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 Cups2 (1991), (2017/18)

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 2020–21[6]
  • * Signed for 20-21 Streaming Series
  • ** Sitting out of 20-21 Streaming Series
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 20/21
62 Tyler Perre L (2000-07-30) 30 July 2000 Swindon, England 2020 from Cardiff Devils 20/21
Defencemen
No. Nat. Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Acquired Contract
22 Sam Smith R (2001-09-02) 2 September 2001 Cardiff, Wales 2020 from Basingstoke Bison 20/21
24 Tyler Plews R (1997-09-13) 13 September 1997 Kirkcaldy, Scotland 2018 from Edinburgh Capitals 20/21
28 Stephen 'Stevie' Whitfield** R (1990-10-12) 12 October 1990 Swindon, England 2008 from Swindon Wildcats ENL 20/21
41 Josh Batch* L (1991-01-15) 15 January 1991 Chelmsford, England 2020 from Cardiff Devils 20/21
44 Neil Liddiard R (1978-05-07) 7 May 1978 Swindon, England 2015 from Guildford Flames 20/21
45 Callum Buglass* L (1996-07-23) 23 July 1996 Cardiff, Wales 2020 from Peterborough Phantoms 20/21
61 Sam Godfrey R (1994-02-02) 2 February 1994 Swindon, England 2017 from Milton Keynes Lightning 21/22
77 Ben Nethersell** R (1998-01-05) 5 January 1998 Worthing, England 2013 from Okanagan Hockey Academy U16 21/22
Forwards
No. Nat. Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Acquired Contract
3 Bálint Pákodzi L (1999-05-03) 3 May 1999 Budapest, Hungary 2020 from New Hampshire Junior Monarchs 20/21
4 Jack Goodchild* R (2002-10-14) 14 October 2002 England 2020 from Swindon Wildcats 2 Two Way
5 Ben Davies* R (1991-01-18) 18 January 1991 Cardiff, Wales 2020 from Guildford Flames 20/21
8 Matthew Myers* R (1984-11-06) 6 November 1984 Cardiff, Wales 2020 from Cardiff Devils 20/21
11 Chris Jones R (1991-01-04) 4 January 1991 Cardiff, Wales 2017 from Cardiff Devils 20/21
12 Loris Taylor** L (1993-08-01) 1 August 1993 Swindon, England 2018 from Swindon Wildcats 2 20/21
13 Sam Bullas R (1990-09-20) 20 September 1990 Nottingham, England 2014 from Nottingham Panthers 21/22
16 Reed Sayers R (2001-05-09) 9 May 2001 England 2019 from Swindon Wildcats 2 20/21
18 Floyd Taylor** L (1995-03-28) 28 March 1995 Swindon, England 2011 from Swindon Lions 20/21
19 Aaron Nell L (1989-10-22) 22 October 1989 Swindon, England 2014 from Sheffield Steelers 20/21
37 Toms Rutkis L (1997-11-09) 9 November 1997 Riga, Latvia 2013 from Guildford Phoenix U18 Two Way
72 Glenn Billing* L (1997-05-28) 28 May 1997 Romford, England 2020 from Peterborough Phantoms 20/21
89 Tomasz Malasinski (*) L (1986-08-23) 23 August 1986 Nowy Targ, Poland 2019 from 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 Player-Coach 2015 Swindon, England Okanagan Hockey Academy U18
N/A Stephen Nell General Manager 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

2020/21 Outgoing
Outgoing
No. Nat. Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Leaving For
21 Luc Johnson L (1997-07-21) 21 July 1997 Milton Keynes, England Peterborough Phantoms
71 Edgars Bebris L (1991-08-07) 7 August 1991 Aizkraukle, Latvia Milton Keynes Lightning

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–present

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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