The Guildford Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Guildford, Surrey and they play their home games in the Guildford Spectrum. They compete in the top-tier of hockey in the United Kingdom, the Elite Ice Hockey League.
| Guildford Flames | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Guildford, Surrey |
| League | Elite Ice Hockey League |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Home arena | Guildford Spectrum (capacity: 2,200) |
| Colors | Navy, crimson, gold, white |
| Owner(s) | Sportfact Ltd |
| Head coach | Paul Dixon |
| Captain | Brett Ferguson |
| Affiliates | Guildford Phoenix, NIHL 2 Guildford Lightning, WNIHL (Elite) |
| Championships | |
| British National League Titles | 2 (1997–98, 2000–01) |
| English Premier League Titles | 4 (2005-06, 2007-08, 2011-12, 2012-13) |
| British National League Playoff Championships | 3 (1998, 2001, 2004) |
 Current season | |
Founded in October 1992, the Flames originally played in the second-tier leagues of British hockey, first the British National League until 2004, and subsequently the English Premier Ice Hockey League until 2017. On 24 February 2017 it was announced that the Flames would become the 12th Elite Ice Hockey League team, joining from the 2017–18 season.
The team's head coach is Paul Dixon, who took over after Stan Marple retired in 2007.
Formation
editBarry 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.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
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 there for the first time on 23 January 1993.[citation needed]
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".[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]
Elite League
editThe Guildford Flames were confirmed as an Elite League expansion team in February 2017, stepping up from the English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL), and began play in the UK's top division at the start of the 2017–18 EIHL season.[1]
The Flames finished in sixth in their first season (2017–18), followed by a fifth-placed finish in 2018–19 - a campaign in which they finished runners-up to the Belfast Giants in the Challenge Cup final.[2]
Guildford were again in sixth when the 2019–20 EIHL season's remaining matches were cancelled in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The play-offs were cancelled with only the Challenge Cup seeing a winner (the Sheffield Steelers) crowned.[3]
Then, the 2020–21 Elite League season - originally scheduled for a revised start date of 5 December - was suspended on 15 September 2020 because of ongoing coronavirus pandemic restrictions. The EIHL board determined that the season was non-viable without supporters being permitted to attend matches and unanimously agreed to a suspension.[4] The season was cancelled completely in February 2021.[5]
In the 2021–22 EIHL season, Guildford finished the regular season in fifth place with a 25-25-4 record, reaching the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup (losing 6–5 on aggregate to Nottingham Panthers) and the play-off semi-finals (beating Nottingham 7–6 on aggregate in the quarter-finals, before losing in the last four to Cardiff Devils 3–2).[6][7] Guildford claimed third place by beating Dundee Stars 7–5 in the third/fourth place play-off.[8]
The 2022–23 EIHL season proved to be even better for the Guildford Flames, propelled by a strong start to the campaign that saw the Flames top the league for much of the first half of the season, including at Christmas. Forwards Daniel Tedesco (80 points), captain Brett Ferguson (67 points) and Ryan Tait (62 points) led the way.
The team were neck and neck with eventual league champions the Belfast Giants, with Guildford finishing in 2nd place in the Elite League with a 40-12-2 record from 54 games, good for 82 points - just two behind the Giants.[9] Belfast secured the title after a 6-1 win over the Flames at the SSE Arena on 1 April 2023.[10]
In the Challenge Cup, Guildford reached the semi-finals, before an eventual 6-3 aggregate defeat - once again at the hands of the Belfast Giants. And in the play-offs, the Flames were on the end of an upset at the quarter-final stage, losing 7-6 at the hands of seventh seed the Nottingham Panthers in April 2023.[11]
Guildford's second place league finish in the 2022–23 season saw them earn qualification for the 2023–24 IIHF Continental Cup. However, in May 2023, the club released a statement confirming they would decline their place in the competition.[12]
The 2023–24 EIHL season saw the Flames maintain a record that kept them in the top half of the league table. On 13 March 2024, Guildford finished runners-up in the Challenge Cup final to the Sheffield Steelers, losing 3-1.[13] Guildford ended the regular season in 5th with a 24-20-10 record, eventually losing in the play-off semi-finals to the Sheffield Steelers, 6-3.[14][15] The Flames also lost the 3rd/4th play-off 7-5 to the Cardiff Devils.[16]
Club honours
edit- Season 2023/24
- Challenge Cup runners-up
- Season 2022/23
- EIHL runners-up
- 2022–23 EIHL All-Stars First Team: Daniel Tedesco
- 2022–23 EIHL All-Stars Second Team: Ben O'Connor, Brett Ferguson
- Season 2021/22
- 2021–22 EIHL All-Stars First Team: Jamal Watson
- Season 2018/19
- Patton Conference Champions
- Challenge Cup runners-up
- 2018–19 EIHL All-Stars Second Team: Calle Ackered, Jesse Craige
- Season 2017/18
- 2017–18 EIHL All-Stars First Team: Jesse Craige
- 2017–18 EIHL All-Stars Second Team: Calle Ackered, John Dunbar
- Season 2015/16
- English Premier Cup
- English Premier League Playoff Winners
- Season 2012/13
- English Premier League Champions
- English Premier Cup
- Season 2011/12
- English Premier League Champions
- English Premier Cup
- Season 2010/11
- English Premier League Playoff Winners
- Season 2009/10
- English Premier Cup
- Season 2007/08
- English Premier League Champions
- Season 2006/07
- English Premier Cup
- Season 2005/06
- English Premier League Champions
- Season 2003/04
- British National League Play-off Winners
- Season 2000/01
- Christmas Cup Winners
- British National League Champions
- British National League Play-off Winners
- Season 1998/99
- Benson & Hedges Plate Winners
- Season 1997/98
- British National League Southern Conference Winners
- British National League Winners
- British National League Play-off Winners
- Season 1996/97
- Benson & Hedges Plate Winners
Team logo and jersey
editThe 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).
Current squad
editSquad for 2024-25 Elite League season[17][18]
- * Denotes two-way deal with Raiders IHC of the NIHL[19]
| No. | Player | Catches | Acquired | Place of Birth | Joined from | Press Release | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jake Kupsky | L | 2024 | Waukesha, Wisconsin, US | HKM Zvolen, Slovak Extraliga | [20] | |
| 27 | Eamon McAdam | L | 2022 | Perkasie, Pennsylvania, US | Esbjerg Energy, Metal Ligaen | [21] | |
| 30 | Adam Long | L | 2021 | Crewe, England | Haringey Huskies, NIHL2 | [22] |
| No. | Player | Shoots | Acquired | Place of Birth | Joined from | Press Release | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Kyle Locke | R | 2021 | Aurora, Ontario, Canada | Ontario Tech Ridgebacks, U Sports | [23] | |
| 19 | Charlie Curti | L | 2024 | Mound, Minnesota, US | Belfast Giants, EIHL | [24] | |
| 20 | Marcus Tesink | L | 2023 | Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada | Concordia Stingers, U Sports | [25] | |
| 45 | Travis Brown | L | 2024 | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | Belfast Giants, EIHL | [26] | |
| 46 | Michael Crocock A | L | 2022 | Brantford, Ontario, Canada | Reading Royals, ECHL | [27] | |
| 81 | Charlie Dodero | R | 2024 | Bloomingdale, Illinois, US | HK Olimpija, IceHL | [28] |
| No. | Player | Position | Acquired | Place of Birth | Playing For | Press Release | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Name | Position | Place of Birth | Joined from | Press Release | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | Paul Dixon | Head coach/GM | Sunderland, England | Appointed in 2007 | [1] | |
| N/A | Andrew Hemmings | Assistant coach | Guildford, England | Appointed in 2022 | [2] | |
| N/A | Rob Horspool | Equipment manager | England | Appointed in 2017 | [3] |
| No. | Player | Position | Acquired | Leaving For | Press Release | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taz Burman | G | 2022 | TBC | [4] | |
| 4 | Stephen Calisti | D | 2024 | TBC | [5] | |
| 5 | Bradley Lalonde | D | 2022 | TBC | [6] | |
| 12 | Matt Tugnutt | LW/C | 2023 | Pionniers de Chamonix Mont-Blanc, Ligue Magnus | [7] | |
| 14 | Ben O'Connor | D | 2022 | Dundee Stars, EIHL | [8] | |
| 16 | Turner Ripplinger | RW | 2022 | Maine Mariners, ECHL | [9] | |
| 17 | Austin Glover | C/RW | 2023 | TBC | [10] | |
| 19 | Steven McParland | C/LW | 2023 | TBC | [11] | |
| 24 | Alex Yuill | D | 2021 | TBC | [12] | |
| 25 | Patrick Bajkov | RW/LW | 2023 | Cincinnati Cyclones, ECHL | [13] | |
| 29 | Zack Milton | F | 2022 | Manchester Storm, EIHL | [14] | |
| 33 | Nicolas Ouellet | RW | 2024 | Thetford Assurancia, LNAH | [15] | |
| 42 | Jordan Klimek | D | 2022 | South Carolina Stingrays, ECHL | [16] | |
| 72 | Peter Crinella A | C | 2022 | TBC | [17] | |
| 77 | Owen Griffiths | C | 2021 | Manchester Storm, EIHL | [18] | |
| 77 | Matt Murphy | D | 2024 | Cincinnati Cyclones, ECHL | [19] | |
| 91 | Ryan Hughes | C | 2023 | Manchester Storm, EIHL | [20] |
Retired numbers
editThe retired numbers at the Guildford Flames are:
- 3 Stan Marple
- 10 Ryan Campbell
- 11 Fred Perlini
- 9 Terry Kurtenbach
- 15 Andy Sparks
Team captains
edit- 1992–94 – Darren Zinger
- 1994–99 – Paul Thompson
- 1999-00 – Karry Biette
- 2000–01 – Wayne Crawford
- 2001–07 – Paul Dixon
- 2007–09 – Ricky Plant
- 2009–10 – Rob Lamey
- 2010–15 – David Longstaff
- 2015–17 – Jeremy Lundin
- 2017–20 – Jesse Craige
- 2021– Brett Ferguson
References
edit- ^ "Guildford Flames to join elite league". Coventry Blaze. 24 February 2017. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ "Challenge Cup: Belfast Giants retain trophy with overtime win against Flames". BBC Sport. 10 March 2019. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ "EIHL cancels all matches for rest of season". eSports Media. 13 March 2020. Archived from the original on 12 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ^ "EIHL Board Suspend 2020-21 Season". eSports Media. 15 September 2020. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ^ "No Elite League Season 2020/21". eSports Media. 2 February 2021. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- ^ "Cardiff Devils 3:2 Guildford Flames".
- ^ "Gamecentre".
- ^ "Guildford Flames 7:5 Dundee Stars".
- ^ "Standings 2022/2023 Elite Ice Hockey League".
- ^ "Giants clinch third straight Elite League title!". 21 August 2019.
- ^ "Panthers hold on to knock out second-seeded Flames". 21 August 2019.
- ^ "Flames not entering Continental Cup".
- ^ "Steelers win 2024 Challenge Cup". 21 August 2019.
- ^ "Standings 2024/2025 Elite Ice Hockey League".
- ^ "Sheffield Steelers 6:3 Guildford Flames".
- ^ "Cardiff Devils 7:5 Guildford Flames".
- ^ "Guildford Flames at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ "Team". Guildford Flames. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ "Guildford Flames Ice Hockey Club - Milton returns for 23-24".
- ^ "Kupsky added to netminding group". Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ "Griffiths and McAdam return". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ^ "Long signs on for 24-25". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
- ^ "Locke Signs 2 year deal". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "Curti added to roster". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ "FTesink returns for second season". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Brown added to D group". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "Crocock agrees fourth season". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ "Dodero added to roster with two-year deal". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Catenacci joins Flames for 24/25 season". www.guildfordflames.com. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ "Tait back for two more seasons". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ "GB International Sean Norris joins Flames". www.guildfordflames.com. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ "Jack Jacome joins Flames". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ "Ferguson back on two-year deal". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ "Ethan Strang added for 24-25 campaign". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ "Tedesco back with Flames". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ "Alvaro areturns for 2nd term". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ "Flames sign Jake Coughler". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ "Hook Signs for 3 Seasons". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "Guildford Flames Ice Hockey Club - Waller agrees 2nd tour with Flames". www.guildfordflames.com. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ "Welychka joins Flames". www.guildfordflames.com. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ "Talbot back for second season". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 12 June 2024.