Oxford City Stars

Last updated

Oxford City Stars
Oxford City Stars Logo.png
City Oxford, Oxfordshire
League NIHL South Division 1
ConferenceDivision One South
Founded1984
Home arena Oxford Ice Rink
Capacity: 1,025
ColorsYellow, Blue & Black
   
General managerJo Mundy Flag of England.svg
Head coachMark Saunders Flag of England.svg
CaptainChristopher Cooke Flag of England.svg
Affiliates Oxford Rising Stars, NIHL 2
Oxford Midnight Stars, WNIHL 2
Website Oxford City Stars
Franchise history
1984–1997Oxford City Stars
1997–1998Oxford Chill
1998–2000 Oxford Blades
2000–presentOxford City Stars

The Oxford City Stars are an ice hockey team based in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England.The team was founded in 1984. They currently play in the NIHL South Division 1 at Oxford Ice Rink, Oxford.

Contents

History

The British Hockey League (1984–1996)

The Oxford City Stars made their debut in 1984 and had an instant impact winning the BHL Division 2 (Midlands) as well as the post season playoffs and moved into the BHL Division 1 where they were unable to repeat their success, succumbing to a 9th placed finish in their first season. The following season would see them finish 15th and return to the BHL Division 2. They would however endure more success in the 1990–91 and 1995-96 seasons as they claimed First Place, but nothing in the post season.

The Turbulent Years (1996–2000)

After the formation of the National Ice Hockey League in 1996, the Oxford City Stars were placed in the Division One South where the finished 6th and failed to qualify for the Playoffs. The following season due to issues with the Ice Rink, they moved to Swindon under the guise of Swindon Chill. The 1998-99 season saw the Stars return under the name of Oxford Blades, losing all 32 games in a dismal season with only worse to come as they folded midway during the 1999-2000 season.

ENHL Years (2001–2012)

The City Stars returned to the ENHL for the 2000-2001 season and would endure mid range results over the coming years, finishing in highs of 2nd and lows of 9th with one quarter final playoff appearance as the highlight of the performances.

NIHL Years (2012–present)

The Oxford City Stars found traction in the newly formed National Ice Hockey League where they won the Southern Division 2 Title back to back in 2012-13 and 2013-14 with no Playoffs being played. The Stars struggled the following season in Division 1 garnering just 7 wins from 36 games on their way to a 9th place finish. They picked up the following year finishing 4th and losing in the Quarter Finals of the Playoffs. The Stars would then return to Division 2 for the next 3 seasons, picking up One League Title in the 2017-18 season.

Covid Pandemic in Ice Hockey (2019–2021)

In late 2019/early 2020 the World was rocked by the emergence of a respiratory disease across the world eventually dubbed the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected the world in a major way as governments struggled to control the outbreak. The Stars were due to play the Invicta Dynamos but the visiting team cancelled due to a positive test amongst the team. Shortly after this the Government announced that measures would be taken to contain the outbreak including the cancellation of all sporting events as well as other measures. Thus the 2019 Season was incomplete and halted and the post-season was cancelled as well. The outbreak would go on to claim the 2020-21 season too.

Returning to Hockey (2021–present)

After the culmination of Covid19, the League announced the 2021 season would go ahead as planned. The Stars had moved back into the NIHL South Division 1 at this point and the season would commence with 9 teams due to the closure of the John Nike Leisure Complex, home of the Bracknell Hornets who since folded. The Stars struggled in their return to action, finishing 8th of 9 with just 18 points and an elimination in the Quarter Finals of the Playoffs

Club roster 2024–25

(*) Denotes a non-British trained player (Import)

Netminders
No.Nat.PlayerCatchesDate of birthPlace of birthAcquiredContract
31 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ross MillerL25 July 1995 (age 29) Penarth, Wales201924/25
33 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Morgan Parsons ?13 July 2004 (age 20)Wales2024 from Basingstoke Buffalo 24/25
Defencemen
No.Nat.PlayerShootsDate of birthPlace of birthAcquiredContract
4 Flag of England.svg Charlie RocheR1 January 2006 (age 19) Oxford, England202123/24
9 Flag of England.svg Christopher CookeR13 November 1994 (age 30) Guildford, England202124/25
91 Flag of England.svg Casey Wilson ?21 September 2002 (age 22)England2024 from Streatham Blackhawks 24/5
Forwards
No.Nat.PlayerShootsDate of birthPlace of birthAcquiredContract
8 Flag of England.svg Jake WilliamsR18 August 2001 (age 23)Oxford,202024/25
18 Flag of England.svg Aidan McGurkR14 February 2004 (age 21)England202324/25
51 Flag of England.svg Jack PeacockR20 August 2002 (age 22)England2024 from Solent Devils 24/25
61 Flag of England.svg Will BirchR14 January 2002 (age 23)England2024 from Basingstoke Buffalo 24/25
Team Staff
No.Nat.NameAcquiredRolePlace of birthJoined From
Flag of England.svg Mark Saunders2024Head coach Kingston-Upon-Thames, England Streatham Blackhawks
Flag of England.svg Darren Elliott2012/13Assistant coach Oxford, England
Flag of England.svg Jo Mundy2018/19General Manager England

Honours

National Championship Trophy 2017/18

Retired jersey numbers

Season-by-season record

'*Stars folded midway through the campaign and all of their results were expunged.

'# Oxford Chill were forced to relocate to Swindon just prior to the start of the league campaign due to a major ice plant failure at the rink. After this happened, they were renamed the Swindon Chill.

- Post-season cancelled due to the 2019 Covid Pandemic—2020-21 Season cancelled due to the ongoing Covid Pandemic

Season-by-season record (reserve teams)

Over the seasons the Stars have periodically iced teams in division as a reserve teams and a season by season list is below:

All time records

All Time Appearances
No.Nat.NameGames playedPeriodYears
1 Flag of England.svg Darren Elliot4141996–202420
2 Flag of England.svg Andy Cox3232001–202217
3 Flag of England.svg Joe Edwards3182007–202316
4 Flag of England.svg Josh Oliver3142009–202414
5 Flag of England.svg Paul Donohoe +2931987–200714
6 Flag of England.svg Dax Hedges2712006–present17
7 Flag of England.svg Trevor Joseph2361985–200512
8 Flag of England.svg Josh Florey2392009–202211
9 Flag of England.svg Darryl Morvan2231985–199912
10 Flag of Scotland.svg Scott Gough2171985–200611

[1]

Top Goalscorers
No.Nat.NameGames playedGoalsPeriodYears
1 Flag of the United States.svg Dan Prachar1944031989–20068
2 Flag of Scotland.svg Scott Gough2173101985–200611
3 Flag of England.svg Darren Elliot4142591996–202420
4 Flag of England.svg Alan Green2092162004–201711
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Derek Flint1781901991–20059
6 Flag of England.svg Josh Oliver3141772009–202414
7 Flag of England.svg Joe Edwards3181702007–202315
8 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Rick Smith251501998–19991
9 Flag of England.svg Paul Donohoe +2931451987–200714
10 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg John Gravelle611341991–19932

[2]

Top Assists
No.Nat.NameGames PlayedAssistsPeriodYears
1 Flag of the United States.svg Dan Prachar1943341989–20068
2 Flag of England.svg Darren Elliot4143041996–202420
3 Flag of Scotland.svg Scott Gough2172611985–200611
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Derek Flint1782191991–20059
5 Flag of England.svg Paul Simpson1052051985–19894
6 Flag of England.svg Paul Donohoe +2931901987–200714
7 Flag of England.svg Joe Edwards3181792007–202315
8 Flag of England.svg Alan Green2091752004–201711
9 Flag of England.svg Andy Cox3231552001–202217
10 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Don Jamieson521511989–19912

[3]

Most Penalty Minutes
No.Nat.NameGames PlayedPIMsPeriodYears
1 Flag of England.svg Darren Elliot4088241996–202420
2 Flag of England.svg Andy Cox3238232001–202217
3 Flag of England.svg Dax Hedges2676662006–present16
4 Flag of England.svg Alan Green2095672004–201711
5 Flag of England.svg Trevor Joseph2635591985–200512
6 Flag of England.svg Darryl Morvan2235211985–199912
7 Flag of England.svg Josh Florey2394612009–202211
8 Flag of England.svg Grant Bailey1393801996–20116
9 Flag of England.svg Joe Edwards3183712007–202315
10 Flag of the United States.svg Dan Prachar1943531989–20068

[4]

+ Some Data Missing

Other associated teams

The Oxford City ice hockey club also have junior and women's teams as follows:-

References

  1. "Elite Prospects - All Time Regular Season Player Stats for Oxford City Stars".
  2. "Elite Prospects - All Time Regular Season Player Stats for Oxford City Stars".
  3. "Elite Prospects - All Time Regular Season Player Stats for Oxford City Stars".
  4. "Elite Prospects - All Time Regular Season Player Stats for Oxford City Stars".