Wightlink Raiders

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not adequately cite its references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. (help, get involved!)
Any material not supported by sources may be challenged and removed at any time. This article has been tagged since February 2007.

Wightlink Raiders

League:

EPIHL

Founded:

1991

Home Ice:

Ryde Arena

Capacity:

1000

Ice Size:

165ft x 80ft

City:

Ryde, Isle Of Wight, United Kingdom

Colours:

White, Green, Black

Captain:

Steve Gannaway

Head Coach:

Steve Gannaway/Dave Williams

Ownership:

Wightlink Raiders 2007/2008

Website:

wightlinkraiders.com

The Wightlink Raiders are an ice hockey team based in Ryde on the Isle of Wight. They are sponsored by Wightlink and play in the second-tier English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL). The team are known for their small ice rink, which has in the past barred them from competing at a higher level.

1 History
2 Current season
3 Team Roster
4 Notes and references
5 External links

[edit] History

Originally called the Solent Vikings, the team changed to their current name a year later. Although they were known as the Isle of Wight Raiders between 1999 and 2003 when Wightlink withdrew sponsorship, before the company re-joined the club in 2004. They are still the only club to be formally known with their sponsor in their name. Due to the clubs location on the Isle of Wight it would struggle to survive without Wightlink's support.

In the 1990s, they dominated the English National League (now called the English Premier League), winning the league a record five straight years, including winning the league's cup competition during that time as well.

However, the 2005/2006 season was the club's worst ever performance wise. The team lost it's main sponsor - Steve Porter Transport - and with it a majority of its budget. This meant the roster suffered with players leaving and only junior players from the Isle of Wight Wildcats replacing them apart from one new import signing (Brian McLaughlin). With the English Premier League welcoming in four new teams - including Guildford who have a budget many times that of the Raiders - results soon suffered. The team lost its joint coach Andy Pickles mid-way through the campaign, and would eventually finish the season bottom of the table - the club's worst ever position.

[edit] Current season

Wightlink raiders have begun their 2006/2007 campaign with 10 new players to the roster.

Despite having several new players, the Wightlink Raiders are still struggling and are still at the bottom of the EPIHL.

Wightlink Raiders Player Coach Jason Coles stepped down as coach early in the 2006/2007 season, taking his place as the teams new bench coach was Scott Carter. However in February 2007 Scott Carter also stepped down from coaching duties. Both Coles and Carter still play for the team. But Dave Williams & Steve Gannaway both stepped up to Coaching Duties, and Dave Williams also managed to get the team into the Toronto Star