Coach Nick Panos: A Lifetime on the Ice

For Nick Panos, hockey is more than just a sport—it’s a way of life.

For Nick Panos, hockey is more than just a sport—it’s a way of life. A former player for the Park Ridge Hornets and Chicago Minor Hawks (Team IL), he grew up with skates on his feet and a deep love for the game. That passion carried over into his family life, as all three of his sons followed in his footsteps, playing the sport he holds so dear. Hockey isn’t just about his family—it’s about the community, the camaraderie, and the life lessons that extend far beyond the rink.

For the past 30 years, Panos has dedicated himself to coaching, shaping young athletes both on and off the ice. Before coaching for PREP, a high school program that has players from Prospect, Rolling Meadows, and Elk Grove High Schools and one of the Nicholas Sportsplex’s home teams, he coached for the Niles Rangers and Glenview Stars. Over the past decade, he has watched PREP grow significantly, including the addition of female athletes to the team, a success he attributes to the strong coaching staff and the team’s commitment to excellence. Under his leadership, PREP made history, becoming the only Illinois high school team to win a national championship (2022-23), capping off an undefeated season with a state title.

Hockey runs deep in the Panos family. His three sons—Jimmy, Frank, and John—all played for PREP, and Jimmy now coaches alongside him. His wife, Sharon, has been his unwavering supporter, tolerating the long hours at the rink and the never-ending hockey talk at home.

As the head varsity coach and hockey director, Panos has built more than just a winning program—he’s fostered a culture of dedication, teamwork, and family. From his perspective, he believes hockey is unique because of the bonds it creates. “Hockey demands a deep reliance on your teammates. The connection between players is like no other,” he explains. He sees the game as a training ground for life, teaching communication, leadership, and the ability to work as part of a team to achieve a common goal.

Panos is also deeply proud of PREP’s home at the Nicholas Sportsplex. When he first made the move, some questioned the decision, but he saw its potential. “It was the best decision I made for the program,” he says. “The energy and positivity there are unmatched—it’s an environment where players want to be. And it’s also a place where I want to be. Every time I walk in, I'm greeted by the friendly staff behind the front desk, I often exchange high fives with the Zamboni drivers, and after games, I’m always welcomed and greeted as ‘Hey Coach’ at Big Fish’s Icehouse.”

Beyond the regular season, Panos is a fixture at the rink four nights a week in the summer, running his ‘Summer Skate with Coach Nick’ sessions where more than 125 players participate. He takes pride in the relationships he’s built with his players, many of whom have been with him since they were young. “The same kids who started with me as squirts still come back,” he says, a testament to the lasting impact he has on his athletes.

When asked about something most people don’t know about him, he responded emphatically, saying, “I was in an '80s rock band! We toured from the West Coast to the East and everywhere in between. Every now and then, you might catch a parent playing one of our songs between hockey periods over the loudspeakers."

For Coach Nick, hockey isn’t just about wins and championships—it’s about building a lifelong love for the game and shaping young athletes into strong, capable individuals. His legacy isn’t just on the ice—it’s in the generations of players he has mentored, supported, and inspired.