthers traded up to get their man, who is excited to get back to the UK after a season in Austria.

"It's pretty cool actually!" began Bowns, who will wear a Panthers shirt for the first time in his career. "In the UK, I'm used to being a Devil most of the time after being a Stingray for the first two years, but I'm really excited about this."

Bowns moved to the Graz99ers in Austria's cross-border ICE Hockey League in the summer of 2020. After a promising start, he was injured in the team's third game of the season. "It's definitely been an experience, and quite a rollercoaster one at that," explained the Yorkshire-born goal. "You arrive with so many expectations and hopes to do well, then to get an injury three games in and told you'll be out for eight months is tough. But to make it back in 15 weeks and start playing was a big boost. The end of the season there didn't go as planned and we finished prematurely, which isn't nice to do."

The idea of drafting British players for the Elite Series was something that hasn't been seen before in the UK, but something Bowns enjoyed. "I think the draft was really good I thought the league did an amazing job with it. When you think it through, it's a really logical idea to do in a series like this," he said. "On top of the drama of the trades, it's got the name out there of young British players that people might not know about, and this is really important for the sport."

What about being drafted #1 overall, and having a team trade their picks to get him? "It was pretty cool. I played with (Panthers Director of Hockey) Gui Doucet in Hull and Cardiff so he knows what he's getting with me," explained Bowns. "He's a friend of mine and I'm really excited to come and work for him now, and to be a part of the organisation in Nottingham. I hope they enjoy having me as much as I'll enjoy being a part of them."

Finally, heading into the World Championships where Bowns will be a key part of Pete Russell's Great Britain squad, how good is this series going to be for Bowns and other Team GB players? "It's essential to get this ice time for everyone. For myself, two years ago I played about 90 games in a season and now I'm down to 13 for this one, so it's definitely going to make a difference" he concluded.