Telford Tigers: Difference between revisions

From International Hockey Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m (1 revision)
 
No edit summary
 
Line 5: Line 5:
| logo        = Telford_Tigers_Logo.png
| logo        = Telford_Tigers_Logo.png
| city        = [[Telford]], Shropshire, England
| city        = [[Telford]], Shropshire, England
| league      = [[EPIHL]]
| league      = [[National Ice Hockey League]]
| conference  =
| conference  =
| division    =
| division    =
| founded    = 2001 (Earlier Team 1985–99)
| founded    = 2001 (Earlier Team 1985–99)
| operated    =
| operated    =
| arena      = [[Telford Ice Rink]]<br /><small>Capacity: 750 (seated)<br />Ice size: 184&nbsp;ft x 85&nbsp;ft<br /></small>
| arena      = [[Telford Ice Rink]]
| colours    = White, Orange, and Black
| colours    =  White, Orange & Black <br />
{{Color box|White}} {{Color box|#FF6633}} {{Color box|Black}}
| owner      = Red Hockey Ltd
| owner      = Red Hockey Ltd
| GM          =
| GM          =
| captain    =
| affiliates  = [[Telford Tigers 2]], [[National Ice Hockey League|NIHL 2]]
| affiliates  =
| name1      =Telford Tigers
| parentclub  =
| dates1      =1985-1999
| farmclub    =
| name3      =Telford Wildfoxes
| website    =
| dates3      =2001-2005
<!-- Optional current franchise history -->
| name4     =Telford Tigers
| name1      =
| dates4      =2005-present
| dates1      =
| name2       =Telford Timberwolves
| name2      =
| dates2     =1999-2000
| dates2      =
| name3      =
| dates3      =
| name4       =
| dates4      =
| name5       =
| dates5     =
}}
}}
The '''Telford Tigers''' are a [[National Ice Hockey League]] (NIHL) [[ice hockey]] team that formed in 1985. After initially closing in 1999, a new team, under the name 'Telford Wild Foxes', was formed in 2001; and re-adopted the original name in 2005.


The '''Telford Tigers''' are an [[English Premier Ice Hockey League|English Premier League]] (EPL or EPIHL) ice hockey team that formed in 2001 under the name Telford Wild Foxes. A previous Telford Tigers team had existed between 1985 and 1999.
The team is currently owned by Givarna Ltd.<ref>{{cite news|access-date=17 November 2016|date=17 November 2016|title=Former Tigers owner Wayne Scholes: Positive talks give Telford new belief|work=Shropshire Star|location=Telford|url=http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/2016/11/17/former-tigers-owner-wayne-scholes-positive-talks-give-telford-new-belief/}}</ref> In November 2016, faced with mounting debts, the team began the process of entering creditors voluntary liquidation.<ref>{{cite news|access-date=16 November 2016|work=Shropshire Star|location=Telford|date=15 November 2016|title=Telford Tigers faces liquidation over £500,000 debts but rescue deal being lined up|url=http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/2016/11/15/telford-tigers-faces-liquidation-over-500000-debts-but-rescue-deal-being-lined-up/}}</ref> A creditors' meeting, which would have decided the fate of the club, was scheduled for 30 November 2016, but on 25 November a consortium of local businesses intervened and acquired the club's assets, securing its future for the remainder of the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/2016/11/16/telford-tigers-crisis-two-weeks-left-to-save-towns-ice-hockey-team/|work=Shropshire Star|location=Telford|date=16 November 2016|access-date=16 November 2016|title=Telford Tigers crisis: Two weeks left to save town's ice hockey team}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=25 November 2016|title=Telford Tigers saved by consortium of local businesses|work=Shropshire Star|location=Telford|url=http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/other-sport/telford-tigers-other-sport/2016/11/25/telford-tigers-saved-by-consortium-of-local-businesses/|access-date=25 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Telford Tigers ice hockey club bought by consortium|date=26 November 2016|access-date=29 November 2016|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-38117383}}</ref>


==History==
===1985–1988: Foundation and early years===
After the Telford Ice Rink opened in October 1984, several challenge games involving [[Altrincham Aces]], [[Blackpool Seagulls]], [[Nottingham Panthers]] and [[Solihull Barons]] were staged to see if a Telford team would be sustainable.
Telford Tigers IH Club Ltd. was formed for season 1985–86 by Central TV commentator Gary Newbon with entertainer David Ismay as chairman and Canadian defenceman Chuck Taylor as player coach. Newbon and Taylor had previously been involved with the Barons, as had squad members Mark Budz, Gordie Patterson, Alan Gould, Paul O'Higgin and Dave Welch. Goalie John Wolfe and Andy Steel signed for the new club from Grimsby.
The club had been granted permission by the BIHA to join the First Division of the British Hockey League, and finished third in their inaugural season, with near sell out crowds seeing Budz score 134 points and Taylor make the All Star Team.
In 1986–87, Tigers new import Dean Vogelgesang scored 196 points, and Budz made the All Star team with 200 points. Tigers did not lose a single home game, but finished fourth in the league due to a nine-point penalty inflicted on them for icing an ineligible player.
For 87–88, the First Division was split into north–south conferences.  Tigers won the Southern conference by two points, and beat Northern Conference champions [[Cleveland Bombers]] 21–14 on aggregate to take the title.  They played [[Peterborough Pirates]], who had finished bottom of the Premier Division, in a Promotion Playoff. After winning the first leg 14–12, they crumbled in the second.  They led 6–1 after two periods but Pirates managed to score eight unanswered goals in the third to stay up by a single goal aggregate scoreline.  Imports Kevin Conway and Tim Salmon were voted onto the All Star Team, and Chuck Taylor was named Coach of the Year.
===1989–1990: Financial problems===
The next season was not so good for Telford. Gerald Waslen made the All Star Team, but the team struggled both on and off the ice. The team was put into liquidation in the summer.
===1991–1994: New ownership===
A new company, Telford Tigers Ice Hockey Club (1990) reformed the team for next season. A year later, former NHLer Jere Gillis took over the coaching role from Taylor (who carried on as a managing director). By now, the junior programme was starting to pay dividends, with local youngsters Geoff Lane, Darren Broome, Norman Pinnington and Mark Hazlehurst all pulling on Tigers jerseys in the mid 1980s and early 1990s.
For the 1993–94 season Kevin Murphy was appointed head coach and introduced a three line system of forwards. It proved successful as Tigers beat [[Blackburn Hawks]] in a bad tempered semi-final and [[Medway Bears]] 11–7 on aggregate in the final of the Autumn Trophy and finished runners up in the league. However, later that month the club was issued with an order to fold owing £30,000 in unpaid VAT. A new club was formed, Taylor moved to Nottingham and the team again finished second in the league in 1994–95. John Wolfe was given All Star honours and the Telford-born Plant brothers, Russ and Ricky, were featuring on a regular basis.
===1995–1999: Financial problems===
Claude Dumas, from Quebec, was signed from Cardiff in 1995, and was a catalyst for the Tigers in the late 1990s. He was an all star in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 and was named player of the year in 1997–98. During this period he scored 443 goals and notched up 316 assists.
In December 1996, Tigers again ran into money troubles, but were saved by Ken Crickmore, who listed them on the OFEX stock market.
In 1997 John Lawless, who had achieved fame with Cardiff Devils and Manchester Storm, was announced as head coach. Under "JL", Telford finished as runners up in the British National League and lifted the ''Upper Deck'' Christmas Cup in 1997 with a 10–7 aggregate victory over [[Guildford Flames]]. They reached the Benson and Hedges Plate Final in 1998, but were beaten by Guildford 4–3 at Sheffield.
It wasn't to last, as Director Roy Williams resigned before Telford Tigers Ice Hockey plc went bankrupt, eventually being wound up in the High Court in Spring 1999 owing money to both Lawless and his players.
===1999–2000: Timberwolves===
In Summer 1999, Telford Timberwolves were launched, but folded after losing 6 B&H Cup games, and playing in front of gates of only 500, half the size of Tigers' in their heyday.
===2001–2004: Wildfoxes===
In 2001, the Wildfoxes competed in the amateur English National League. In 2003 they joined the EPL. Wildfoxes nurtured several promising youngsters including Jared Owen, Daniel Mackriel, Adam Brittle and Tom Carlon. Dumas returned as player coach in 2003.
===2005–2008: Tigers===
The club returned to the name Telford Tigers for the 2005–06 season. In 2005–06, Tigers finished tenth out of thirteen teams in the EPL and had a good cup run, missing out on the semi-finals by 2 points in the preliminary group. Dumas was third in league scoring, and Slovakian Karol Jets seventh. Netminder Barry Hollyhead and British forwards Tom Carlo], Gareth Owen and Joe Miller all stood out.
2006–07 was a disappointment compared to the previous season. Hollyhead joined playoff champions [[Milton Keynes Lightning]], Jets and his fellow Slovakian Tomas Janak moved to Solihull Barons, Miller joined Elite League team [[Manchester Phoenix]] and Carlon and Owen moved to [[Coventry Blaze]]. [[Marc Lovell]] joined from the [[Edinburgh Capitals]], Juraj Huska and goalie Peter Betinec moved from Slovakian teams (although the latter was released midway through the season to be replaced by Milan Kostolny), and Dumas' former Coventry teammate Matthias Soderstrom (Swedish) joined from the Italian Serie B. Daniel Mackriel moved to [[Slough Jets]] midway through the season. Telford finished second bottom in the league, behind local rivals Solihull. To make matters worse, Solihull dropped down to the ENL at the end of the season, thus eliminating the West Midlands Derby from the fixture list.
For 2007–08 Miller, Owen, Mackriel, and Jets returned; D-men Tom Parker and Jake Armstrong joined from Solihull, and Dean Tonks signed from [[Peterborough Phantoms]]. However, Miller was unsettled and joined Peterborough in December. After a 9–6 loss away at [[Swindon Wildcats]] in January it now looks unlikely that Tigers will qualify for the end of season playoffs.
During the pre season it had been announced that the Telford Tigers had secured a new title sponsor, in the shape of Cannock-based company Eurologix.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shropshirestar.com/latest/2008/06/06/tigers-deal-signals-bright-future/ |title=Tigers deal signals bright future « Shropshire Star |website=www.shropshirestar.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526034528/http://www.shropshirestar.com/latest/2008/06/06/tigers-deal-signals-bright-future/ |archive-date=2011-05-26}}</ref> However, just a few weeks later, it was announced that Eurologix had pulled out of the deal, leaving the Tigers with a large hole in its finances.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shropshirestar.com/latest/2008/08/21/massive-funding-shock-for-the-tigers/ |title=Massive funding shock for the Tigers « Shropshire Star |website=www.shropshirestar.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320101114/http://www.shropshirestar.com/latest/2008/08/21/massive-funding-shock-for-the-tigers/ |archive-date=2012-03-20}}</ref> This was made all the more difficult as the club has begun to recruit players, and negotiate contracts based on the Eurologix money being part of the cash flow.
The GM Telford Tigers faced the MK Lightning for a back to back challenge before a trip to Coventry to face Elite champions Coventry Blaze in a fund raising game arranged following the sponsorship troubles. The first game with MK was away, and resulted in an 8–2 defeat. The return game the following night saw marked improvements from the Tigers as the new team started to gel. MK won the game by 2 goals to 0. The fund raiser at Coventry again saw the Tigers improve, and eventually lost 3–2.
===2009–2010: Financial problems===
Telford Tigers did not ice during this season, mainly due to financial difficulties and missing a deadline for registration into the English Premier Ice Hockey League.
===2010–2012: The Fans' Trust===
In February 2010, it was announced that a 'Fans Trust' had been formed,<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.telfordtigers.net/|title=Home|website=Telford Tigers}}</ref> and that it was intending to ice a Telford Tigers team in the EPL once more. In April 2010, it was confirmed that the teams application to the EPL had been accepted.<ref name="auto1"/>
===2013–2015: New ownership===
In October 2013, the BBC reported that the CEO of Red Touch Media, Wayne Scholes had dissolved the 'Fans Trust' and taken over the team under a new company called Red Hockey Ltd.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/ice-hockey/24550824|title=Ice hockey: New owner plans to drive Telford Tigers forward|work=BBC Sport|date=16 October 2013}}</ref> Scholes was the stick-boy for the team during the mid-1980s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/other-sport/2013/10/14/wayne-scholes-heads-telford-tigers-takeover/|title=Wayne Scholes heads Telford Tigers takeover|website=www.shropshirestar.com}}</ref>
The Tigers won the EPL title on March 1, 2015 during their game against the [[Peterborough Phantoms]].
===2016–2017: More Financial problems===
Despite ongoing financial problems, the Tigers would have success on the ice. With captain [http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=12304 Jason Silverthorn] scoring<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.eliteprospects.com/team.php?status=stats&team=1707&year0=2017|title=Telford Tigers|website=Elite Prospects|access-date=2017-12-19}}</ref> 41 goals and talisman [http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=18627 Doug Clarkson] scoring 50 goals<ref name="auto"/> for Telford they would go on a winning streak for 15 games to win the [[English Premier Ice Hockey League]] and make it to the playoff finals losing narrowly to Milton Keynes Lightning.
===2017–2019: Rebuilding===
During the offseason the league the Tigers had just won (the [[English Premier Ice Hockey League|EPL]]) folded. This meant the Tigers had to start from scratch. The core leaders of the team moved to the Tigers [https://eiha.co.uk/nihl/ NIHL] North 1 side. The Tigers managed to hold on to coach and general manager [https://www.eliteprospects.com/staff/1313/tom-watkins Tom Watkins] as well as the captain [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/12304/jason-silverthorn no22 Jason Silverthorn].
After the financial problems of the season before this meant that Tigers started from a weakened financial position which leads to a smaller Roster and the Coach icing for part of the season, he played 15 games scoring 5 goals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/20904/tom-watkins|title=Tom Watkins at eliteprospects.com|website=www.eliteprospects.com|accessdate=6 December 2023}}</ref>
Telford Tigers would go on to come 3rd in the NIHL North 1 conference, a semi-final loss in the NIHL National Cup and lost all games in the NIHL Autumn Cup. The Tigers' best result was to get to the finals of the playoffs in the [[Coventry Skydome]] finally losing to [[Basingstoke Bison]] 4–0 in the final.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/17725/telford-tigers/2017-2018|title=Telford Tigers at eliteprospects.com|website=www.eliteprospects.com|accessdate=6 December 2023}}</ref>
The 2018/19 season saw another small roster but with the notable addition of fan-favorite [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/18627/doug-clarkson Doug Clarkson] who would go on to score 52 goals in only 27 games before returning to Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/18627/doug-clarkson|title=Doug Clarkson at eliteprospects.com|website=www.eliteprospects.com|accessdate=6 December 2023}}</ref> Unfortunately, the Tigers would come up short this season losing out to [https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/6428/sheffield-steeldogs Sheffield Steeldogs] in the final of the North Cup as well as [https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/6428/sheffield-steeldogs Sheffield] knocking out the Tigers in the semifinal of the postseason. The Tigers would come 3rd in the league but failed to record a win in the Autumn Cup.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/nihl-1/2018-2019|title=Elite Prospects - National Ice Hockey League Division 1 (NIHL 1)|website=www.eliteprospects.com|accessdate=6 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/nihl-north-cup/standings/2018-2019|title=Elite Prospects - Team Standings NIHL North Cup|website=www.eliteprospects.com|accessdate=6 December 2023}}</ref>
===2019–2020: Coronavirus Season===
After two seasons of building from the ground up Telford would have one of the best seasons in their history. In the offseason, a new division of the NIHL was created above NIHL 1 North and 1 South called the National League. This new league was similar to the old [[English Premier Ice Hockey League|EPL]] having many of the same teams in it.
Telford proceeded to dominate the league despite numerous injuries they went on to win the league with 2 rounds to spare. The coronavirus outbreak had started to grip the UK with the elite league cancelling all games that weekend but Telford needed one more win to see them clinch the title and credit to the [https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/17163/raiders-ihc Raiders IHC] for making the trip to Telford to play the game despite tension and opposition around the league.
On top of this, Telford went on to win the NIHL Cup at home against [https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/1111/peterborough-phantoms Peterborough Phantoms], as well as surviving a semifinal scare against [https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/1372/swindon-wildcats Swindon Wildcats].
Telford were led by the league's top netminder [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/154513/bradley-day Brad Day] as well as a man of the match performance by [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/298782/brandon-whistle Brandon Whistle] who scored a hattrick in the second leg of the final, winning 14–7 on aggregate over the two legs.
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/17725/telford-tigers|title=Telford Tigers at eliteprospects.com|website=www.eliteprospects.com|accessdate=6 December 2023}}</ref>
Telford would have gone into the playoffs as favorites after their two titles, but because of the virus outbreak the league was ended early and it was decided the final 4 event would be moved to preseason of the 2020–2021 season.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://eiha.co.uk/nihl-championship-series-update-for-supporters/ | title=NIHL: Championship Series update for supporters – English Ice Hockey Association }}</ref>
=== 2020-2021: The Online Season ===
Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic the Tigers were unable to ice. They announced signings of several players over 2020, Tom Watkins as Head Coach and General Manager,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tigers|first=Telford|date=2020-05-30|title=Watkins is Back: Head Coach Returns!|url=https://www.telfordtigers.net/watkins-is-back-head-coach-returns/|access-date=2021-03-03|website=Telford Tigers|language=en-GB}}</ref> Barry Hollyhead and Karl Creamer as Assistant Coaches,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tigers|first=Telford|date=2020-06-02|title=Assistant Coaches Return to Tigers|url=https://www.telfordtigers.net/assistant-coaches-return-to-tigers/|access-date=2021-03-03|website=Telford Tigers|language=en-GB}}</ref> Forward Scott McKenzie as a player & second team coach,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tigers|first=Telford|date=2020-05-31|title=McKenzie Returns with Dual Role! – Telford Tigers News|url=https://www.telfordtigers.net/mckenzie-returns-with-dual-role/|access-date=2021-03-03|website=Telford Tigers|language=en-GB}}</ref> Forward Brandon Whistle,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tigers|first=Telford|date=2020-07-29|title=Telford Tigers – News - Tigers Whistle Up Star Signing!|url=https://www.telfordtigers.net/tigers-whistle-up-star-signing/|access-date=2021-03-03|website=Telford Tigers|language=en-GB}}</ref> Forward & Captain Jason Silverthorn,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Tigers|first=Telford|date=2020-08-12|title=Telford Tigers – Signing News – Tigers' Captain Returns!|url=https://www.telfordtigers.net/telford-tigers-club-captain/|access-date=2021-03-03|website=Telford Tigers|language=en-GB}}</ref> Defenceman Corey Goodison,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tigers|first=Telford|date=2020-08-26|title=Goodison Returns for Sixth Year|url=https://www.telfordtigers.net/goodison-returns-for-sixth-year/|access-date=2021-03-03|website=Telford Tigers|language=en-GB}}</ref> Forward Jack Watkins,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tigers|first=Telford|date=2020-09-09|title=Jack is Back: Watkins Returns!|url=https://www.telfordtigers.net/jack-is-back-watkins-returns/|access-date=2021-03-03|website=Telford Tigers|language=en-GB}}</ref> Net minder Brad Day<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tigers|first=Telford|date=2020-09-12|title=Brad makes it a great Day for Tigers!|url=https://www.telfordtigers.net/brad-makes-it-a-great-day-for-tigers/|access-date=2021-03-03|website=Telford Tigers|language=en-GB}}</ref> and finally Defenceman Andy McKinney.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tigers|first=Telford|date=2020-09-16|title=McKinney Makes Tigers Return!|url=https://www.telfordtigers.net/mckinney-makes-tigers-return/|access-date=2021-03-03|website=Telford Tigers|language=en-GB}}</ref>  Although the signings were announced no hockey materialised but the Tigers were approved as an EIHA Elite category under the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) guidelines. This would means they would be government approved to play hockey if the opportunity arose.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tigers|first=Telford|date=2020-11-12|title=Telford Tigers Elite Status Confirmed|url=https://www.telfordtigers.net/telford-tigers-elite-status-confirmed/|access-date=2021-03-03|website=Telford Tigers|language=en-GB}}</ref>
On 2 February 2021 the Tigers announced they would be partaking in an online streaming series.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tigers|first=Telford|date=2021-02-02|title=Ice Hockey Returns: Green light for games behind closed doors!|url=https://www.telfordtigers.net/ice-hockey-returns-green-light-for-games-behind-closed-doors/|access-date=2021-03-03|website=Telford Tigers|language=en-GB}}</ref>  It was called the NIHL Spring Cup and would be made of 5 NIHL National Division teams (Telford Tigers, [[Sheffield Steeldogs]], [[Bees IHC]], [[Swindon Wildcats]] & [[Raiders IHC]]) and would be all streamed online with no fans in attendance. The Telford Tigers proceed to announce an expanded roster with a few [[Elite Ice Hockey League|Elite League]] (EIHL) players who were not playing due to that league's suspension, most notably defenceman David Clements and forwards Ross Venus and Robert Lachowicz.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tigers|first=Telford|date=2021-02-20|title=Tigers Make Late Spring Cup Additions|url=https://www.telfordtigers.net/tigers-make-late-spring-cup-additions/|access-date=2021-03-03|website=Telford Tigers|language=en-GB}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.tigershockeyuk.com Telford Tigers official Web site]
* [http://www.tigershockeyuk.com Telford Tigers official Web site]

Latest revision as of 21:23, 4 August 2024

Telford Tigers
Telford Tigers Logo.png
City: Telford, Shropshire, England
League: National Ice Hockey League
Founded: 2001 (Earlier Team 1985–99)
Home Arena: Telford Ice Rink
Colors: White, Orange & Black

              

Affiliate(s): Telford Tigers 2, NIHL 2
Franchise history
1985-1999: Telford Tigers
1999-2000: Telford Timberwolves
2001-2005: Telford Wildfoxes
2005-present: Telford Tigers

The Telford Tigers are a National Ice Hockey League (NIHL) ice hockey team that formed in 1985. After initially closing in 1999, a new team, under the name 'Telford Wild Foxes', was formed in 2001; and re-adopted the original name in 2005.

The team is currently owned by Givarna Ltd.[1] In November 2016, faced with mounting debts, the team began the process of entering creditors voluntary liquidation.[2] A creditors' meeting, which would have decided the fate of the club, was scheduled for 30 November 2016, but on 25 November a consortium of local businesses intervened and acquired the club's assets, securing its future for the remainder of the season.[3][4][5]

History

1985–1988: Foundation and early years

After the Telford Ice Rink opened in October 1984, several challenge games involving Altrincham Aces, Blackpool Seagulls, Nottingham Panthers and Solihull Barons were staged to see if a Telford team would be sustainable.

Telford Tigers IH Club Ltd. was formed for season 1985–86 by Central TV commentator Gary Newbon with entertainer David Ismay as chairman and Canadian defenceman Chuck Taylor as player coach. Newbon and Taylor had previously been involved with the Barons, as had squad members Mark Budz, Gordie Patterson, Alan Gould, Paul O'Higgin and Dave Welch. Goalie John Wolfe and Andy Steel signed for the new club from Grimsby.

The club had been granted permission by the BIHA to join the First Division of the British Hockey League, and finished third in their inaugural season, with near sell out crowds seeing Budz score 134 points and Taylor make the All Star Team.

In 1986–87, Tigers new import Dean Vogelgesang scored 196 points, and Budz made the All Star team with 200 points. Tigers did not lose a single home game, but finished fourth in the league due to a nine-point penalty inflicted on them for icing an ineligible player.

For 87–88, the First Division was split into north–south conferences. Tigers won the Southern conference by two points, and beat Northern Conference champions Cleveland Bombers 21–14 on aggregate to take the title. They played Peterborough Pirates, who had finished bottom of the Premier Division, in a Promotion Playoff. After winning the first leg 14–12, they crumbled in the second. They led 6–1 after two periods but Pirates managed to score eight unanswered goals in the third to stay up by a single goal aggregate scoreline. Imports Kevin Conway and Tim Salmon were voted onto the All Star Team, and Chuck Taylor was named Coach of the Year.

1989–1990: Financial problems

The next season was not so good for Telford. Gerald Waslen made the All Star Team, but the team struggled both on and off the ice. The team was put into liquidation in the summer.

1991–1994: New ownership

A new company, Telford Tigers Ice Hockey Club (1990) reformed the team for next season. A year later, former NHLer Jere Gillis took over the coaching role from Taylor (who carried on as a managing director). By now, the junior programme was starting to pay dividends, with local youngsters Geoff Lane, Darren Broome, Norman Pinnington and Mark Hazlehurst all pulling on Tigers jerseys in the mid 1980s and early 1990s.

For the 1993–94 season Kevin Murphy was appointed head coach and introduced a three line system of forwards. It proved successful as Tigers beat Blackburn Hawks in a bad tempered semi-final and Medway Bears 11–7 on aggregate in the final of the Autumn Trophy and finished runners up in the league. However, later that month the club was issued with an order to fold owing £30,000 in unpaid VAT. A new club was formed, Taylor moved to Nottingham and the team again finished second in the league in 1994–95. John Wolfe was given All Star honours and the Telford-born Plant brothers, Russ and Ricky, were featuring on a regular basis.

1995–1999: Financial problems

Claude Dumas, from Quebec, was signed from Cardiff in 1995, and was a catalyst for the Tigers in the late 1990s. He was an all star in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 and was named player of the year in 1997–98. During this period he scored 443 goals and notched up 316 assists.

In December 1996, Tigers again ran into money troubles, but were saved by Ken Crickmore, who listed them on the OFEX stock market.

In 1997 John Lawless, who had achieved fame with Cardiff Devils and Manchester Storm, was announced as head coach. Under "JL", Telford finished as runners up in the British National League and lifted the Upper Deck Christmas Cup in 1997 with a 10–7 aggregate victory over Guildford Flames. They reached the Benson and Hedges Plate Final in 1998, but were beaten by Guildford 4–3 at Sheffield.

It wasn't to last, as Director Roy Williams resigned before Telford Tigers Ice Hockey plc went bankrupt, eventually being wound up in the High Court in Spring 1999 owing money to both Lawless and his players.

1999–2000: Timberwolves

In Summer 1999, Telford Timberwolves were launched, but folded after losing 6 B&H Cup games, and playing in front of gates of only 500, half the size of Tigers' in their heyday.

2001–2004: Wildfoxes

In 2001, the Wildfoxes competed in the amateur English National League. In 2003 they joined the EPL. Wildfoxes nurtured several promising youngsters including Jared Owen, Daniel Mackriel, Adam Brittle and Tom Carlon. Dumas returned as player coach in 2003.

2005–2008: Tigers

The club returned to the name Telford Tigers for the 2005–06 season. In 2005–06, Tigers finished tenth out of thirteen teams in the EPL and had a good cup run, missing out on the semi-finals by 2 points in the preliminary group. Dumas was third in league scoring, and Slovakian Karol Jets seventh. Netminder Barry Hollyhead and British forwards Tom Carlo], Gareth Owen and Joe Miller all stood out.

2006–07 was a disappointment compared to the previous season. Hollyhead joined playoff champions Milton Keynes Lightning, Jets and his fellow Slovakian Tomas Janak moved to Solihull Barons, Miller joined Elite League team Manchester Phoenix and Carlon and Owen moved to Coventry Blaze. Marc Lovell joined from the Edinburgh Capitals, Juraj Huska and goalie Peter Betinec moved from Slovakian teams (although the latter was released midway through the season to be replaced by Milan Kostolny), and Dumas' former Coventry teammate Matthias Soderstrom (Swedish) joined from the Italian Serie B. Daniel Mackriel moved to Slough Jets midway through the season. Telford finished second bottom in the league, behind local rivals Solihull. To make matters worse, Solihull dropped down to the ENL at the end of the season, thus eliminating the West Midlands Derby from the fixture list.

For 2007–08 Miller, Owen, Mackriel, and Jets returned; D-men Tom Parker and Jake Armstrong joined from Solihull, and Dean Tonks signed from Peterborough Phantoms. However, Miller was unsettled and joined Peterborough in December. After a 9–6 loss away at Swindon Wildcats in January it now looks unlikely that Tigers will qualify for the end of season playoffs.

During the pre season it had been announced that the Telford Tigers had secured a new title sponsor, in the shape of Cannock-based company Eurologix.[6] However, just a few weeks later, it was announced that Eurologix had pulled out of the deal, leaving the Tigers with a large hole in its finances.[7] This was made all the more difficult as the club has begun to recruit players, and negotiate contracts based on the Eurologix money being part of the cash flow.

The GM Telford Tigers faced the MK Lightning for a back to back challenge before a trip to Coventry to face Elite champions Coventry Blaze in a fund raising game arranged following the sponsorship troubles. The first game with MK was away, and resulted in an 8–2 defeat. The return game the following night saw marked improvements from the Tigers as the new team started to gel. MK won the game by 2 goals to 0. The fund raiser at Coventry again saw the Tigers improve, and eventually lost 3–2.

2009–2010: Financial problems

Telford Tigers did not ice during this season, mainly due to financial difficulties and missing a deadline for registration into the English Premier Ice Hockey League.

2010–2012: The Fans' Trust

In February 2010, it was announced that a 'Fans Trust' had been formed,[8] and that it was intending to ice a Telford Tigers team in the EPL once more. In April 2010, it was confirmed that the teams application to the EPL had been accepted.[8]

2013–2015: New ownership

In October 2013, the BBC reported that the CEO of Red Touch Media, Wayne Scholes had dissolved the 'Fans Trust' and taken over the team under a new company called Red Hockey Ltd.[9] Scholes was the stick-boy for the team during the mid-1980s.[10]

The Tigers won the EPL title on March 1, 2015 during their game against the Peterborough Phantoms.

2016–2017: More Financial problems

Despite ongoing financial problems, the Tigers would have success on the ice. With captain Jason Silverthorn scoring[11] 41 goals and talisman Doug Clarkson scoring 50 goals[11] for Telford they would go on a winning streak for 15 games to win the English Premier Ice Hockey League and make it to the playoff finals losing narrowly to Milton Keynes Lightning.

2017–2019: Rebuilding

During the offseason the league the Tigers had just won (the EPL) folded. This meant the Tigers had to start from scratch. The core leaders of the team moved to the Tigers NIHL North 1 side. The Tigers managed to hold on to coach and general manager Tom Watkins as well as the captain no22 Jason Silverthorn. After the financial problems of the season before this meant that Tigers started from a weakened financial position which leads to a smaller Roster and the Coach icing for part of the season, he played 15 games scoring 5 goals.[12] Telford Tigers would go on to come 3rd in the NIHL North 1 conference, a semi-final loss in the NIHL National Cup and lost all games in the NIHL Autumn Cup. The Tigers' best result was to get to the finals of the playoffs in the Coventry Skydome finally losing to Basingstoke Bison 4–0 in the final.[13]

The 2018/19 season saw another small roster but with the notable addition of fan-favorite Doug Clarkson who would go on to score 52 goals in only 27 games before returning to Canada.[14] Unfortunately, the Tigers would come up short this season losing out to Sheffield Steeldogs in the final of the North Cup as well as Sheffield knocking out the Tigers in the semifinal of the postseason. The Tigers would come 3rd in the league but failed to record a win in the Autumn Cup.[15][16]

2019–2020: Coronavirus Season

After two seasons of building from the ground up Telford would have one of the best seasons in their history. In the offseason, a new division of the NIHL was created above NIHL 1 North and 1 South called the National League. This new league was similar to the old EPL having many of the same teams in it. Telford proceeded to dominate the league despite numerous injuries they went on to win the league with 2 rounds to spare. The coronavirus outbreak had started to grip the UK with the elite league cancelling all games that weekend but Telford needed one more win to see them clinch the title and credit to the Raiders IHC for making the trip to Telford to play the game despite tension and opposition around the league. On top of this, Telford went on to win the NIHL Cup at home against Peterborough Phantoms, as well as surviving a semifinal scare against Swindon Wildcats. Telford were led by the league's top netminder Brad Day as well as a man of the match performance by Brandon Whistle who scored a hattrick in the second leg of the final, winning 14–7 on aggregate over the two legs. [17] Telford would have gone into the playoffs as favorites after their two titles, but because of the virus outbreak the league was ended early and it was decided the final 4 event would be moved to preseason of the 2020–2021 season.[18]

2020-2021: The Online Season

Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic the Tigers were unable to ice. They announced signings of several players over 2020, Tom Watkins as Head Coach and General Manager,[19] Barry Hollyhead and Karl Creamer as Assistant Coaches,[20] Forward Scott McKenzie as a player & second team coach,[21] Forward Brandon Whistle,[22] Forward & Captain Jason Silverthorn,[23] Defenceman Corey Goodison,[24] Forward Jack Watkins,[25] Net minder Brad Day[26] and finally Defenceman Andy McKinney.[27] Although the signings were announced no hockey materialised but the Tigers were approved as an EIHA Elite category under the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) guidelines. This would means they would be government approved to play hockey if the opportunity arose.[28]

On 2 February 2021 the Tigers announced they would be partaking in an online streaming series.[29] It was called the NIHL Spring Cup and would be made of 5 NIHL National Division teams (Telford Tigers, Sheffield Steeldogs, Bees IHC, Swindon Wildcats & Raiders IHC) and would be all streamed online with no fans in attendance. The Telford Tigers proceed to announce an expanded roster with a few Elite League (EIHL) players who were not playing due to that league's suspension, most notably defenceman David Clements and forwards Ross Venus and Robert Lachowicz.[30]

References

  1. ↑ "Former Tigers owner Wayne Scholes: Positive talks give Telford new belief", Shropshire Star, 17 November 2016. 
  2. ↑ "Telford Tigers faces liquidation over £500,000 debts but rescue deal being lined up", Shropshire Star, 15 November 2016. 
  3. ↑ "Telford Tigers crisis: Two weeks left to save town's ice hockey team", Shropshire Star, 16 November 2016. 
  4. ↑ "Telford Tigers saved by consortium of local businesses", Shropshire Star, 25 November 2016. 
  5. ↑ "Telford Tigers ice hockey club bought by consortium", BBC News, 26 November 2016. 
  6. ↑ "Tigers deal signals bright future « Shropshire Star". http://www.shropshirestar.com/latest/2008/06/06/tigers-deal-signals-bright-future/. 
  7. ↑ "Massive funding shock for the Tigers « Shropshire Star". http://www.shropshirestar.com/latest/2008/08/21/massive-funding-shock-for-the-tigers/. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Home". http://www.telfordtigers.net/. 
  9. ↑ "Ice hockey: New owner plans to drive Telford Tigers forward", BBC Sport, 16 October 2013. 
  10. ↑ "Wayne Scholes heads Telford Tigers takeover". https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/other-sport/2013/10/14/wayne-scholes-heads-telford-tigers-takeover/. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Telford Tigers". http://www.eliteprospects.com/team.php?status=stats&team=1707&year0=2017. 
  12. ↑ "Tom Watkins at eliteprospects.com". https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/20904/tom-watkins. Retrieved 6 December 2023. 
  13. ↑ "Telford Tigers at eliteprospects.com". https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/17725/telford-tigers/2017-2018. Retrieved 6 December 2023. 
  14. ↑ "Doug Clarkson at eliteprospects.com". https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/18627/doug-clarkson. Retrieved 6 December 2023. 
  15. ↑ "Elite Prospects - National Ice Hockey League Division 1 (NIHL 1)". https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/nihl-1/2018-2019. Retrieved 6 December 2023. 
  16. ↑ "Elite Prospects - Team Standings NIHL North Cup". https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/nihl-north-cup/standings/2018-2019. Retrieved 6 December 2023. 
  17. ↑ "Telford Tigers at eliteprospects.com". https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/17725/telford-tigers. Retrieved 6 December 2023. 
  18. ↑ "NIHL: Championship Series update for supporters – English Ice Hockey Association". https://eiha.co.uk/nihl-championship-series-update-for-supporters/. 
  19. ↑ Tigers, Telford (2020-05-30). "Watkins is Back: Head Coach Returns!" (in en-GB). https://www.telfordtigers.net/watkins-is-back-head-coach-returns/. 
  20. ↑ Tigers, Telford (2020-06-02). "Assistant Coaches Return to Tigers" (in en-GB). https://www.telfordtigers.net/assistant-coaches-return-to-tigers/. 
  21. ↑ Tigers, Telford (2020-05-31). "McKenzie Returns with Dual Role! – Telford Tigers News" (in en-GB). https://www.telfordtigers.net/mckenzie-returns-with-dual-role/. 
  22. ↑ Tigers, Telford (2020-07-29). "Telford Tigers – News - Tigers Whistle Up Star Signing!" (in en-GB). https://www.telfordtigers.net/tigers-whistle-up-star-signing/. 
  23. ↑ Tigers, Telford. "Telford Tigers – Signing News – Tigers' Captain Returns!", 2020-08-12. (en-GB) 
  24. ↑ Tigers, Telford (2020-08-26). "Goodison Returns for Sixth Year" (in en-GB). https://www.telfordtigers.net/goodison-returns-for-sixth-year/. 
  25. ↑ Tigers, Telford (2020-09-09). "Jack is Back: Watkins Returns!" (in en-GB). https://www.telfordtigers.net/jack-is-back-watkins-returns/. 
  26. ↑ Tigers, Telford (2020-09-12). "Brad makes it a great Day for Tigers!" (in en-GB). https://www.telfordtigers.net/brad-makes-it-a-great-day-for-tigers/. 
  27. ↑ Tigers, Telford (2020-09-16). "McKinney Makes Tigers Return!" (in en-GB). https://www.telfordtigers.net/mckinney-makes-tigers-return/. 
  28. ↑ Tigers, Telford (2020-11-12). "Telford Tigers Elite Status Confirmed" (in en-GB). https://www.telfordtigers.net/telford-tigers-elite-status-confirmed/. 
  29. ↑ Tigers, Telford (2021-02-02). "Ice Hockey Returns: Green light for games behind closed doors!" (in en-GB). https://www.telfordtigers.net/ice-hockey-returns-green-light-for-games-behind-closed-doors/. 
  30. ↑ Tigers, Telford (2021-02-20). "Tigers Make Late Spring Cup Additions" (in en-GB). https://www.telfordtigers.net/tigers-make-late-spring-cup-additions/. 

External links


Ice hockey in Great Britain
Elite Ice Hockey League (2003-present)

Belfast Giants - Cardiff Devils - Coventry Blaze - Dundee Stars - Fife Flyers - Glasgow Clan - Manchester Storm - Nottingham Panthers - Sheffield Steelers

National Ice Hockey League (1997-present)

National League: Berkshire Bees - Bristol Pitbulls - Hull Seahawks - Leeds Knights - Milton Keynes Lightning - Peterborough Phantoms - Raiders - Sheffield Steeldogs - Solway Sharks - Swindon Wildcats

North Division 1: Billingham Stars - Blackburn Hawks - Nottingham Lions - Solihull Barons - Sutton Sting - Whitley Warriors

South Division 1: Cardiff Fire - Chelmsford Chieftains - Invicta Dynamos - Milton Keynes Thunder - Oxford City Stars - Raiders 2 - Slough Jets - Solent Devils - Streatham IHC

North Division 2: Altrincham Aces - Blackburn Hawks 2 - Bradford Bulldogs - Deeside Dragons - Hull Jets - Sheffield Senators - Telford Tigers 2 - Widnes Wild

South Division 2: Basingstoke Buffalo - Guildford Phoenix - Haringey Huskies - Invicta Mustangs - Lee Valley Lions - Peterborough Phantoms 2 - Solent Devils 2 - Streatham Hawks - Swindon Wildcats 2

Scottish National League (2000-present)

Aberdeen Lynx - Dundee Comets - Dundee Tigers - Edinburgh Capitals - Kilmarnock Thunder - Kirkcaldy Kestrels - North Ayrshire Wild - Paisley Pirates

Other current competitions

League Championship - Playoff Championship - Challenge Cup - British Universities Ice Hockey Association - Ice Hockey Varsity Match - Northern League - Women's Elite Ice Hockey League - Scottish Cup

Defunct competitions

Airlie Trophy - Ahearne Cup - Anderson Trophy - Autumn Cup - Association Cup - Bairns Trophy - British Hockey League - British Home Tournaments - British National League (1954–1960) - British National League (1996–2005) - Christmas Cup - Coronation Cup - Coronation Gold Cup - English Club Championship - English League - English League North - English National League - English Premier Ice Hockey Cup - English Premier Ice Hockey League - Findus Challenge Cup - Ice Hockey Superleague - Inter-City League - London Cup - Millenium Cup - Mitchell Trophy - Northern League (1966-1982) - Northern League (2005–2011) - Planet Ice Challenge League - President's Pucks - Scottish Canada Cup - Scottish Cup (1930s-1950s) - Scottish League Flag Trophy - Scottish National League (1929–1954) - Scottish National League (1981-1982) - Scottish Premier Hockey League - Southern League - Winter Cup

Defunct teams

Aldershot Bullets - Amateur Skating Club - Argyll Ice Hockey Club - Ayr Bruins - Ayr Scottish Eagles - Blackburn Eagles - Blackpool Seagulls - Brighton Ambassadors - Brighton Ice Hockey Club - Brighton Tigers - Cardiff Rage - Castlereagh Knights - Dumfries Vikings - Dunfermline Vikings Dundee Rockets - Durham City Wasps - Durham Wasps - Earls Court Rangers - Edinburgh Capitals (SNL) - Flintshire Freeze - Fylde Flyers - Harringay Greyhounds - Harringay Racers - Hull Pirates - Hull Stingrays - Hull Thunder - Humberside Seahawks - Kilmarnock Storm - Lancashire Raptors - Liverpool Leopards - London Canadians - London Lions - London Knights - London Racers - Manchester Minotaurs - Manchester Phoenix - Manchester Rapids - Manchester Storm - Medway Bears - Milton Keynes Kings - Moray Typhoons - Murrayfield Racers - Murrayfield Racers (2018-2022) - Newcastle Jesters - Newcastle Vipers - Niagara Ice Hockey Club - Oxford Blades - Oxford Canadians - Peterborough Pirates - Princes Ice Hockey Club - Richmond Flyers - Richmond Hawks - Royal Engineers Ice Hockey Club - Sheffield Lancers - Sheffield Scimitars - Slough Jets ENL - Southampton Vikings - Sunderland Chiefs - TDC Northern Stars - Wembley Lions - Wembley Monarchs - Wightlink Raiders - Wightlink Tigers

Governing bodies

English Ice Hockey Association - Ice Hockey UK - Northern Ireland Ice Hockey Association - Scottish Ice Hockey - British Ice Hockey Association (defunct) - National Ice Skating Association (defunct)

Other

British National Team - Women's British National Team - British Junior National Team - British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame - Ice Hockey Journalists UK

Retrieved from "http://internationalhockeywiki.com/ihw/index.php?title=Telford_Tigers&oldid=63534"