Swindon Wildcats

The Swindon Wildcats are a professional ice hockey team based in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. They are member of the English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL). Since their inception, the Wildcats have played their home games at the 2800 capacity Link Centre. The club was founded in 1986, as the Swindon Wildcats. This was shortly after the building of the new Leisure Centre the Link Centre.

The Retro Years

1986/1987

We travel back to 1986/87 and look back on an interesting fixture in the Heineken League. The Swindon Wildcats travelled to a Blackpool Seagulls team with only one away win behind them going into the game and looking for an important two points to make it two. So we join the play in the second period where the Wildcats were paying the price for some indiscipline play to give the Seagulls multiple opportunities on the powerplay. Blackpool would take advantage of this and in true style of sport back then, the scores quickly racked up to sit at a 10-5 lead to the home side. However with Blackpool themselves serving two separate penalties it would be Swindon who would look to bounce back in the game. Daryl Lipsey was able to find Micky Stafford for a sixth goal before Lipsey then found two himself to bring his side right back into the fixture. After serving several penalties given against them, the Wildcats then waited for another opportunity which soon presented itself. Being 5 on 4 the ‘Cats took the puck forward and after Kevin Griffin scored through a long range effort, Lipsey then took Swindon to double figures; leaving the score at 10 a piece with only ten minutes left. The Blackpool Seagulls were soon to take the lead once more however another long range goal through Griffin soon cancelled that out and gave Swindon that momentum to carry forward for a final 5 minute stint. It was this that would decide the game and after Ritchie Howe was able to find a vital touch for his first, Swindon were left to defend a lead for the first time in the game. It was in these minutes that the Wildcats really looked like emerging with the win and as the buzzer sounded, the triumph was confirmed and a second away win was collected for the season’s efforts. Forward Daryl Lipsey was to prove why he was to become a legend amongst Swindon fans again this night, having taken 7 points from the game and help his side overcome a 5 goal deficit to a second away win of the season.

1988/1989

We turn the page right back to 1988, in a year in which the Wildcats were really starting to develop and establish themselves as a club. After securing some top players such as Daryl Lipsey, Tim Lequyer and Kenny Kipp, the Wildcats were started to pick up points through the season and find their feet in a very competitive league. So we find ourselves at a Richmond Flyers rink with the Swindon Wildcats looking for just their second away win of the season. In net was a young Steve Francis who was able to register a period shutout on away ice, with the defensive duo of Richie Howe and Toby Chamberlain keeping out of the penalty box to work together with the return of the Canadian Tim Lequyer. Although Steve Nell could not convert on a penalty situation, the ‘Cats did lead 2-1 at the end of the first through goals from Lequyer and Nell himself. The lead was then extended further in the second after a fine effort from Kenny Kipp saw him find the net for Swindon’s third. Despite intense pressure from the Wildcats, it was not until eight minutes from the end of the game that they then found the net again. Kipp was able to collect his second of the night after tapping home a passed effort from fellow team mate Peter Herkes. Although Richmond were able to reply with a late goal, all hopes of a Flyers win were dissipated when Swindon legend Daryl Lipsey then scored twice to round off the night’s proceedings. A good 6-2 victory meant Swindon took their run away from home to three wins and set a new club record that was to be beaten in the not too distant future. The game was also vital in changing the league standings; putting Richmond 6 points behind the ‘Cats and moving Swindon up and away from the bottom of the table. A good result that would set the way for Wildcats to survive the relegation battle and hold their own for years come in the top English hockey league.

1991/1992

We jump all the way back to 1991, where we pick up on a game against the Swindon Wildcats and the now deceased Medway Bears. With Telford losing at home to 7th place Basingstoke, the ‘Cats were now a point clear of the Tigers and looking rosier for an end of season top six position and a place in the playoffs. Louis Haman, often criticised for being the provider rather than the scorer silenced the doubters this night, with a superb performance and a nine point night. After striking a hat trick in the first 30 minutes of the game, he then put away a further three goals during the rest of the game to collect his 6 goals in total. Combined with three assists, Haman took his season’s tally to 119 and kept on course to beating a record of 154 points in a season set by one Kenny Kipp set back in 1987-88. Fellow Canadian Luc Beausoleil also notched a hat trick this game, to pass a milestone of 100 points for the first time in Swindon colours. The older fans tonight will also remember Brian Wilkie who once being snapped up on loan from the Cardiff Devils, had a fine debut to score his first goal and add considerable force to a second line.

Although mentioning these top players, the game itself saw the deadlock broken through local player Dave Hunt after being set up by Haman and Beausoleil. Haman then collected his first shortly after before Medway opened their account. The Wildcats would quickly stop the Bears’ momentum when Haman added two further goals on the powerplay in the space of 47 seconds. The second period saw six further goals with Wilkie, Beausoliel and Haman all getting on the scorecard to maintain a three goal advantage. Then despite Swindon having to defend a 5 on 3 situation, Haman was able to pick up a loose puck on a breakaway and slot home a fine shorthanded effort. Goals were then traded by both side before Beausoleil then completed his hat trick in the final minute to sew up a vital win.

The Wildcats were able earn themselves an eventual 11 -8 win against the Bears and took away vital points from what was an exciting and somewhat important game nearing the end of the season. This lined them up for a good playoff spot and gave them some room for error over Telford to hold that playoff position.

2007/2008

Swindon Wildcats had a slightly different look to the one today, playing not in red but rather in a blue and white strip. The year is 2007 and on the day of the 13th of January, the ‘Cats were to play a Telford Tigers side, crossing a few milestones as they went...

...JOEL PETKOFF'S hot scoring streak continued on Saturday as he led Wildcats to a convincing 7-0 win over Telford Tigers. Petkoff bagged another four goals, his second in successive home games, to improve his standing in the top three of the English Premier League scoring charts with a goal in each of the first two periods and a brace in the last.

Meanwhile, netminder Mike Brabon, making his home debut between the pipes, helped write another chapter in the Swindon senior ice hockey record books.Shutouts are something of a rarity and certainly not commonplace in English ice hockey so Brabon's effort on Saturday night was extremely noteworthy.

It was the second successive home game that Swindon had not conceded a goal after the 9-0 success over Wightlink (Isle of Wight) Raiders the previous Sunday, as young Joe White turned away 19 shots. It was the first time in their 21-season history that a Swindon side had achieved this distinction, not even the brilliant Mark Cavallin, the former Team Canada goaltender, bagged two successive shutouts in the IceLords glorious 1996/97 campaign.

Brabon turned away 34 shots on target in an easy win, although the opening two periods, particularly the first, left a lot to be desired. Telford outshot Swindon 22-15 in the first 40 minutes but trailed 4-0 as Cats defence stood firm. Petkoff scored the only goal of a drab first period off Adam Brittle's pass after 116 seconds and, as Telford fell foul of ref Rene Ross in the second, Brittle added a second at 24.17. Petkoff added another at 31.32 and Marek Hornak scored his first of the new year at 37.39.Three quick goals at the start of the last session killed off the Tigers, Petkoff netting twice in 57 secondsthe first coming at 41.41,with assists going to captain Wayne Fiddes and young Shannon Taylor - his first senior Wildcats point.

Young Jamie Hayes scored on the powerplay to complete the scoring and close out the game on what was great home victory against the Tigers side.

2008/2009

2008 was when the Swindon Wildcats ice hockey club re-launched itself, not only mixing up the season’s look, but also consequently bringing us the current club’s appearance that we see today. After spending many years playing in a blue and white strip, the club took it upon themselves to change their look and coincide with the town’s principal colours of red and white. Speaking ahead of the 2008/09 season General Manager Steve Nell said "The combining of Red and White is synonymous with the Town of Swindon and its sporting clubs, and we are keen to cement our standing as one of the towns premier teams alongside are Sporting Partners, Swindon Town Football Club and Swindon Speedway”. What was a monumental season in the Wildcats history not only saw the change in colour but also a new logo that still remains today. The now iconic Wildcat image is still standing strong on the jerseys of our current team and sits with the town’s colours of red and white as part of the new re-launch. The fans of 2008 will also remember a new team forming at the link with the inclusion of both Watt brothers forming together in a side, along with a debut season for Aaron Nell and popular imports Jonathon Sitko and Ladislav Kudrna. All led the way into creating a new look for the Wildcat team and consequently has led to the team we have today. Looking back on the 2008/09 season itself and the Wildcats did eventually make the playoffs with their new side however the run did come to an end with a loss to eventual Champions the Peterborough Phantoms in a hard fought battle. This chapter in the clubs history will go down as turning point over time, creating a start to a new solid foundation and giving a new image for the Wildcat club for the years ahead.

Logos And Uniforms

Logos

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

Jerseys

Mascot

The official (and only) mascot for the Swindon Wildcats is an anthropomorphized Wildcat by the name of Willie. He has been the mascot for the 'Cats since their return to the Wildcats in 2004, after three seasons as the Lynx. He wears a Wildcat's jersey with the number 00.

Season-by-Season Record^[1]

This is a list of the last four seasons completed by the Swindon Wildcats.

Team Roster - 2011/2012^[2]

Last Updated 5th August 2011

* Non [English Ice Hockey Association|EIHA] trained player (Import)

Interesting Facts

Average Age: 25.62 years

Average Height: 179.15 cm

Average Weight: 81.15 kg

8 players

3 players

1 players

1 players

Retired Numbers

6 Lee Brathwaite, D, 1992 - 1997, 1998 - 2009,

7 Bryan Larkin, D, 1991 - 2001,

9 Gary Dickie, F, 1993 - 1997,

14 Daryl Lipsey, F, 1986 - 1995

15 Scott Koberinski, F, 1989 - 1993,

17 Ian Richards, F, 1987 - 1999,

References

External links

• Swindon Wildcats' Official Website
• The Swindon Wildcats' Ice Hockey Academy
• Swindon Wildcats (ENL)
• Link Centre