Swindon Wildcats

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Swindon Wildcats
Swindon Wildcats Logo 2016.png
City Swindon, Wiltshire
League NIHL
DivisionNational League
Founded1986
Home arena Link Centre
ColorsRed, White & Black
   
General managerAaron Nell Flag of England.svg
Head coachAaron Nell Flag of England.svg
CaptainSam Bullas Flag of England.svg
Media Cats TV
Affiliates Swindon 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.

Contents

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]

SeasonLeague GP W L OT W OTL Pts. Rank Post Season
2007–2008EPIHL40162013377thQualification
2008–2009EPIHL54212922488thQuarter-Final Loss
2009–2010EPIHL54123147398thSemi-Final Loss
2010–2011EPIHL54163134427thQuarter-Final Loss
2011–2012EPIHL54252306567thQuarter-Final Loss
2012–2013EPIHL542022111537thQuarter-Final Loss
2013–2014EPIHL54232362605thSemi-Final Loss
2014–2015EPIHL48242040565thQuarter-Final Loss
2015–2016EPIHL543019–5656thQuarter-Final Loss
2016–2017EPIHL482222–4486thQualification
2017–2018NIHL S13218644483rdConf QF Loss
2018–2019NIHL S1423171367ChampionsConf SF Loss

Club roster 2022–23 [7]

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

Netminders
No.Nat.PlayerCatchesDate of birthPlace of birthAcquiredContract
30 Flag of Scotland.svg Renny MarrL8 October 1997 (age 26) Lochgelly, Scotland2017 from Coventry Blaze 22/23
45 Flag of England.svg Dean SkinnsL3 October 1984 (age 39) Basingstoke, England2021 from MK Lightning 22/23
Defencemen
No.Nat.PlayerShootsDate of birthPlace of birthAcquiredContract
4 Flag of England.svg Oliver StoneL26 July 1998 (age 26) Swindon, England2022 from Basingstoke Bison 22/23
24 Flag of Scotland.svg Tyler Plews 'A' R13 September 1997 (age 26) Kirkcaldy, Scotland2018 from Edinburgh Capitals 23/24
28 Flag of England.svg Stevie WhitfieldR12 October 1990 (age 33) Swindon, England2007 from Swindon Cougars22/23
61 Flag of England.svg Sam GodfreyR2 February 1994 (age 30) Swindon, England2018 from Guildford Flames 22/23
77 Flag of England.svg Ben NethersellR5 January 1998 (age 26) Worthing, England2013 from Okanagan Hockey Academy UK22/23
Forwards
No.Nat.PlayerShootsDate of birthPlace of birthAcquiredContract
3 Flag of Hungary.svg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bálint PákozdiL3 May 1999 (age 25) Budapest, Hungary2021 from New Hampshire Junior Monarchs 22/23
11 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Chris Jones 'A' R4 January 1991 (age 33) Cardiff, Wales2017 from Cardiff Devils 22/23
12 Flag of England.svg Floyd TaylorL28 March 1995 (age 29) Swindon, England2011 from Swindon Leopards22/23
13 Flag of England.svg Sam Bullas 'C' R20 September 1990 (age 33) Nottingham, England2010 from Nottingham Panthers 22/23
16 Flag of England.svg Reed SayersR9 May 2001 (age 23) Swindon, England2018 from Cardiff Fire 22/23
18 Flag of England.svg Loris TaylorL1 August 1993 (age 31) Swindon, England2022 from Bristol Pitbulls 22/23
19 Flag of England.svg Aaron NellL22 October 1989 (age 34) Swindon, England2013 from Sheffield Steelers 22/23
37 Flag of England.svg Jack GoodchildR14 October 2002 (age 21) Winchester, England2021 from Okanagan Hockey Academy UK22/23
71 Flag of Latvia.svg Edgars BebrisL7 August 1991 (age 32) Aizkraukle, Latvia2021 from MK Lightning 22/23
89 Flag of Poland.svg Tomasz Malasinski*L23 August 1986 (age 37) Nowy Targ, Poland2019 from KH GKS Katowice 23/24
91 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Colby Tower*R12 February 1997 (age 27) Troy, NS, Canada2022 from Nipissing University 22/23
Flag of England.svg Russell CowleyL12 August 1983 (age 40) Edmonton, Alberta, Canada2022 from MK Lightning 22/23
Team Staff
No.Nat.NameAcquiredPositionPlace of birthJoined From
19 Flag of England.svg Aaron Nell2015General Manager & Player-Coach Swindon, England Okanagan Hockey Academy U18
N/A Flag of England.svg Lee Richardson2019Assistant coach Swindon, England Oxford City Stars, NIHL 2
N/A Flag of England.svg Pete Bradford2010Equipment Manager England
N/A Flag of England.svg Steve Bradford2014Equipment Manager England
N/A Flag of England.svg Mark Thorne2014Assistant Equipment Manager England

2022/23 Outgoing

Outgoing
No.Nat.PlayerShootsDate of birthPlace of birthLeaving For
27 Flag of England.svg Joshua ShawR21 October 2005 (age 18) Frimley, England Bristol Pitbulls
38 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Emil SvecL12 July 1994 (age 30) Milevsko, Czechia Hull Seahawks
41 Flag of England.svg Oliver EndicottL10 June 2004 (age 20) Swindon, England Iisalmen Peli-Karhut U20
44 Flag of England.svg Neil LiddiardR7 May 1978 (age 46) Swindon, England Chelmsford Chieftains
73 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Sam SmithR2 September 2001 (age 22) Cardiff, Wales Bristol Pitbulls
94 Flag of England.svg Declan BalmerL9 June 1995 (age 29) Hull, England Hull Seahawks

Retired numbers

6 Flag of England.svg Lee Brathwaite, D, 1992–1997, 1998–2009

7 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bryan Larkin, D, 1991–2001

9 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Gary Dickie, F, 1993–1997

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

14 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Daryl Lipsey, F, 1986–1995

15 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Scott Koberinski, F, 1989–1993

17 Flag of England.svg Ian Richards, F, 1987–1999

See also

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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.
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