Oxford Blades

The Oxford Blades were an English ice hockey team based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. They competed in the English Premier Ice Hockey League during the 1998–1999 season and folded halfway through the 1999–2000 season.

The Blades were formed after a year without senior men's hockey in the town. Following the dissolution of the Oxford City Stars, Mike Kellond created the Oxford Chill. Due to the failure of the ice plant at Oxford, Kellond moved the team to Swindon where they became known as the Swindon Chill.

Following a move back to the university-town, the club's concessions from the council for the ice costs were lost along with the majority of its players.

A group of ice hockey-loving businessmen created the Oxford Blades, bringing in former Stars' coach Sid Cabby as managing director in January 1999. Due to a sponsorship deal, the club was known during their debut season as The City Motors FOX Blades. The club's only full season saw them have four head coaches: Geoff Copping got things underway and Erskine Douglas provided a solid structure and programme for a few weeks before leaving for Chelmsford Chieftains. He was replaced by Daryl Morvan and then by late signing Mark Budz. The club lost every game during 1998–1999 and finished at the bottom of the league. However, the club won the sportsmanship trophy for finishing at the top of the fair play league with a total of 386 penalty minutes during the course of the league season.

The 1999–2000 season would prove to be their last, as the club ran out of money and played their last game on 23 January 2000, which saw them lose 16–3 at home to the Isle of Wight Raiders. All league statistics from the season were expunged.

Results

1998–1999 season

DateOpponentVenueResultCompetition
N/ABlackburn HawksAwayLost 13–2English Cup
N/ABlackburn HawksHomeLost 6–2English Cup
N/ASolihull BlazeHomeLost 20–2English Cup
N/ASolihull BlazeAwayLost 15–1English Cup
N/ASwindon ChillHomeLost 9–1English Cup
N/ASwindon ChillAwayLost 14–4English Cup
N/AWightlink RaidersHomeLost 14–4English Cup
N/AWightlink RaidersAwayLost 11–2English Cup
Saturday 10 October 1998Chelmsford ChieftainsAwayLost 14–2English League
Saturday 17 October 1998Swindon ChillAwayLost 9–2English League
Sunday 18 October 1998Swindon ChillHomeLost 9–2English League
Saturday 24 October 1998Wightlink RaidersAwayLost 17–4English League
Sunday 25 October 1998Solihull BlazeAwayLost 18–2English League
Saturday 31 October 1998Romford RaidersAwayLost 13–2English League
Sunday 1 November 1998Wightlink RaidersHomeLost 13–3English League
Thursday 5 November 1998Chelmsford ChieftainsAwayLost 12–2English League
Saturday 7 November 1998Milton Keynes KingsAwayLost 20–1English League
Sunday 22 November 1998Invicta DynamosHomeLost 8–0English League
Sunday 29 November 1998Swindon ChillAwayLost 8–2English League
Saturday 5 December 1998Wightlink RaidersAwayLost 15–5English League
Sunday 6 December 1998Blackburn HawksHomeLost 11–3English League
Sunday 13 December 1998Chelmsford ChieftainsHomeLost 7–2English League
Sunday 20 December 1998Blackburn HawksAwayLost 19–2English League
Sunday 3 January 1999Romford RaidersHomeLost 15–2English League
Saturday 9 January 1999Invicta DynamosAwayLost 9–6English League
Sunday 10 January 1999Milton Keynes KingsHomeLost 8–4English League
Saturday 16 January 1999Solihull BlazeHomeLost 20–7English League
Sunday 17 January 1999Blackburn HawksHomeLost 9–5English League
Thursday 21 January 1999Milton Keynes KingsAwayLost 21–1English League
Sunday 24 January 1999Solihull BlazeHomeLost 15–1English League
Sunday 31 January 1999Wightlink RaidersHomeLost 14–7English League
Saturday 6 February 1999Romford RaidersAwayLost 11–3English League
Sunday 7 February 1999Romford RaidersHomeLost 7–6English League
Sunday 14 February 1999Chelmsford ChieftainsHomeLost 14–5English League
Saturday 20 February 1999Blackburn HawksAwayLost 19–2English League
Sunday 21 February 1999Invicta DynamosAwayLost 14–2English League
Sunday 28 February 1999Milton Keynes KingsHomeLost 11–3English League
Saturday 6 March 1999Solihull BlazeAwayLost 14–5English League
Sunday 7 March 1999Swindon ChillHomeLost 7–4English League
Sunday 21 March 1999Invicta DynamosHomeLost 12–1English League

1999–2000 season

DateOpponentVenueResultCompetition
Saturday 4 September 1999Chelmsford ChieftainsAwayLost 6–2English League
Sunday 5 September 1999Swindon ChillAwayWon 7–6English League
Saturday 11 September 1999Cardiff RageAwayTied 7–7English League
Sunday 12 September 1999Romford RaidersHomeLost 8–3English League
Saturday 18 September 1999Swindon ChillAwayLost 8–2English League
Sunday 19 September 1999Isle of Wight RaidersHomeLost 9–3English League
Saturday 25 September 1999Romford RaidersHomeWon 5–3English League
Sunday 26 September 1999Invicta DynamosAwayLost 7–4English League
Sunday 10 October 1999Cardiff RageHomeWon 9–3English League
Saturday 16 October 1999Romford RaidersAwayLost 9–6English League
Sunday 17 October 1999Isle of Wight RaidersHomeLost 4–3English League
Sunday 24 October 1999Invicta DynamosHomeWon 6–5English League
Saturday 30 October 1999Chelmsford ChieftainsAwayLost 13–3English League
Sunday 14 November 1999Invicta DynamosHomeTied 5–5English League
Sunday 28 November 1999Chelmsford ChieftainsAwayLost 12–3English League
Saturday 4 December 1999Isle of Wight RaidersAwayLost 21–4English League
Saturday 11 December 1999Swindon ChillAwayLost 11–2English League
Sunday 2 January 2000Romford RaidersAwayLost 8–4English League
Saturday 8 January 2000Isle of Wight RaidersAwayLost 14–6English League
Sunday 9 January 2000Chelmsford ChieftainsHomeLost 7–1English League
Sunday 23 January 2000Isle of Wight RaidersHomeLost 16–3English League

References

    • Roberts, Stewart (1999). The Ice Hockey Annual 1999-2000. East Sussex: Caldra House Ltd. ISBN 0-9536410-0-7.
    • Roberts, Stewart (2000). The Ice Hockey Annual 2000-2001. East Sussex: Caldra House Ltd. ISBN 0-9536410-1-5.
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