Swindon Wildcats

Swindon Wildcats
CitySwindon, Wiltshire
LeagueNIHL
DivisionNational League
Founded1986
Home arenaLink Centre
ColorsRed, White & Black
     
General managerAaron Nell England
Head coachAaron Nell England
CaptainSam Bullas England
MediaCats TV
AffiliatesSwindon Wildcats 2, NIHL 2
Swindon TopCats, WNIHL 1
Franchise history
1986–1996Swindon Wildcats
1996–1997Swindon Ice Lords
1997–2000Swindon Chill
2000–2001Swindon Phoenix
2001–2004Swindon Lynx
2004 – presentSwindon Wildcats
Championships
Regular season titles3 (1996/97), (2000/01), (2018/19)
Autumn Cups3 (1991), (2017), (2021)
Premier Cups1 (2017/18)

The Swindon Wildcats are a professional ice hockey team based in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. They play in the National Ice Hockey League (NIHL). Since their inception, the Wildcats have played their home games at the 1600-capacity Link Centre in West Swindon. The club was founded in 1986 as the Swindon Wildcats, shortly after the opening of the Link Centre.

The Wildcats were members of the English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL) from 1997 to 2017. Due to the instability of the EPIHL following the culmination of the 2016–17 season, the Swindon Wildcats announced their intention to join the National League.[1]

In their first season competing in the National League, the Wildcats won both the Autumn Cup and National Cup competitions, securing the club's first silverware since the 2000–01 season.[2] The following year the Wildcats won the regular season, becoming the 2018/2019 champions.

Logos and uniforms

The Wildcats' logo is an animated wildcat in the team colours of red and white.

Jerseys

The jerseys currently worn by the Swindon Wildcats are in red and white,[3] the colours sported by the team since the 2008–2009 relaunch. They have worn the same jerseys (with a few small variations) since the 2008–2009 season. For the 2019/20 campaign, the Wildcats will have an alternate jersey that is predominantly black with red motifs.[4]

The first Wildcats colours were black, yellow, orange and white. Blue and white were worn in 2006 and 2007.

Mascot

The official mascot for the Swindon Wildcats is an anthropomorphized wildcat by the name of Scratch. Scratch took over from his cousin Willie Wildcats during the 2021/22 Season. Willie Wildcat had been the mascot for the 'Cats since their return to the Wildcats name in 2004, after three seasons as the Lynx. However, he retired after a successful career at the Better Link Centre.[5]

Season-by-season record[6]

Season League GP W L OTW OTL Pts. Rank Post Season
2007–2008 EPIHL 40 16 20 1 3 37 7th Qualification
2008–2009 EPIHL 54 21 29 2 2 48 8th Quarter-Final Loss
2009–2010 EPIHL 54 12 31 4 7 39 8th Semi-Final Loss
2010–2011 EPIHL 54 16 31 3 4 42 7th Quarter-Final Loss
2011–2012 EPIHL 54 25 23 0 6 56 7th Quarter-Final Loss
2012–2013 EPIHL 54 20 22 1 11 53 7th Quarter-Final Loss
2013–2014 EPIHL 54 23 23 6 2 60 5th Semi-Final Loss
2014–2015 EPIHL 48 24 20 4 0 56 5th Quarter-Final Loss
2015–2016 EPIHL 54 30 19 – 5 65 6th Quarter-Final Loss
2016–2017 EPIHL 48 22 22 – 4 48 6th Qualification
2017–2018 NIHL S1 32 18 6 4 4 48 3rd Conf QF Loss
2018–2019 NIHL S1 42 31 7 1 3 67 Champions Conf SF Loss

Club roster 2022–23[7]

(*) Denotes a Non-British Trained player (Import)

Netminders
No. Nat. Player Catches Date of birth Place of birth Acquired Contract
30 Scotland Renny Marr L (1997-10-08) 8 October 1997 (age 27) Lochgelly, Scotland 2017 from Coventry Blaze 22/23
45 England Dean Skinns L (1984-10-03) 3 October 1984 (age 40) Basingstoke, England 2021 from MK Lightning 22/23
Defencemen
No. Nat. Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Acquired Contract
4 England Oliver Stone L (1998-07-26) 26 July 1998 (age 26) Swindon, England 2022 from Basingstoke Bison 22/23
24 Scotland Tyler Plews 'A' R (1997-09-13) 13 September 1997 (age 27) Kirkcaldy, Scotland 2018 from Edinburgh Capitals 23/24
28 England Stevie Whitfield R (1990-10-12) 12 October 1990 (age 34) Swindon, England 2007 from Swindon Cougars 22/23
61 England Sam Godfrey R (1994-02-02) 2 February 1994 (age 30) Swindon, England 2018 from Guildford Flames 22/23
77 England Ben Nethersell R (1998-01-05) 5 January 1998 (age 26) Worthing, England 2013 from Okanagan Hockey Academy UK 22/23
Forwards
No. Nat. Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Acquired Contract
3 HungaryUnited Kingdom Bálint Pákozdi L (1999-05-03) 3 May 1999 (age 25) Budapest, Hungary 2021 from New Hampshire Junior Monarchs 22/23
11 Wales Chris Jones 'A' R (1991-01-04) 4 January 1991 (age 33) Cardiff, Wales 2017 from Cardiff Devils 22/23
12 England Floyd Taylor L (1995-03-28) 28 March 1995 (age 29) Swindon, England 2011 from Swindon Leopards 22/23
13 England Sam Bullas 'C' R (1990-09-20) 20 September 1990 (age 34) Nottingham, England 2010 from Nottingham Panthers 22/23
16 England Reed Sayers R (2001-05-09) 9 May 2001 (age 23) Swindon, England 2018 from Cardiff Fire 22/23
18 England Loris Taylor L (1993-08-01) 1 August 1993 (age 31) Swindon, England 2022 from Bristol Pitbulls 22/23
19 England Aaron Nell L (1989-10-22) 22 October 1989 (age 35) Swindon, England 2013 from Sheffield Steelers 22/23
37 England Jack Goodchild R (2002-10-14) 14 October 2002 (age 22) Winchester, England 2021 from Okanagan Hockey Academy UK 22/23
71 Latvia Edgars Bebris L (1991-08-07) 7 August 1991 (age 33) Aizkraukle, Latvia 2021 from MK Lightning 22/23
89 Poland Tomasz Malasinski* L (1986-08-23) 23 August 1986 (age 38) Nowy Targ, Poland 2019 from KH GKS Katowice 23/24
91 Canada Colby Tower* R (1997-02-12) 12 February 1997 (age 27) Troy, NS, Canada 2022 from Nipissing University 22/23
England Russell Cowley L (1983-08-12) 12 August 1983 (age 41) Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2022 from MK Lightning 22/23
Team Staff
No. Nat. Name Acquired Position Place of birth Joined From
19 England Aaron Nell 2015 General Manager & Player-Coach Swindon, England Okanagan Hockey Academy U18
N/A England Lee Richardson 2019 Assistant coach Swindon, England Oxford City Stars, NIHL 2
N/A England Pete Bradford 2010 Equipment Manager England
N/A England Steve Bradford 2014 Equipment Manager England
N/A England Mark Thorne 2014 Assistant Equipment Manager England

2022/23 Outgoing

Outgoing
No. Nat. Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Leaving For
27 England Joshua Shaw R (2005-10-21) 21 October 2005 (age 19) Frimley, England Bristol Pitbulls
38 Czech Republic Emil Svec L (1994-07-12) 12 July 1994 (age 30) Milevsko, Czechia Hull Seahawks
41 England Oliver Endicott L (2004-06-10) 10 June 2004 (age 20) Swindon, England Iisalmen Peli-Karhut U20
44 England Neil Liddiard R (1978-05-07) 7 May 1978 (age 46) Swindon, England Chelmsford Chieftains
73 Wales Sam Smith R (2001-09-02) 2 September 2001 (age 23) Cardiff, Wales Bristol Pitbulls
94 England Declan Balmer L (1995-06-09) 9 June 1995 (age 29) Hull, England Hull Seahawks

Retired numbers

6 England Lee Brathwaite, D, 1992–1997, 1998–2009

7 Canada Bryan Larkin, D, 1991–2001

9 Canada Gary Dickie, F, 1993–1997

10 England Steve Nell, F, 1986–1988, 1990–1996, 1997–1998, General Manager 2004–2021 (Now Managing Director)

14 Canada Daryl Lipsey, F, 1986–1995

15 Canada Scott Koberinski, F, 1989–1993

17 England Ian Richards, F, 1987–1999

See also

References

  1. ^ "Club Statement". Swindon Wildcats. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  2. ^ "NATIONAL CUP FINAL: Swindon Wildcats 4 (6) Sheffield Steeldogs 2 (4)". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  3. ^ Houlihan, Owen (24 May 2017). "New change to Wildcats' next league campaign". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Wildcats reveal 19/20 jersey design". Swindon Wildcats. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  5. ^ "Willie Wildcat Announces Retirement – Swindon Wildcats".
  6. ^ Eliteprospects.com (http://www.eliteprospects.com/team.php?team=1372&year0=2012)
  7. ^ "Swindon Wildcats – Elite Prospects". www.eliteprospects.com.