Fylde Flyers

Fylde Flyers
City Cleveleys, Lancashire
League English National Ice Hockey League
Conference North
Division Two
Founded 2011
Home arena Sub Zero Ice Rink
Colours

tangerine, black, white

              

Website
www.FyldeFlyers.co.uk

Fylde Flyers were an English ice hockey team based in Cleveleys, Lancashire founded in 2011. They play in the English National Ice Hockey League, North Two. Home games are played at the Sub Zero Ice Rink, Cleveleys. The team lasted for only 2 seasons due to the small nature of their home rink at Cleveleys leading to the inability to attract players that would allow them to be competitive.

History

The Fylde coast had been without an ice hockey team since the demise of Blackpool Seagulls in 1993. In July 2011 it was announced that Fylde Flyers were to begin playing at the recently opened Sub Zero Ice Rink in Cleveleys and would compete in their inaugural season in the English National Ice Hockey League, North Two division.[1][2] The team included former HK Prizma Riga player Elvis Veldze who has represented Latvia at under-20 level.[3][4] The current captain is Wayne Whitby[5] Their first ever game was a 4-0 victory over Lancashire Raptors at Blackburn Arena on 10 September 2011. The first home game was a 9-4 win over Bradford Bulldogs on 10 December 2011.[6]

The Flyers finished the 2011-12 season in 6th place with back-to-back victories: 9-3 over Hull Stingrays at home on 14 April 2012, and then 7-0 over Lancashire Raptors at Blackburn Ice Arena the following day.[7]

Current squad

Goaltenders
Number Player Catches Born
32 England Stephen Gilmartin
39 England Samuel Heyes Blackrod, England
? England Lewis McBride Altrincham, England
Defencemen
Number Player Shoots Born
4 England Daniel Bracegirdle Poulton-le-Fylde, England
11 England Wayne Whitby
19 England Matthew Gibson Great Harwood, England
21 England Joseph Hall
23 England Daniel Fearon Blackpool, England
41 England Chris Wells
44 England Jack Jones Blackpool, England
69 England Chris Butcher
Forwards
Number Player Shoots Born
3 England Andrew Clark
7 England Mark Gillingham Blackpool, England
8 England Antony Melbourne Blackpool, England
33 England Danny Jones Blackpool, England
68 England Joe Charlton Blackpool, England
9 England Sam Chaddock Warrington
10 England Kurtis Hall
14 Republic of Ireland Stewart Marriott Belfast, Northern Ireland
15 England Tom Murphy
16 England Richard Hulme Blackpool, England
40 Latvia Elvis Veldze Latvia
81 Latvia Janis Grinbergs Latvia
77 England Bobby Caunce St Helens, England
? England Bradley Valentine

References

  1. "Popular sport back in Blackpool". Blackpool Gazette. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  2. "Ice hockey Flyers ready for take-off". Blackpool Gazette. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  3. "Elvis Veldze profile". eurohockey.com. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  4. "Latvian U-20 ice hockey team stuns Russia in friendly". The Baltic Course. 23 December 2009. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  5. "Fylde flying so high". Blackpool Gazette. 2012-02-13. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  6. "Ice Hockey: Fylde Flyers Soar To Victory In First Ever Home Match". bestkeptsecrets. 10 December 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  7. "North 2". English Ice Hockey Association. Retrieved 16 April 2012.

External links