▁team , ▁founded ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 6 . ▁The ▁team ▁are ▁currently ▁managed ▁by ▁Canadian ▁Core y ▁Neil son ▁who ▁transition ed ▁from ▁a ▁role ▁as ▁player ▁to ▁player ▁coach ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 8 . ▁Neil son ▁was ▁a ▁ 3 rd ▁round ▁draft ▁pick ▁( 5 3 rd ▁overall ) ▁of ▁the ▁Ed mont on ▁O ilers ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 4 . ▁In ▁January ▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁it ▁was ▁announced ▁that ▁Neil son ▁would ▁remain ▁as ▁Pan thers ▁head ▁coach ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 9 / 2 0 1 0 ▁season . ▁There ▁is ▁a ▁th riv ing ▁junior ▁ice ▁hockey ▁programme ▁which ▁is ▁also ▁based ▁at ▁the ▁centre . ▁Since ▁ 2 0 0 1 , ▁Not ting ham ▁has ▁been ▁the ▁host ▁city ▁of ▁the ▁annual ▁ice ▁hockey ▁Play - off ▁Championship ▁Final s ▁week end , ▁which ▁attract s ▁fans ▁from ▁many ▁different ▁parts ▁of ▁the ▁country . ▁Also ▁calling ▁the ▁N IC ▁home ▁is ▁the ▁Not ting ham ▁North ▁Stars ▁recre ational ▁ice ▁hockey ▁team . ▁F ounded ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 9 ▁North ▁Stars ▁are ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁oldest ▁recre ational ▁clubs ▁in ▁the ▁country . ▁ ▁Rugby ▁Union ▁The ▁city ' s ▁rugby ▁union ▁side , ▁Not ting ham ▁R . F . C . ▁have ▁played ▁at ▁M ead ow ▁Lane ▁since ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁and ▁are ▁currently ▁members ▁of ▁the ▁R F U ▁Championship ▁( the ▁second ▁tier ▁of ▁rugby ▁union