Swindon Wildcats
Swindon Wildcats | |
---|---|
![]() | |
City | Swindon, Wiltshire |
League | NIHL |
Division | National League |
Founded | 1986 |
Home arena | Link Centre |
Colors | Red, White & Black |
General manager | Aaron Nell ![]() |
Head coach | Aaron Nell ![]() |
Captain | Sam Bullas ![]() |
Media | Cats TV |
Affiliates | Swindon Wildcats 2, NIHL 2 Swindon TopCats, WNIHL 1 |
Franchise history | |
1986–1996 | Swindon Wildcats |
1996–1997 | Swindon Ice Lords |
1997–2000 | Swindon Chill |
2000–2001 | Swindon Phoenix |
2001–2004 | Swindon Lynx |
2004 – present | Swindon Wildcats |
Championships | |
Regular season titles | 3 (1996/97), (2000/01), (2018/19) |
Autumn Cups | 3 (1991), (2017), (2021) |
Premier Cups | 1 (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
Logo
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 | ![]() |
Renny Marr | L | 8 October 1997 | Lochgelly, Scotland | 2017 from Coventry Blaze | 22/23 | |||
45 | ![]() |
Dean Skinns | L | 3 October 1984 | Basingstoke, England | 2021 from MK Lightning | 22/23 |
Defencemen | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Nat. | Player | Shoots | Date of birth | Place of birth | Acquired | Contract | |||
4 | ![]() |
Oliver Stone | L | 26 July 1998 | Swindon, England | 2022 from Basingstoke Bison | 22/23 | |||
24 | ![]() |
Tyler Plews 'A' | R | 13 September 1997 | Kirkcaldy, Scotland | 2018 from Edinburgh Capitals | 23/24 | |||
28 | ![]() |
Stevie Whitfield | R | 12 October 1990 | Swindon, England | 2007 from Swindon Cougars | 22/23 | |||
61 | ![]() |
Sam Godfrey | R | 2 February 1994 | Swindon, England | 2018 from Guildford Flames | 22/23 | |||
77 | ![]() |
Ben Nethersell | R | 5 January 1998 | Worthing, England | 2013 from Okanagan Hockey Academy UK | 22/23 |
Forwards | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Nat. | Player | Shoots | Date of birth | Place of birth | Acquired | Contract | |||
3 | ![]() ![]() |
Bálint Pákozdi | L | 3 May 1999 | Budapest, Hungary | 2021 from New Hampshire Junior Monarchs | 22/23 | |||
11 | ![]() |
Chris Jones 'A' | R | 4 January 1991 | Cardiff, Wales | 2017 from Cardiff Devils | 22/23 | |||
12 | ![]() |
Floyd Taylor | L | 28 March 1995 | Swindon, England | 2011 from Swindon Leopards | 22/23 | |||
13 | ![]() |
Sam Bullas 'C' | R | 20 September 1990 | Nottingham, England | 2010 from Nottingham Panthers | 22/23 | |||
16 | ![]() |
Reed Sayers | R | 9 May 2001 | Swindon, England | 2018 from Cardiff Fire | 22/23 | |||
18 | ![]() |
Loris Taylor | L | 1 August 1993 | Swindon, England | 2022 from Bristol Pitbulls | 22/23 | |||
19 | ![]() |
Aaron Nell | L | 22 October 1989 | Swindon, England | 2013 from Sheffield Steelers | 22/23 | |||
37 | ![]() |
Jack Goodchild | R | 14 October 2002 | Winchester, England | 2021 from Okanagan Hockey Academy UK | 22/23 | |||
71 | ![]() |
Edgars Bebris | L | 7 August 1991 | Aizkraukle, Latvia | 2021 from MK Lightning | 22/23 | |||
89 | ![]() |
Tomasz Malasinski* | L | 23 August 1986 | Nowy Targ, Poland | 2019 from KH GKS Katowice | 23/24 | |||
91 | ![]() |
Colby Tower* | R | 12 February 1997 | Troy, NS, Canada | 2022 from Nipissing University | 22/23 | |||
![]() |
Russell Cowley | L | 12 August 1983 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | 2022 from MK Lightning | 22/23 |
Team Staff | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Nat. | Name | Acquired | Position | Place of birth | Joined From | ||||
19 | ![]() |
Aaron Nell | 2015 | General Manager & Player-Coach | Swindon, England | Okanagan Hockey Academy U18 | ||||
N/A | ![]() |
Lee Richardson | 2019 | Assistant coach | Swindon, England | Oxford City Stars, NIHL 2 | ||||
N/A | ![]() |
Pete Bradford | 2010 | Equipment Manager | England | |||||
N/A | ![]() |
Steve Bradford | 2014 | Equipment Manager | England | |||||
N/A | ![]() |
Mark Thorne | 2014 | Assistant Equipment Manager | England |
2022/23 Outgoing
Outgoing | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Nat. | Player | Shoots | Date of birth | Place of birth | Leaving For | ||||
27 | ![]() |
Joshua Shaw | R | 21 October 2005 | Frimley, England | Bristol Pitbulls | ||||
38 | ![]() |
Emil Svec | L | 12 July 1994 | Milevsko, Czechia | Hull Seahawks | ||||
41 | ![]() |
Oliver Endicott | L | 10 June 2004 | Swindon, England | Iisalmen Peli-Karhut U20 | ||||
44 | ![]() |
Neil Liddiard | R | 7 May 1978 | Swindon, England | Chelmsford Chieftains | ||||
73 | ![]() |
Sam Smith | R | 2 September 2001 | Cardiff, Wales | Bristol Pitbulls | ||||
94 | ![]() |
Declan Balmer | L | 9 June 1995 | Hull, England | Hull Seahawks |
Retired numbers
6 Lee Brathwaite, D, 1992–1997, 1998–2009
10 Steve Nell, F, 1986–1988, 1990–1996, 1997–1998, General Manager 2004–2021 (Now Managing Director)
14 Daryl Lipsey, F, 1986–1995
15 Scott Koberinski, F, 1989–1993
See also
- Swindon Wildcats NIHL – amateur affiliated team playing in National Ice Hockey League South Division 2
References
- ^ "Club Statement". Swindon Wildcats. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ "NATIONAL CUP FINAL: Swindon Wildcats 4 (6) Sheffield Steeldogs 2 (4)". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
- ^ Houlihan, Owen (24 May 2017). "New change to Wildcats' next league campaign". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- ^ "Wildcats reveal 19/20 jersey design". Swindon Wildcats. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
- ^ "Willie Wildcat Announces Retirement – Swindon Wildcats".
- ^ Eliteprospects.com (http://www.eliteprospects.com/team.php?team=1372&year0=2012)
- ^ "Swindon Wildcats – Elite Prospects". www.eliteprospects.com.