Whitley Warriors
Whitley Warriors | |
---|---|
City | Whitley Bay, United Kingdom |
League | NIHL |
Founded | 1955 |
Home arena |
Whitley Bay Ice Rink Capacity: 3200 Ice size: 185ft x 90ft |
Colours |
Maroon, Gold, White |
General manager | John Crammond |
Head coach | David Longstaff |
Captain | Jamie Tinsley |
Website |
Whitley Warriors are an ice hockey team based in Whitley Bay in the north east of England. Founded in 1955 as the Bees, they changed their name to the Braves and then finally the Warriors. Warriors played at the highest level of British ice hockey for much of their history but currently play in the third tier, National Ice Hockey League.
A tournament for the release of the new NIHL called "The Face-off" was held at the Newcastle Metro Radio Arena on 28 and 29 August 2010. Whitley Warriors made it through to the final against Solway Sharks and after a nail biting game, Warriors pulled it back after going down 1-0 after the first period. Warriors equalised with a goal from Martin Crammond and moments later took a 2-1 lead courtesy of Callum Watson. Sharks pulled their netminder but could not tie the game up, making Whitley the tournament winners.
Their home arena is Whitley Bay Ice Rink.
2015/2016 season roster
Coaches and Management
Skaters
- #21 Scott Cooper
- #22 Alan Yarrow
- #23 Phillip Pritchard
- #24 Harry Harley
- #25 David Longstaff
- #27 Jamie Tinsley
- #38 Dan Pye
- #64 Ben Richards
- #71 Stu Tomlinson
Netminders
Honours
British Championship: Winners – 1972/73, 1973/74
English National League Championship: Winners – 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2007/08
English National League: Runners-up – 1997/98
Northern League: Winners – 1973/74, 1974/75 Runners-up – 1976/77, 1977/78, 2006/07, 2010/11
Northern League Play-offs: Winners: 2006/07 Runners-up – 1967/68, 1976/77
English National League North: Winners – 2001/02, 2009/10, 2010/11 Runners-up – 1997/98, 1999/2000, 2006/07, 2007/08
English Cup: Winners – 2001/02 Runners-up – 2000/01
Anglo Scottish Cup: Winners – 2000/01
Scottish Cup: Winners – 1991/92, Runners-up – 1992/93
Heineken British Premier League: Runners-up – 1987/88
Benson & Hedges Cup: Runners-up – 1992/93
Autumn Cup: Winners – 1971/72 Runners-up – 1972/73, 1974/75, 1976/77
BIHA Cup: Winners – 1957/58, 1958/59 (as Whitley Bees)
Ice Hockey Journalists UK Hall Of Fame: Terry Matthews (1987), Alfie Miller (1988), J.J. ‘Icy’ Smith (1988), Hilton Ruggles (2009)
Junior teams
The Warriors have numerous junior teams. They also have a ladies ice hockey team. The teams are;
- Under 10's - Mischiefs
- Under 12's - Arrows
- Under 14's - Mohawks
- Under 16's - Tomahawks
- Under 18's - Braves
- Ladies - Squaws
Past imports
- 1975-1976 Don Mc Adams
- 1977-1978 Jan Pedersen, Harri Semmi, Steve Cardwell.
- 1978-1979 Brian Labatte
- 1979-1980 Lars Opsahl
- 1980-1981 Lars Opsahl
- 1981-1982 Buzz Brown
- 1982-1983 Tim Whitehead
- 1983-1984 Ron Butler, Al Kent & Kel Land
- 1984-1985 Pete Fitzpatrick, Hugh Alcorn & Roy Wallace
- 1985-1986 Peter Dunkley, Brian Mason, Steve Attwell & Bill Audycki
- 1986-1987 Jim Earle, Tom Earle & Bruce Stanley
- 1987-1988 Scott Morrison, Luc Chabot & Mike Babcock
- 1988-1989 Scott Morrison, Hilton Ruggles & Mike Rowe
- 1989-1990 Hilton Ruggles, Marc Damphousse, Claude Lefebvre, Wayne Crawford, Chris Duperron, Marco Ronkko, Mike Vellucci & James Gasseau
- 1990-1991 Hilton Ruggles, Claude Dumas, Brad Hyatt, Daryl Evans, Steve Chartrand & Blaine Peerless
- 1991-1992 Hilton Ruggles, Claude Dumas, Mike Rowe, Rob Abel & Bobby Brown
- 1992-1993 Claude Dumas, Scott Morrison, Mike Rowe, Mike Mowbray & Steve Brown
- 1993-1994 Scott Morrison, Steve Brown, Tyler Larter, Mike Rowe, Eric LeGros
- 1994-1995 Steve Brown, Dean Richards, Brian Verbeek, Mike Rowe, Martin St. Amour
- 1995-1996 (as Newcastle Warriors) Steve Brown, Chris Norton, Richard Laplante, Jason Smart, Dean Richards, Scott Morrison, Rick Fera, Scott Campbell, Lars Thunnell, Niklas Gullikson, Risto Halenius, Tim Salmon
- 1996-97 Matthew Beveridge
Retired jerseys
Alfie Miller is the only jersey that has been retired for the Warriors. His jersey was framed in the bar at Whitley Bay Ice Rink but was stolen soon after.