Admin: 1 revision

2016-11-29T00:52:11Z

1 revision

New page

{{Pro hockey team
| text_color = #FFA500
| bg_color = #014421
| team_name = Ayr Scottish Eagles
| logo = Ayr Scottish Eagles Logo.gif
| logosize = 230px
| city = [[Ayr]], [[Scotland]]
| league = [[Ice Hockey Superleague]]
| founded = 1996
| operated = Ice Hockey Services Limited
| arena = [[Centrum Arena (Prestwick)|Centrum Arena]]
| colors = Green and Orange
{{color box|green}} {{color box|orange}}
| owner = Bill Barr
| coach = Paul Heavey
| captain =
| GM =
| media =
| affiliates = Barr Construction Ltd
| name1 = Ayr Scottish Eagles
| dates1 = 1996-02
| name2 = Scottish Eagles
| dates2 = 2002-03
| reg_season_titles = 1997-98
| championships = 1997-98
| autumn_cups = 1997-98
| challenge_cups = 1997-98, 2001-02
}}

The '''Ayr Scottish Eagles''' were a professional Scottish ice hockey club, from [[Ayr]], [[Scotland]]. They were formed in 1996 and played their home games at the [[Centrum Arena (Prestwick)|Centrum Arena]]. The team competed in the [[Ice Hockey Superleague]] and the club's main (title) sponsor was Barr Construction. The club folded during the 2002-03 season after a move to [[Braehead Arena]].

== History ==
The Ayr Scottish Eagles were founded in 1996 and played in the [[Ice Hockey Superleague]]. The team quickly rose to become one of the top teams in the [[United Kingdom]], due in part to achieving the grand slam in their second season (1997–98) winning all four major UK ice hockey trophies, these were the British Championship, Superleague, the Autumn Cup and Express Cup. Also in 1998 they achieved great success (for a British team), when they twice defeated [[Ak Bars Kazan]] in the [[European Hockey League]].<ref>{{Cite web | title = European Hockey League Division D | url = http://akbars.chat.ru/akb_ehle.htm | accessdate = 11 November 2011}}</ref>

===2002-03===
In August 2002, it was announced by owner Bill Barr that the team were to permanently relocate to the [[Braehead Arena]] in Renfrewshire, outside [[Glasgow]].<ref name="Hughes">{{Cite news | title = Eagles fly to Glasgow | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/2166619.stm | accessdate = 11 November 2011 | work=BBC News | first=Stuart | last=Hughes | date=1 August 2002}}</ref>

Bob Zeller, [[Belfast Giants]] founder was announced as managing director and the team changed their name to ''Scottish Eagles'', dropping ''Ayr'' from their name.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Scottish Eagles BISL | url = http://www.hockeydb.com/stte/scottish-eagles-7950.html | accessdate = 11 November 2011}}</ref> Bob Zeller remained a shareholder in the Belfast Giants.<ref name="Hughes"/> The reason given for the relocation was due to the Braehead Arena having a larger seating capacity and a larger catchment area, expected to increase the fanbase of the club.<ref name="Hughes"/>

The club (with the new name) folded on 14 November 2002, after just six home games, in what was to become the final season of the British Ice Hockey Superleague.<ref>{{Cite news | title = Eagles forced out | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/2477323.stm | accessdate = 11 November 2011 | work=BBC News | date=14 November 2002}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | title = Fear over ice hockey league | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/2546199.stm | accessdate = 11 November 2011 | work=BBC News | first=Phil | last=Harlow | date=5 December 2002}}</ref>

===Post demise===
Friends of Eagles Hockey, organised an exhibition match at the Centrum Arena on 4 February 2003 as a fund raising event to raise funds for players and officials who had been left in financial difficulty due to the bankruptcy of Ice hockey Services Ltd, the Eagles operating company.<ref>Gordon, David. ''Raiders of the Lost Rink Ice Hockey In Ayr''. Tempus Publishing Ltd, 2004, p. 251.</ref>

Friends of Eagles Hockey, campaigned for the return of ice hockey to the Centrum Arena after the Eagles's demise. Ice rink operators Planet Ice showed an interest in running the Centrum as an ice arena; however the arena was demolished in 2009 and the site is now home to a new supermarket.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Press Release from the Friends of Eagles Hockey | url = http://www.thepuckstopshere.co.uk/news.php?r=1&t=2&id=300 | accessdate = 18 October 2011}}</ref>

===Braehead Clan===
The [[Braehead Clan]] ice hockey club are now based at the Braehead Arena and play in the [[Elite Ice Hockey League]]. In their first season, there was an effort to recruit former Ayr Scottish Eagles fans to the Clan support. Ayr Scottish Eagles fans who held a season ticket at Braehead in the 2002-03 season that was cut short due to the team folding were offered a season ticket in Braehead's first season.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Bonus for former Ayr Eagles fans | url = http://www.braeheadclan.com/bonus-for-former-ayr-eagles-fans-p143451 | accessdate = 12 November 2011}}</ref>

Although the Scottish Eagles and Braehead Clan were both based at the Braehead Arena, this is where the link between the two Ice Hockey Clubs ends. The Scottish Eagles were operated by Ice Hockey Services Ltd <ref name="Shop Kilmarnock">{{cite web|title=ICE HOCKEY SERVICES LTD|url=http://www.shop-kilmarnock.co.uk/company/Ice+Hockey+Services+Limited/277039|work=ICE HOCKEY SERVICES LTD|publisher=Shop Kilmarnock|accessdate=21 January 2014}}</ref> which underwent a Voluntary Members Liquidation and was wound up on 23 June 2005.<ref name="Companies House 166914">{{cite web|title=ICE HOCKEY SERVICES LIMITED|url=http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/|work=Company No. SC166914|publisher=Companies House|accessdate=21 January 2014}}</ref> Braehead Clan is operated by Clan Entertainment Ltd <ref name="Elite Ice Hockey League">{{cite web|title=BRAEHEAD CLAN|url=http://www.eliteleague.co.uk/braehead-clan-s12230|work=Elite Ice Hockey League|publisher=Elite Ice Hockey League|accessdate=21 January 2014}}</ref> that was Incorporated on 3 February 2010.<ref name="Companies House 07144725">{{cite web|title=Company No. 07144725|url=http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/|work=CLAN ENTERTAINMENT LTD|publisher=Companies House|accessdate=21 January 2014}}</ref>

==Home arenas==
The original home of the Eagles was the [[Centrum Arena (Prestwick)|Centrum Arena]]. It was officially opened on 25 August 1996 and was run by Barr Leisure Limited, a subsidiary of Barr Holdings Ltd. The Eagles played their first home game there on 1 September 1996.<ref>Gordon, David. ''Raiders of the Lost Rink Ice Hockey In Ayr''. Tempus Publishing Ltd, 2004, p. 206.</ref>

After an announcement by Bill Barr, the Eagles moved to the [[Braehead Arena]] for the 2002-03 season, where they played just six home games before folding.<ref name="Hughes"/> The Centrum was still used as a training venue throughout this period.

== Season-by-season record ==

{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable" width=97% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center"
! colspan=11 style="background:#014421; color:#FFA500;" | Ayr Scottish Eagles season-by-season record.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Standings for the Ayr Scottish Eagles of the BISL | url = http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/display_standings.php?tmi=4726 | accessdate = 11 December 2011}}</ref>
|-
| style="background: #f2f2f2; border: 0; text-align: "center" |
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=100%
|- style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#dddddd;" |
| Season || League || GP || W || L || T || OTL || PTS || GF || GA|| League Position
|- align="center"
| [[1996–97 ISL season|1996–97]] ||align="center"| [[Ice Hockey Superleague]] || 42 || 21 || 15 || 6 || 0 || 48 || 171 || 157 || {{bronze3}}
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee" align="center"
| [[1997–98 ISL season|1997–98]] ||align="center"| Ice Hockey Superleague || 45 || 34 || 6 || 2 || 3 || 73 || 200 || 113 || {{gold1}}
|- align="center"
| [[1998–99 ISL season|1998–99]] ||align="center"| Ice Hockey Superleague || 42 || 18 || 18 || 3 || 3 || 42 || 136 || 140 || 5
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee" align="center"
| [[1999–2000 ISL season|1999–00]] ||align="center"| Ice Hockey Superleague || 42 || 17 || 16 || 5 || 4 || 43 || 144 || 147 || 5
|- align="center"
| [[2000–01 ISL season|2000–01]] ||align="center"| Ice Hockey Superleague || 48 || 25 || 22 || 0 || 1 || 72 || 161 || 158|| 5
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee" align="center"
| [[2001–02 ISL season|2001–02]] ||align="center"| Ice Hockey Superleague || 48 || 20 || 19 || 9 || 0 || 49 || 136 || 130 || {{silver2}}
|- align="center"
| [[2002–03 ISL season|2002–03]] ||align="center"| Ice Hockey Superleague || 8 || 2 || 6 || 0 || 0 || 4† || 20 || 34 || --
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee" align="center"
|}
'''Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime Losses; PTS = Points; GF = Goals For; GA = Goals Against;''' 
'''† = Club folded six games into the season'''
|}
{{col-end}}
{{Clear}}
== Honours and awards ==

'''[[British Championship]]''' 
{{gold1}} 1997-98 Winners

'''[[Ice Hockey Superleague|Superleague Winners]]''' 
{{gold1}} 1997-98 Winners 
{{silver2}} 2001-02 Runners-up

'''[[Autumn Cup|Benson and Hedges Cup]]''' 
{{silver2}} 1996-97 Runners-up 
{{gold1}} 1997-98 Winners 
{{silver2}} 1998-99 Runners-up

'''[[Challenge Cup (UK ice hockey)|Express Cup]]''' 
{{gold1}} 1997-98 Winners 
{{silver2}} 2000-01 Runners-up 
{{gold1}} 2001-02 Winners

== Notes ==
{{reflist}}

{{S-start}}
{{Succession box| before = [[Cardiff Devils]] | title = [[Ice Hockey Superleague|Superleague]] Champions | years = 1997-98 | after = [[Manchester Storm]]}}
{{Succession box| before = [[Sheffield Steelers]] | title = [[British Championship|Playoff Champions]] | years = 1997-98 | after = [[Cardiff Devils]]}}
{{Succession box| before = [[Nottingham Panthers]] | title = [[Autumn Cup]] Winners | years = 1997-98 | after = [[Nottingham Panthers]]}}
{{Succession box| before = Inaugural Champions | title = [[Challenge Cup (UK ice hockey)|Challenge Cup]] Winners | years = 1997-98 | after = [[Sheffield Steelers]]}}
{{Succession box| before = [[Sheffield Steelers]] | title = [[Challenge Cup (UK ice hockey)|Challenge Cup]] Winners | years =

2001-02 | after = [[Sheffield Steelers]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{British ice hockey}}

{{Wikipedia}}
[[Category:Ice hockey teams in Scotland]]

Ayr Scottish Eagles - Revision history

Admin: 1 revision