Guildford Flames

Guildford Flames
2018–19 Guildford Flames season
City Guildford, Surrey
League Elite Ice Hockey League
Founded 1992
Home arena Guildford Spectrum
Colors Maroon blue
Owner(s) Sportfact Ltd.
Head coach United KingdomPaul Dixon
Captain CanadaJesse Craige
Championships
Regular season titles 6 (97/98, 00/01, 05/06, 07/08, 11/12 & 12/13)
Challenge Cups 5 (06/07, 09/10, 11/12, 12/13 & 15/16)
Playoff championships 5 (97/98, 00/01, 03/04, 10/11 & 15/16)

The Guildford Flames are an ice hockey team based in Guildford, Surrey and they play their home games in Guildford Spectrum. They compete in the top-tier of hockey in the United Kingdom, the Elite Ice Hockey League.

Founded in October 1992, the Flames originally played in the second tier leagues of British hockey, first the British National League until its dissolution in 2004, and subsequently the English Premier Ice Hockey League until its dissolution in 2017. On February 24, 2017, it was announced that the Flames would become the 12th Elite Ice Hockey League team, joining for the 2017–18 season.

The team's head coach is Paul Dixon, who took over after Stan Marple retired in 2007.

Formation

Barry 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.

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.

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.

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". 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.

Club honours

  • 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
  • Season 2000/01
  • Season 1998/99
    • Benson & Hedges Plate Winners
  • Season 1997/98
  • Season 1996/97
    • Benson & Hedges Plate Winners

Team logo and jersey

The 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).

2018–19 roster

#PlayerPositionHeightWeightDate of BirthNationalityPrevious TeamAcquired
1Chris CarrozziG6'3"194 lbs2 March 1990Canada CanadianRødovre Mighty Bulls, Metal Ligaen2017
40Travis FullertonG6'1"181 lbs3 November 1987Canada CanadianDundee Stars, EIHL2018
33Michael WillG6'4"190 lbs23 August 1987England EnglishCardiff Devils, EIHL2016
7Kevin PhillipsD5'11"180 lbs5 January 1986United Kingdom BritishBelfast Giants, EIHL2015
82Jeremy LundinD6'0"201 lbs9 February 1988United StatesUnited Kingdom AmericanNewcastle Vipers, EIHL2009
8Calle AckeredD6'0"185 lbs9 January 1991Sweden SwedishÖstersunds IK, Hockeyettan2017
44Jesse CraigeD5'10"174 lbs11 January 1989Canada CanadianRapaces de Gap, Ligue Magnus2017
28Jordan AbtD6'2"181 lbs7 June 1991Canada CanadianNorfolk Admirals, ECHL2018
23Corbin BaldwinD6'5"216 lbs5 February 1991Canada CanadianIdaho Steelheads, ECHL2018
27Ian WattersLW5'11"185 lbs27 December 1991Canada CanadianReading Royals, ECHL2017
18Brett FergusonLW6'0"201 lbs6 March 1990Canada CanadianRapaces de Gap, Ligue Magnus2017
5Ben DaviesC5'8"180 lbs18 January 1991Wales WelshCoventry Blaze, EIHL2017
51Kruise ReddickC/RW5'8"185 lbs6 July 1990Canada CanadianHC Vita Hästen, HockeyAllsvenskan2017
90John DunbarFW5'8"174 lbs24 August 1991Canada CanadianNorfolk Admirals, ECHL2017
24Richard KroghFW5'11"172 lbs20 January 2000England EnglishHC Lugano U17, NL2017
25Kevin KingRW6'1"209 lbs14 January 1990Canada CanadianMilton Keynes Lightning, EIHL2018
74Evan JanssenLW5'11"187 lbs31 March 1993United States AmericanRapid City Rush, ECHL2018
39Evan RittC6'0"185 lbs20 January 1993United States AmericanRapaces de Gap, Ligue Magnus2018
19Jamie CrooksLW5'10"181 lbs8 January 1992Canada CanadianUniversity of Alberta, U Sports2018
62Joshua WallerFW5'9"154 lbs2 June 1999England EnglishHC Dukla Jihlava U20, Czech Extraliga2018
29Erik LindhagenFW/D5'10"172 lbs2 October 1987Sweden SwedishNottingham Panthers, EIHL2018

Coaching staff

Management

  • CEO Rob Hepburn
  • Commercial Manager/Senior Advisor Kirk Humphreys

Retired numbers

The retired numbers at the Guildford Flames are:

Team captains

  • 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
  • 2015–16 – Jez Lundin
  • 2017–18 – Jesse Craige

References

    Preceded by
    Bracknell Bees    		 EPIHL Champions
    2007–08    		 Succeeded by
    Peterborough Phantoms
    Preceded by
    Peterborough Phantoms    		 EPIHL Premier Cup Champions
    2009–10    		 Succeeded by
    Incumbent
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