Humberside Seahawks
| Humberside Seahawks | |
 | |
| Founded | 1988 |
| History | Humberside Seahawks 1988–1993 Humberside Hawks 1993–1996 Kingston Hawks 1996–1999 Hull Thunder 1999–2003 Hull Stingrays 2003–2015 |
| Arena | Hull Arena |
| Capacity | 2,000 |
| City | Hull, England |
| Team Colours | White, Black & Silver |
Humberside Seahawks later known as Humberside Hawks and then Kingston Hawks, were an English ice hockey club from Kingston upon Hull. Founded during 1988 the club played their home games at Hull Arena. The club went through several name changes due to council influence before dissolving in 1999. Since that time, the club was followed first by Hull Thunder from 1999 until 2002, the Hull Stingrays from 2003 until 2015 and the Hull Pirates/Seahawks since 2015.
History
Early years
The Humberside Seahawks were founded in 1988 under the ownership of Humberside County Council and the management of Adrian Florence. Beginning life in the old Heineken League Division 2, Canadian player-coach Dale Lambert quickly led the fledgling Seahawks to glory, winning the Division 2 title (and promotion to Division 1) in their inaugural season.[1][2] Just two seasons later, in 1990/91, the Seahawks lost just three games in winning the Division 1 title, which they followed up by winning their play-off group and gaining promotion to the Heineken League Premier Division after just three years in the league.[3]
In their first season in the top flight the Seahawks quickly made their mark. Thrilling home wins against reigning champions, Durham Wasps, and runners up, Cardiff Devils, backed up bench coach Peter Johnson's bold claim that they would be battling in the top four, not against relegation. He was true to his word, leading the team to fourth place and the final of the Autumn Cup, a 5–7 defeat to the Nottingham Panthers, in the first final staged at the brand new 10,000 seat Sheffield Arena. Few doubt the season might have been more successful had it not been for long-term injuries to star imports Jim Lynch, Scott Morrison and Ross Lambert, who was also fined and suspended for threatening revenge on Wasp Stephen Cooper.
"Think Humberside Seahawks, think 1992/93, think Wembley!" – Malcolm Richardson, Hull Daily Mail.
1992/93 was to be Seahawks last. Fittingly it was also their most successful. Despite finishing 7th in the league – a feat no doubt inspired by the pre-season turmoil that saw first Ross Lambert and then Peter Johnson assume the role of head coach – Seahawks secured a 6–5 victory over the Wasps to win the Castle Eden Cup, a traditional two-day tournament held in February and featuring four teams based in the North East of England.[4]
More impressive, however, was the tenacity that saw the team overcome the Bees and Whitley Warriors in the play-offs to create history as the first seventh place team to reach the end of season finals weekend, then held at Wembley Arena.
The semi-final against the Nottingham Panthers was a see-saw affair which saw the Seahawks leading 4–2 in the third period when a section of the surrounding Plexi-glass was broken, necessitating a 25-minute stoppage in play. Panthers returned from the dressing room to dominate the remainder of the third period and tie the score at 4–4. In overtime, Nottingham continued to dominate play, with star forward Paul Adey spurning a couple of good chances to win the match. With both sets of fans on the edge of their seats (and the overtime period causing the live snooker coverage to be delayed on BBC1) a Panthers turnover fell to Seahawks' Dan Dorion (and ex-Panther himself) who was cruising the blue line. Dorion skated towards the Panthers' zone with the puck and laid in a pinpoint pass to Kevin McNaught, who round the Panthers' goaltender and put away the sudden death winner and send the Seahawks into the final.
A 7–4 defeat to the Cardiff Devils in the final the following day did little to dampen the Hull fans' spirits. Despite the knowledge that a sponsorship with British Aerospace was to see the team renamed the Hawks for the 1993–94 season, the Seahawks' place in the history books was assured.[4]
New beginnings
In 1994 the Humberside Hawks were born but that was not the only change. Founder Dale Lambert was released as the club began what continues to be a deep fascination with the riches of Eastern Europe. Ukrainians Alexei Kuznetsov and Alexandr Koulikov joined returning heroes Frank Killen, Brian Cox, Mike Bishop and the Johnson brothers, to inspire what has since become the norm in Hull – a season that began with such high hopes but quickly evaporated into one of spectacular failure. Ice hockey in Hull has never truly captured the imagination of the fans since the time of the Seahawks. Sell out crowds and the Seahawks' trumpeter have long since become memories as years of financial hardship have repeatedly taken their toll.
96–97 began with the end of the Johnson dynasty and ended with the death of the Hawk. John Griffith replaced the popular Peter Johnson, his sons, Stephen, Anthony and Shaun, quickly showing their anger by returning home to Tyneside and the newly renamed Newcastle Wasps. Uncertainty of a future was doubled when it was announced that Humberside County Council was to be abolished – and the team's funding with it. Humberside was to be no more, but like the Seahawks before, uncertainty only served to inspire a glorious ending.
Griffith's tenure was inconsistent although his sacking immediately before the play-offs came as a surprise as his side had never slipped below 5th place. His team was also easily the best since the Wembley class of 92–93, the Brit pack of John Wolfe, naughty Norman Pinnington and the re-classified Bishop and Graham Garden, combining well with veterans Andy Steel and Paul Simpson, and imports Phil Huber, Barclay Pearce, and ex-NHLers Derek Laxdal and Bruce Bell. His replacement, ex-Bees coach Keith Milhench, utilised these resources to full effect, overcoming the loss of Bell. This time the yellow brick roaded ended in a 3–6 semi-final defeat to Sheffield Steelers. Once again though the end ensured the Hawks would never be forgotten.
Name changes
Since the days of the Hawks, Ice Hockey in Hull has undergone major surgery with contrasting results. Keith Milhench's Kingston Hawks joined the newly formed Premier League and once again dared belief amongst the loyal as successive pre-season victories over the Superleague Manchester Storm suggested the likes of Chris Eimers, Oleg Synkov and Danuse Bauba might be able to emerge from the shadows of Hull greats and restore the city to the countries elite. Instead what has happened is repeated optimism and failure, the big name signings and returns of the likes of Dale Lambert, Mike Bishop and Ron Shudra failing to compensate the constant name changes and poor league positions that until recently had become near permanent. Following the Hawks came the Hull Thunder and most recently the Hull Stingrays. None have come close to rivalling the Seahawks in terms of size and success although Mike and Sue Pack at least restored security and a place in the Elite League. The Stingrays debuted at 9th place. On 11 August 2010, they closed the club due to financial problems, but six days later were taken over by the owners of Coventry Blaze, which secured their survival. However, on 24 June 2015, the Stingrays withdrew from the Elite League and folded due to financial problems. Afterwards, the Hull Pirates were founded as their replacement.
Honours
- English League
- Champions (1): 1988–89
- British Championship
- Runners-up (1): 1993
- Autumn Cup
- Runners-up (1): 1991
References
- ↑ "Clash of the Champions", Bracknell and Ascot Times, 8 December 1988, pp. 19.
- ↑ "Hull's Karen is Flying the Flag", Hull Daily Mail, 27 January 1990, pp. 34. (en)
- ↑ "Seahawks Make the Best Possible Start", Hull Daily Mail, 7 October 1991, pp. 32.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cite error: Invalid
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