Swindon Wildcats

The Swindon Wildcats are a professional ice hockey team based in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. They play in the National Ice Hockey League (NIHL). Since their inception, the Wildcats have played their home games at the 2800-capacity Link Centre in West Swindon. The club was founded in 1986 as the Swindon Wildcats, shortly after the opening of the Link Centre.

Swindon Wildcats
CitySwindon, Wiltshire
LeagueNational Ice Hockey League
Founded1986
Home arenaLink Centre
ColorsRed & White, Red & Black
     
General manager Steve Nell
Head coach Aaron Nell
Captain Sam Bullas
MediaCats TV
AffiliatesSwindon Wildcats 2
Franchise history
1986 - 1996Swindon Wildcats
1996 - 1997Swindon Ice Lords
1997 - 2000Swindon Chill
2000 - 2001Swindon Phoenix
2001 - 2004Swindon Lynx
2004 - presentSwindon Wildcats
Championships
Regular season titles3 (1996/97), (2000/01), (2018/19)
Autumn Cups3 (1991), (2017/18), (2021)

The Wildcats were members of the English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL) from 1997 to 2017. Due to the instability of the EPIHL following the culmination of the 2016–17 season, the Swindon Wildcats announced their intention to join the National League.[1]

In their first season competing in the National League, the Wildcats won both the Autumn Cup and National Cup competitions, securing the club's first silverware since the 2000-01 season.[2] The following year the Wildcats won the regular season, becoming the 2018/2019 champions.

Logos and uniforms

Logos

The Wildcats' logo is an animated wildcat in the team colours of red and white.

Jerseys

The jerseys currently worn by the Swindon Wildcats are in red and white,[3] the colours sported by the team since the 2008–2009 relaunch. They have worn the same jerseys (with a few small variations) since the 2008–2009 season. For the 2019/20 campaign, the Wildcats will have an alternate jersey that is predominantly black with red motifs.[4]

The first Wildcats colours were black, yellow, orange and white. Blue and white were worn in 2006 and 2007.

Mascot

The official mascot for the Swindon Wildcats is an anthropomorphized wildcat by the name of Willie. He has been the mascot for the 'Cats since their return to the Wildcats name in 2004, after three seasons as the Lynx. He wears a Wildcats jersey with the number 00.

Season-by-season record[5]
SeasonLeagueGPWLOTWOTLPts.RankPost Season
2007–2008EPIHL40162013377thQualification
2008–2009EPIHL54212922488thQuarter-Final Loss
2009–2010EPIHL54123147398thSemi-Final Loss
2010-2011EPIHL54163134427thQuarter-Final Loss
2011-2012EPIHL54252306567thQuarter-Final Loss
2012-2013EPIHL542022111537thQuarter-Final Loss
2013-2014 EPIHL 54 23 23 6 2 60 5th Semi-Final Loss
2014-2015 EPIHL 48 24 20 4 0 56 5th Quarter-Final Loss
2015-2016 EPIHL 54 30 19 - 5 65 6th Quarter-Final Loss
2016-2017 EPIHL 48 22 22 - 4 48 6th Qualification
2017-2018 NIHL S1 32 18 6 4 4 48 3rd Conf QF Loss
2018-2019 NIHL S1 42 31 7 1 3 67 Champions Conf SF Loss

Club roster 2021–22[6]
Netminders
No. Nat. Player Catches Date of birth Place of birth Acquired Contract
30 Renny Marr L (1997-10-08) 8 October 1997 Lochgelly, Scotland 2017 from Coventry Blaze 21/22
33 Michael Crisp L (1991-05-24) 24 May 1991 Caerphilly, Wales 2016 from Cardiff Devils NIHL 21/22
45 Dean Skinns L (1984-10-03) 3 October 1984 Basingstoke, England 2021 from MK Lightning 21/22
Defencemen
No. Nat. Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Acquired Contract
5 Tom Stephens L (2003-08-19) 19 August 2003 Milton Keynes, England 2021 from OHA UK U18 Two-Way
24 Tyler Plews R (1997-09-13) 13 September 1997 Kirkcaldy, Scotland 2018 from Edinburgh Capitals 21/22
28 Stevie Whitfield R (1990-10-12) 12 October 1990 Swindon, England 2007 from Swindon Cougars 21/22
44 Neil Liddiard R (1978-05-07) 7 May 1978 Swindon, England 2015 from Guildford Flames 21/22
61 Sam Godfrey R (1994-02-02) 2 February 1994 Swindon, England 2018 from Guildford Flames 21/22
73 Sam Smith R (2001-09-02) 2 September 2001 Cardiff, Wales 2018 from Cardiff Fire 21/22
77 Ben Nethersell R (1998-01-05) 5 January 1998 Worthing, England 2013 from Okanagan Hockey Academy UK 21/22
Forwards
No. Nat. Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Acquired Contract
3 Bálint Pákozdi L (1999-05-03) 3 May 1999 Budapest, Hungary 2021 from New Hampshire Junior Monarchs 21/22
4 Jack Goodchild R (2002-10-14) 14 October 2002 England 2021 from Swindon Wildcats 2 21/22
11 Chris Jones R (1991-01-04) 4 January 1991 Cardiff, Wales 2017 from Cardiff Devils 21/22
12 Floyd Taylor L (1995-03-28) 28 March 1995 Swindon, England 2011 from Swindon Leopards 21/22
13 Sam Bullas R (1990-09-20) 20 September 1990 Nottingham, England 2010 from Nottingham Panthers 21/22
18 Reed Sayers R (2001-05-09) 9 May 2001 England 2018 from Okanagan Hockey Academy UK 21/22
19 Aaron Nell L (1989-10-22) 22 October 1989 Swindon, England 2011 from Coventry Blaze 21/22
22 Cain Russell R (2004-04-22) 22 April 2004 Portsmouth, England 2021 from OHA UK U18 Two-Way
34 Bailey Hind-Pitcher R (2003-07-09) 9 July 2003 England 2021 from Okanagan Hockey Academy UK Two-Way
38 Emil Svec L (1994-07-12) 12 July 1994 Milevsko, Czech Republic 2021 from Podhale Nowy Targ 21/22
41 Oliver Endicott L (2004-06-10) 10 June 2004 England 2021 from Okanagan Hockey Academy UK Two-Way
71 Edgars Bebris L (1991-08-07) 7 August 1991 Aizkraukle, Latvia 2021 from MK Lightning 21/22
89 Tomasz Malasinski* L (1986-08-23) 23 August 1986 Nowy Targ, Poland 2019 from KH GKS Katowice 21/22

(*) Non-EIHA trained player ("Import"). By gentleman's agreement, teams are restricted to dressing at most two such players per game, with only one being allowed "active" - on the ice, or serving a penalty on the game clock - at any one time.

Team Staff
No. Nat. Name Position Acquired Place of birth Joined From
N/A Aaron Nell General Manager & Player-Coach 2015 Swindon, England Okanagan Hockey Academy U18
N/A Stephen Nell Managing Director 2016 England Okanagan Hockey Academy U18
N/A Robert Pamphilon Assistant Coach 2013 England
N/A Lee Richardson Assistant Coach 2019 Swindon, England Oxford City Stars, NIHL 2
N/A Pete Bradford Equipment Manager 2010 England
N/A Steve Bradford Equipment Manager 2014 England
N/A Mark Thorne Assistant Equipment Manager 2014 England


2021/22 Outgoing
Outgoing
No. Nat. Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Leaving For
12 Loris Taylor L (1993-08-01) 1 August 1993 Swindon, England Bristol Pitbulls
62 Tyler Perre L (2000-07-30) 30 July 2000 Swindon, England Bristol Pitbulls

Retired numbers

6 Lee Brathwaite, D, 1992–1997, 1998–2009

7 Bryan Larkin, D, 1991–2001

9 Gary Dickie, F, 1993–1997

10 Steve Nell, F, 1986-1988, 1990-1996, 1997-1998, General Manager 2004–2021 (Now Managing Director)

14 Daryl Lipsey, F, 1986–1995

15 Scott Koberinski, F, 1989–1993

17 Ian Richards, F, 1987–1999

See also

References
  1. "Club Statement". Swindon Wildcats. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  2. "NATIONAL CUP FINAL: Swindon Wildcats 4 (6) Sheffield Steeldogs 2 (4)". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  3. Houlihan, Owen (24 May 2017). "New change to Wildcats' next league campaign". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  4. "Wildcats reveal 19/20 jersey design". Swindon Wildcats. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  5. Eliteprospects.com (http://www.eliteprospects.com/team.php?team=1372&year0=2012)
  6. "Swindon Wildcats - Elite Prospects". www.eliteprospects.com.
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