Guildford Flames

Guildford Flames
2017–18 Guildford Flames season
City Guildford, Surrey
League Elite Ice Hockey League
Founded 1992
Home arena Guildford Spectrum
Colors Maroon blue
Owner(s) Sportfact Ltd.
Head coach United KingdomPaul Dixon
Captain United StatesUnited KingdomJez Lundin
Championships
Regular season titles 6 (97/98, 00/01, 05/06, 07/08, 11/12 & 12/13)
Challenge Cups 5 (06/07, 09/10, 11/12, 12/13 & 15/16)
Playoff championships 5 (97/98, 00/01, 03/04, 10/11 & 15/16)

The Guildford Flames are an ice hockey team based in Guildford, Surrey and they play their home games in Guildford Spectrum.

Founded in October 1992, the Flames have remained in the second tier league of British hockey – this was the British National League until its dissolution in 2004, and subsequently the English Premier Ice Hockey League; clinching their first season there by defeating reigning champions Milton Keynes Lightning away. The team's head coach is Paul Dixon who took over after Stan Marple retired in 2007.

On February 24th 2017, the Guildford Flames and the Elite Ice Hockey League announced that the Flames would become the 12th Elite League team, joining the league for the 2017/18 season.

Formation

Barry Dow, an American who sponsored and owned the basketball team Guildford Kings and Bill Hurley established and owned the team as management – the two were new to the sport of ice hockey, and brought in Mike Urquhart as coach and Darrin Zinger as captain.

Key players signed for the first season included Canadians Sean Murphy and Dave McGahan due to their high scoring at Solent Vikings. In addition a number of British players including goaltender, Mike Kellond; forward, Danny O'Hanlon and defender, Gary Shearer.

The Flames' inaugural season began in October 1992; they began, unseeded, in the English League Division One. With the Guildford Spectrum not yet completed, the team had to train at Slough's facility. The Flames played their home games at Alexandra Palace until their new home ice was ready and played their for the first time on 23 January 1993.

When 23 January 1993 finally arrived and the Guildford Spectrum opened, the event was a big one. The area's paid-for newspaper The Surrey Advertiser described the local council's £28 million arena as "awesome". Guildford's first game at their new home showed a convincing win with Andy Sparks scoring the first goal at the Spectrum. The team went to the top of the Conference due to that game, a position they held onto for the whole season.

Club honours

Team Logo and Jersey

The team logo is very similar to that of the Calgary Flames of the NHL. The team jerseys mirror those used by a former NHL team, Atlanta Thrashers from 1999 to 2006 (with logos replaced and advertisements added).

2017–18 roster

#PlayerPositionHeightWeightDate of BirthNationalityPrevious TeamAcquired
41Brian StewartG6'5"201 lbs19 February 1985CanadaCanadianCoventry Blaze, EIHL2017
7Kevin PhillipsD5'11"180 lbs5 January 1986United KingdomBritishBelfast Giants, EIHL2015
20Tomas NechalaD6'1"210 lbs21 March 1993SlovakiaSlovakianGothiques d'Amiens, Ligue Magnus2017
82Jeremy LundinD6'0"201 lbs9 February 1988United StatesUnited KingdomAmericanNewcastle Vipers, EIHL2009
8Carl AckeredD6'0"185 lbs9 January 1991SwedenSwedishÖstersunds IK, Hockeyettan2017
4Brennan YadlowskiD6'1"181 lbs17 June 1991CanadaCanadianUniversity of Alberta, CIS2017
44Jesse CraigeD5'10"174 lbs11 January 1989CanadaCanadianRapaces de Gap, Ligue Magnus2017
2Adam JonesD6'2"203 lbs10 January 1996EnglandEnglishTelford Tigers, EPIHL2017
27Ian WattersLW5'11"185 lbs27 December 1991CanadaCanadianReading Royals, ECHL2017
48Ben CampbellLW5'10"170 lbs16 May 1987EnglandEnglishNewcastle Vipers, EIHL2010
40Rhett RachinskiLW5'10"170 lbs24 August 1991CanadaCanadianUniversity of Alberta, CIS2017
21Mikael LidhammarLW/RW6'0"201 lbs28 October 1987SwedenSwedishDundee Stars, EIHL2017
91Andrew McKinneyRW6'0"190 lbs13 April 1991CanadaUnited KingdomCanadianManchester Phoenix, EPIHL2014
57Liam StewartC/LW6'1"181 lbs5 September 1994United KingdomNew ZealandBritishCoventry Blaze, EIHL2017
5Ben DaviesC5'8"180 lbs18 January 1991WalesWelshCoventry Blaze, EIHL2017
14Charles WellsC5'9"174 lbs4 January 1991CanadaCanadianScorpions de Mulhouse, FFHG Division 12017
79David Lillieström KarlssonC/W5'11"181 lbs12 April 1993SwedenSwedishÖstersunds IK, Hockeyettan2017
51Kruise ReddickC/RW5'8"185 lbs6 July 1990CanadaCanadianHC Vita Hästen, HockeyAllsvenskan2017
90John DunbarFW5'8"174 lbs24 August 1991CanadaCanadianNorfolk Admirals, ECHL2017

Coaching staff

Management

Retired numbers

The retired numbers at the Guildford Flames are:

Team captains

References

    Preceded by
    Bracknell Bees    		 EPIHL Champions
    2007–08     		Succeeded by
    Peterborough Phantoms
    Preceded by
    Peterborough Phantoms    		 EPIHL Premier Cup Champions
    2009–10     		Succeeded by
    Incumbent
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