60-457: The Telford Tigers are a National Ice Hockey League (NIHL) ice hockey team that formed in 1985. After initially closing in 1999, a new team, under the name 'Telford Wild Foxes', was formed in 2001; and re-adopted the original name in 2005. The team is currently owned by Givarna Ltd. In November 2016, faced with mounting debts, the team began the process of entering creditors voluntary liquidation . A creditors' meeting, which would have decided
120-562: A Cup competition involving eight teams. These are initially split into two groups of four, with each group containing two teams from each conference. The top two teams from each group go onto a single Cup Final Weekend held in a single venue, with semi-finals on the Saturday determining the two teams to play the final on the Sunday. In 2019, the EIHA announced a new National League to sit above
180-484: A Telford team would be sustainable. Telford Tigers IH Club Ltd. was formed for season 1985–86 by Central TV commentator Gary Newbon with entertainer David Ismay as chairman and Canadian defenceman Chuck Taylor as player coach. Newbon and Taylor had previously been involved with the Barons, as had squad members Mark Budz, Gordie Patterson, Alan Gould, Paul O'Higgin and Dave Welch. Goalie John Wolfe and Andy Steel signed for
240-639: A few Elite League (EIHL) players who were not playing due to that league's suspension, most notably defenceman David Clements and forwards Ross Venus and Robert Lachowicz . ( * ) Denotes a Non-British Trained player (Import) Jere Gillis played with the Tigers as well as being head coach from 1990-1992. He had previously played for the Vancouver Canucks , New York Rangers , Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers . National Ice Hockey League The National Ice Hockey League ( NIHL )
300-516: A league format. Each team plays each of the other teams in their league a total of four times; twice home, twice away. Unlike the North, the South keep a two-legged home-and-away format throughout the playoffs. In Division 1, this is a three-rounded format, involving the teams who finished in the top 8 of the regular season. In Division 2, this is a two-rounded format, involving the teams who finished in
360-701: A new structure of the men's senior league for the 2019/20 season, at a meeting of NIHL clubs in Warwickshire. A new ten-team division was approved to sit above the existing Division 1 in North and South, to be known as the National League . In the inaugural 2019–2020 season the National League comprised Basingstoke Bison , Bracknell Bees , Hull Pirates , Leeds Knights , MK Lightning , Peterborough Phantoms , Romford Raiders , Sheffield Steeldogs , Swindon Wildcats and Telford Tigers . There
420-500: A professional team. Level League(s)/Division(s) 2 National League 11 clubs – no promotions, no relegations 3 Division 1 – North (Moralee) 7 clubs – no promotions, bottom club relegated to D2N Division 1 – South (Britton) 10 clubs – no promotions, bottom club relegated to D2S 4 Division 2 – North (Laidler) 8 clubs – champions promoted to D1N, no relegations Division 2 – South (Wilkinson) 12 clubs – champions promoted to D1S, no relegations Note
480-412: A semifinal scare against Swindon Wildcats . Telford were led by the league's top netminder Brad Day as well as a man of the match performance by Brandon Whistle who scored a hattrick in the second leg of the final, winning 14–7 on aggregate over the two legs. Telford would have gone into the playoffs as favorites after their two titles, but because of the virus outbreak the league was ended early and it
540-535: A single home game, but finished fourth in the league due to a nine-point penalty inflicted on them for icing an ineligible player. For 87–88, the First Division was split into north–south conferences. Tigers won the Southern conference by two points, and beat Northern Conference champions Cleveland Bombers 21–14 on aggregate to take the title. They played Peterborough Pirates , who had finished bottom of
600-765: A smaller Roster and the Coach icing for part of the season, he played 15 games scoring 5 goals. Telford Tigers would go on to come 3rd in the NIHL North 1 conference, a semi-final loss in the NIHL National Cup and lost all games in the NIHL Autumn Cup. The Tigers' best result was to get to the finals of the playoffs in the Coventry Skydome finally losing to Basingstoke Bison 4–0 in the final. The 2018/19 season saw another small roster but with
660-607: A suspension. The season was cancelled completely in February 2021. In the 2021–22 EIHL season , Guildford finished the regular season in fifth place with a 25-25-4 record, reaching the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup (losing 6–5 on aggregate to Nottingham Panthers ) and the play-off semi-finals (beating Nottingham 7–6 on aggregate in the quarter-finals, before losing in the last four to Cardiff Devils 3–2). Guildford claimed third place by beating Dundee Stars 7–5 in
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#1732788126885720-531: A win in the Autumn Cup. After two seasons of building from the ground up Telford would have one of the best seasons in their history. In the offseason, a new division of the NIHL was created above NIHL 1 North and 1 South called the National League. This new league was similar to the old EPL having many of the same teams in it. Telford proceeded to dominate the league despite numerous injuries they went on to win
780-654: Is a set of semi-professional ice hockey leagues administered by the English Ice Hockey Association . It is currently the second tier of British ice hockey, below the Elite Ice Hockey League . Formerly called the English National Ice Hockey League (ENIHL), it was renamed in 2012 to recognise the inclusion of several teams from Scotland and Wales . The English Ice Hockey Association announced
840-480: Is no promotion to or relegation from the National League. Below the National League, the leagues are split into two regions, North and South, meaning teams do not have to travel long distances for away games. Each region has 2 divisions, with promotion and relegation between the divisions in each region. The ENIHL was formed in 1996; following the dissolution of the British Hockey League (BHL), and
900-529: The Basingstoke Bison announced they would sit out the 2023/24 season due to rink upgrade works. As of the 2018–19 season, the divisions are the following: Each team plays each of the other teams in their league a total of four times; twice home, twice away. At the end of the regular season, the top 4 teams in the division take part in the Playoff weekend, which are one-off games, replacing
960-685: The British National League until 2004, and subsequently the English Premier Ice Hockey League until 2017. On 24 February 2017 it was announced that the Flames would become the 12th Elite Ice Hockey League team, joining from the 2017–18 season . The team's head coach is Paul Dixon , who took over after Stan Marple retired in 2007. Barry Dow, an American who sponsored and owned the basketball team Guildford Kings and Bill Hurley established and owned
1020-561: The EPIHL , many teams were forced to enter a reserve team into the ENIHL . This increased the size of the league from 22 teams through to 30 teams for the 2007–08 season. Later in the 2007 off-season, the EIHA suggested introducing an under 25 age limit across the league. However, this age limit was removed within weeks in favour of a drive towards developing players. The ENIHL was restructured for
1080-604: The Edinburgh Capitals , Juraj Huska and goalie Peter Betinec moved from Slovakian teams (although the latter was released midway through the season to be replaced by Milan Kostolny), and Dumas' former Coventry teammate Matthias Soderstrom (Swedish) joined from the Italian Serie B. Daniel Mackriel moved to Slough Jets midway through the season. Telford finished second bottom in the league, behind local rivals Solihull. To make matters worse, Solihull dropped down to
1140-594: The English League Division One. With the Guildford Spectrum not yet completed, the team had to train at Slough 's facility. The Flames played their home games at Alexandra Palace until their new home ice was ready and played there for the first time on 23 January 1993. When 23 January 1993 finally arrived and the Guildford Spectrum opened, the event was a big one. The area's paid-for newspaper The Surrey Advertiser described
1200-795: The Upper Deck Christmas Cup in 1997 with a 10–7 aggregate victory over Guildford Flames . They reached the Benson and Hedges Plate Final in 1998, but were beaten by Guildford 4–3 at Sheffield. It wasn't to last, as Director Roy Williams resigned before Telford Tigers Ice Hockey plc went bankrupt, eventually being wound up in the High Court in Spring 1999 owing money to both Lawless and his players. In Summer 1999, Telford Timberwolves were launched, but folded after losing 6 B&H Cup games, and playing in front of gates of only 500, half
1260-630: The 2008/2009 season into two regional divisions North and South, with two leagues in each regional division. Following the 2012–13 the league was renamed the National Ice Hockey League , removing the word English due to non-English teams participating. In 2013, it was agreed at the EIHA AGM to restructure the Northern league into two conferences; Moralee and Laidler. The split was done primarily on regions and neither conference
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#17327881268851320-570: The All Star Team, but the team struggled both on and off the ice. The team was put into liquidation in the summer. A new company, Telford Tigers Ice Hockey Club (1990) reformed the team for next season. A year later, former NHLer Jere Gillis took over the coaching role from Taylor (who carried on as a managing director). By now, the junior programme was starting to pay dividends, with local youngsters Geoff Lane, Darren Broome, Norman Pinnington and Mark Hazlehurst all pulling on Tigers jerseys in
1380-648: The Belfast Giants, with Guildford finishing in 2nd place in the Elite League with a 40-12-2 record from 54 games, good for 82 points - just two behind the Giants. Belfast secured the title after a 6-1 win over the Flames at the SSE Arena on 1 April 2023. In the Challenge Cup, Guildford reached the semi-finals, before an eventual 6-3 aggregate defeat - once again at the hands of the Belfast Giants. And in
1440-467: The Challenge Cup seeing a winner (the Sheffield Steelers ) crowned. Then, the 2020–21 Elite League season - originally scheduled for a revised start date of 5 December - was suspended on 15 September 2020 because of ongoing coronavirus pandemic restrictions. The EIHL board determined that the season was non-viable without supporters being permitted to attend matches and unanimously agreed to
1500-579: The EIHA, which include; Guildford Flames The Guildford Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Guildford , Surrey and they play their home games in the Guildford Spectrum . They compete in the top-tier of hockey in the United Kingdom, the Elite Ice Hockey League . Founded in October 1992, the Flames originally played in the second-tier leagues of British hockey, first
1560-668: The ENL at the end of the season, thus eliminating the West Midlands Derby from the fixture list. For 2007–08 Miller, Owen, Mackriel, and Jets returned; D-men Tom Parker and Jake Armstrong joined from Solihull, and Dean Tonks signed from Peterborough Phantoms . However, Miller was unsettled and joined Peterborough in December. After a 9–6 loss away at Swindon Wildcats in January it now looks unlikely that Tigers will qualify for
1620-641: The EPL and had a good cup run, missing out on the semi-finals by 2 points in the preliminary group. Dumas was third in league scoring, and Slovakian Karol Jets seventh. Netminder Barry Hollyhead and British forwards Tom Carlon , Gareth Owen and Joe Miller all stood out. 2006–07 was a disappointment compared to the previous season. Hollyhead joined playoff champions Milton Keynes Lightning , Jets and his fellow Slovakian Tomas Janak moved to Solihull Barons, Miller joined Elite League team Manchester Phoenix and Carlon and Owen moved to Coventry Blaze . Marc Lovell joined from
1680-593: The EPL title on March 1, 2015 during their game against the Peterborough Phantoms . Despite ongoing financial problems, the Tigers would have success on the ice. With captain Jason Silverthorn scoring 41 goals and talisman Doug Clarkson scoring 50 goals for Telford they would go on a winning streak for 15 games to win the English Premier Ice Hockey League and make it to the playoff finals losing narrowly to Milton Keynes Lightning. During
1740-518: The Eurologix money being part of the cash flow. The GM Telford Tigers faced the MK Lightning for a back to back challenge before a trip to Coventry to face Elite champions Coventry Blaze in a fund raising game arranged following the sponsorship troubles. The first game with MK was away, and resulted in an 8–2 defeat. The return game the following night saw marked improvements from the Tigers as
1800-563: The Flames maintain a record that kept them in the top half of the league table. On 13 March 2024, Guildford finished runners-up in the Challenge Cup final to the Sheffield Steelers , losing 3-1. Guildford ended the regular season in 5th with a 24-20-10 record, eventually losing in the play-off semi-finals to the Sheffield Steelers, 6-3. The Flames also lost the 3rd/4th play-off 7-5 to the Cardiff Devils. The team logo
1860-610: The Premier Division, in a Promotion Playoff. After winning the first leg 14–12, they crumbled in the second. They led 6–1 after two periods but Pirates managed to score eight unanswered goals in the third to stay up by a single goal aggregate scoreline. Imports Kevin Conway and Tim Salmon were voted onto the All Star Team, and Chuck Taylor was named Coach of the Year. The next season was not so good for Telford. Gerald Waslen made
Telford Tigers - Misplaced Pages Continue
1920-687: The UK's top division at the start of the 2017–18 EIHL season . The Flames finished in sixth in their first season (2017–18), followed by a fifth-placed finish in 2018–19 - a campaign in which they finished runners-up to the Belfast Giants in the Challenge Cup final. Guildford were again in sixth when the 2019–20 EIHL season 's remaining matches were cancelled in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The play-offs were cancelled with only
1980-593: The creation of the Ice Hockey Superleague and the British National League (BNL) as the top two tiers of British hockey. The ENIHL served as the third tier of hockey; operating below the BNL. Following its inaugural season, an upper tier within the ENIHL was founded, so as to serve as a league for the members of the BNL who could not afford to remain in that league due to the increased operating costs; but at
2040-502: The end of season playoffs. During the pre season it had been announced that the Telford Tigers had secured a new title sponsor, in the shape of Cannock-based company Eurologix. However, just a few weeks later, it was announced that Eurologix had pulled out of the deal, leaving the Tigers with a large hole in its finances. This was made all the more difficult as the club has begun to recruit players, and negotiate contracts based on
2100-635: The existing regional leagues. This mainly comprised the teams of the former EPIHL that had dropped into NIHL Division 1 in 2017. The competition Champions are as follows: Follows International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) rules, as used by countries in all major European leagues. There are significant differences between the National Hockey League rules and IIHF rules, including rink dimension, netminder puck handling, and icing. The ENIHL also operates under additional EIHA regulations. Additional discipline rules are also enforced by
2160-466: The fate of the club, was scheduled for 30 November 2016, but on 25 November a consortium of local businesses intervened and acquired the club's assets, securing its future for the remainder of the season. After the Telford Ice Rink opened in October 1984, several challenge games involving Altrincham Aces , Blackpool Seagulls , Nottingham Panthers and Solihull Barons were staged to see if
2220-477: The fourth level of Britain's ice hockey pyramid. However, in 2005 the BNL disbanded; leaving the EPIHL to take its place as the second tier of the national game and, consequently, re-establishing the ENIHL as the third tier of British ice hockey. In April 2007, the EIHA lowered the upper age limit within the junior leagues, abolishing the under 19 age limit to become under 18. Due to the large gap from junior level to
2280-562: The league with 2 rounds to spare. The coronavirus outbreak had started to grip the UK with the elite league cancelling all games that weekend but Telford needed one more win to see them clinch the title and credit to the Raiders IHC for making the trip to Telford to play the game despite tension and opposition around the league. On top of this, Telford went on to win the NIHL Cup at home against Peterborough Phantoms , as well as surviving
2340-579: The local council's £28 million arena as "awesome". Guildford's first game at their new home showed a convincing win with Andy Sparks scoring the first goal at the Spectrum. The team went to the top of the Conference due to that game, a position they held onto for the whole season. The Guildford Flames were confirmed as an Elite League expansion team in February 2017, stepping up from the English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL), and began play in
2400-558: The mid 1980s and early 1990s. For the 1993–94 season Kevin Murphy was appointed head coach and introduced a three line system of forwards. It proved successful as Tigers beat Blackburn Hawks in a bad tempered semi-final and Medway Bears 11–7 on aggregate in the final of the Autumn Trophy and finished runners up in the league. However, later that month the club was issued with an order to fold owing £30,000 in unpaid VAT. A new club
2460-587: The new club from Grimsby. The club had been granted permission by the BIHA to join the First Division of the British Hockey League, and finished third in their inaugural season, with near sell out crowds seeing Budz score 134 points and Taylor make the All Star Team. In 1986–87, Tigers new import Dean Vogelgesang scored 196 points, and Budz made the All Star team with 200 points. Tigers did not lose
Telford Tigers - Misplaced Pages Continue
2520-489: The new team started to gel. MK won the game by 2 goals to 0. The fund raiser at Coventry again saw the Tigers improve, and eventually lost 3–2. Telford Tigers did not ice during this season, mainly due to financial difficulties and missing a deadline for registration into the English Premier Ice Hockey League. In February 2010, it was announced that a 'Fans Trust' had been formed, and that it
2580-456: The notable addition of fan-favorite Doug Clarkson who would go on to score 52 goals in only 27 games before returning to Canada. Unfortunately, the Tigers would come up short this season losing out to Sheffield Steeldogs in the final of the North Cup as well as Sheffield knocking out the Tigers in the semifinal of the postseason. The Tigers would come 3rd in the league but failed to record
2640-570: The odd-number of teams in the league, the Eastern Conference had six teams while the Western Conference had five teams. Both conferences were run completely separately and each winner was only regarded as being the conference winner, with no implication of one conference winner being regarded as the league winner. A two-round playoff format was introduced at the end of the season to determine a league-wide winner. The winner of
2700-556: The offseason the league the Tigers had just won (the EPL ) folded. This meant the Tigers had to start from scratch. The core leaders of the team moved to the Tigers NIHL North 1 side. The Tigers managed to hold on to coach and general manager Tom Watkins as well as the captain no22 Jason Silverthorn . After the financial problems of the season before this meant that Tigers started from a weakened financial position which leads to
2760-607: The play-offs, the Flames were on the end of an upset at the quarter-final stage, losing 7-6 at the hands of seventh seed the Nottingham Panthers in April 2023. Guildford's second place league finish in the 2022–23 season saw them earn qualification for the 2023–24 IIHF Continental Cup. However, in May 2023, the club released a statement confirming they would decline their place in the competition. The 2023–24 EIHL season saw
2820-450: The playoffs would then be the team promoted to Division 1. In 2017, the two conferences were reunited. The league itself is considered to be a development league, and as such the players are normally amateur. Many teams have affiliate teams in higher leagues. Other teams are aligned with junior ice hockey clubs, and exist to ensure that when players hit 18 there is still a possibility for them to play competitive hockey if they have not joined
2880-491: The previous home/away format. There is not usually a third placed Playoff. Blackburn Hawks currently hold the record of most consecutive final appearances with four from 2011/12 to the present season, winning in 2012/13 and 2014/15. The rules regarding promotion and relegation between the Moralee and Laidler regularly change. There are occasional cup competitions, but the format changes in most seasons but usually takes part in
2940-541: The same time played ice hockey to a higher standard that of the other ENIHL teams. This division was originally known as the National Division , and during the 1997–98 season the teams in this division played dual schedules; a series of games solely amongst themselves, and another amongst all of the teams which fell under the jurisdiction of the ENIHL at this time. Solihull Blaze won the league and play-off trophies of both formats during this inaugural season. At
3000-799: The signings were announced no hockey materialised but the Tigers were approved as an EIHA Elite category under the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) guidelines. This would means they would be government approved to play hockey if the opportunity arose. On 2 February 2021 the Tigers announced they would be partaking in an online streaming series. It was called the NIHL Spring Cup and would be made of 5 NIHL National Division teams (Telford Tigers, Sheffield Steeldogs , Bees IHC , Swindon Wildcats & Raiders IHC ) and would be all streamed online with no fans in attendance. The Telford Tigers proceed to announce an expanded roster with
3060-425: The size of Tigers' in their heyday. In 2001, the Wildfoxes competed in the amateur English National League. In 2003 they joined the EPL. Wildfoxes nurtured several promising youngsters including Jared Owen, Daniel Mackriel, Adam Brittle and Tom Carlon. Dumas returned as player coach in 2003. The club returned to the name Telford Tigers for the 2005–06 season. In 2005–06, Tigers finished tenth out of thirteen teams in
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#17327881268853120-404: The start of the 1998–99 season the divisions, whilst still both under the ENIHL umbrella, performed in their own separate competitions; and the national division adopted the name Premier Division , and later on became known as the Premier League . By the end of the season the league had established itself outside of the ENIHL as the English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL); reducing the ENIHL to
3180-489: The team as management – the two were new to the sport of ice hockey, and brought in Mike Urquhart as coach and Darrin Zinger as captain. Key players signed for the first season included Canadians Sean Murphy and Dave McGahan due to their high scoring at Solent Vikings . In addition a number of British players including goaltender , Mike Kellond; forward, Danny O'Hanlon and defender, Gary Shearer. The Flames' inaugural season began in October 1992; they began, unseeded, in
3240-429: The third/fourth place play-off. The 2022–23 EIHL season proved to be even better for the Guildford Flames, propelled by a strong start to the campaign that saw the Flames top the league for much of the first half of the season, including at Christmas. Forwards Daniel Tedesco (80 points), captain Brett Ferguson (67 points) and Ryan Tait (62 points) led the way. The team were neck and neck with eventual league champions
3300-403: The top 2 of their conference. In the semi-finals, the conference winners play the runners-up from the other conference with the final involving the winners of the two semi-finals. Division 1 has a Cup competition involving six of the teams. These are initially split into two groups of three, with the top two from each group going on to a knock-out, two-legged semi-final and final. Division 2 has
3360-422: The year in 1997–98. During this period he scored 443 goals and notched up 316 assists. In December 1996, Tigers again ran into money troubles, but were saved by Ken Crickmore, who listed them on the OFEX stock market. In 1997 John Lawless, who had achieved fame with Cardiff Devils and Manchester Storm, was announced as head coach. Under "JL", Telford finished as runners up in the British National League and lifted
3420-554: Was decided the final 4 event would be moved to preseason of the 2020–2021 season. Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic the Tigers were unable to ice. They announced signings of several players over 2020, Tom Watkins as Head Coach and General Manager, Barry Hollyhead and Karl Creamer as Assistant Coaches, Forward Scott McKenzie as a player & second team coach, Forward Brandon Whistle, Forward & Captain Jason Silverthorn, Defenceman Corey Goodison, Forward Jack Watkins, Net minder Brad Day and finally Defenceman Andy McKinney. Although
3480-412: Was formed, Taylor moved to Nottingham and the team again finished second in the league in 1994–95. John Wolfe was given All Star honours and the Telford-born Plant brothers, Russ and Ricky, were featuring on a regular basis. Claude Dumas, from Quebec, was signed from Cardiff in 1995, and was a catalyst for the Tigers in the late 1990s. He was an all star in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 and was named player of
3540-418: Was intending to ice a Telford Tigers team in the EPL once more. In April 2010, it was confirmed that the teams application to the EPL had been accepted. In October 2013, the BBC reported that the CEO of Red Touch Media , Wayne Scholes had dissolved the 'Fans Trust' and taken over the team under a new company called Red Hockey Ltd. Scholes was the stick-boy for the team during the mid-1980s. The Tigers won
3600-436: Was regarded as being higher than the other. However, at the following year's AGM, it was agreed to return to a tiered Division 1 and Division 2 format. However, the conference names remained in place with Division 1 taking the Moralee Conference title and Division 2 the Laidler Conference title. In 2014, it was agreed at the EIHA AGM to restructure the Southern Division 2 league to have Western and Eastern Conferences. Due to
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