Billingham Stars

Billingham Stars
2016–17 NIHL Moralee Conference season
City Billingham, England
League NIHL
Conference Moralee Conference
Division Northern Division 1
Founded 1971 (1971)
Home arena Billingham Forum Ice Arena
Colours

Red, White

         
General manager Allen Flavell
Head coach Terry Ward
Captain Michael Elder
Media http://www.billinghamstars.co.uk
Franchise history
1971–1982 Billingham Bombers
1982–1992 Cleveland Bombers
1992–1993 Billingham Bombers
1993–1995 Teesside Bombers
1995–1996 Billingham Bombers
1996–2002 Billingham Eagles
2002–2009 Billingham Bombers
2011-Current Billingham Stars (ENL)
Championships
Regular season titles 1998/1999, 1999/2000, 2000/2001, 2005/2006, 2011/2012

The Billingham Stars are an ice hockey team from the town of Billingham in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham. They are currently members of the National Ice Hockey League playing in its Moralee Conference. The Stars play their home games at the Billingham Forum.

The Stars are coached by Player/Coach Michael Bowman.[1]

Notable ex-Billingham players include current GB International and Sheffield Steelers Robert Dowd and Patrice Lefebvre who went on to play 3 games in the NHL for the Washington Capitals.

History

The Billingham Bombers were founded in 1971 as members of the Northern League. In 1982 they became a founder member of the British Hockey League and changed their name to the Cleveland Bombers. Between 1991 and 1995 the team played under the name of the Teesside Bombers before reverting to their original name. Between 1982 and 1986 and again between 1990 and 1994, the Bombers played in the Premier League, the top flight division of British ice hockey at the time.

In more recent times the Bombers won the English League Northern section regular season championship and Northern section play off championship during the 2005-06 season.

The Billingham Bombers did not compete in any league due to a refurbishment of their home venue TFM Radio Ice Arena in the 2009/10 and 2010/11 seasons

Ice Hockey returned to the forum in the 2011/12 seasons after merging with the Northern Stars who were facing problems with their home rink, the Metro Radio Arena. The new club was renamed Billingham Stars.

In 2011/12, the club's first season back following two seasons away from Ice Hockey, Billingham Stars were successful in their attempt to become champions of the English National League, Northern Division. The Championship was finally won with the penultimate league match, at home to Trafford Metros in a 2-2 draw, giving Billingham the final point required to ensure the title.

In 2012/13 Billingham Stars finished as runners up to Solway Sharks for both the League and Cup as well as runners up to the Blackburn Hawks in the end of season playoffs.

In 2013/14 season Billingham finished the season in 3rd position and were knocked out of the end of season Playoffs by 2nd placed Blackburn Hawks.

In the 2014/15 season Billingham finished 2nd to Blackburn Hawks, whilst also making the end of season playoff finals at Dumfries, Scotland. Billingham Stars lost the playoff final game vs Blackburn Hawks.

In 2015/16 season Billingham failed to make the Playoffs finishing in 5th position. However, as a consolation they did win the Northern Cup Competition.

Current squad

Number Player Catches Acquired
13 England James Flavell L 2011
21 England Mark Watson L 2011
25 England Ben Gill L 2014
38 England Callum Reynolds L 2016
Defence
Number Player Shoots Acquired
6 England Will Robson R 2013
11 England Andrew Finn L 2011
17 England Richard Thornton R 2011
18 England Ben Davison L 2011
24 England Scott Cooper L 2016
31 England Ross Hanlon L 2017
42 England Matthew Campbell R 2012
45 England Thomas Keeley R 2014
91 England Callum Read R 2016
Forwards
Number Player Shoots Acquired
4 England Josh Nertney R 2015
5 England James Moss R 2011
9 England Paul Windridge R 2011
10 England Scott Ward L 2011
15 England Chris Sykes (A) L 2014
16 England Michael Bowman R 2012
19 England Luke Brown L 2013
23 England Jack Emerson L 2012
32 England Michael Elder (C) R 2011
36 England Callum Davies (A) R 2011
55 England Jack Davies R 2012
57 Sweden Daniel Palmebjork R 2016
71 Sweden Dennis Bostrom L 2015
76 England Billy Nicholson R 2015
93 England Jack Watkins R 2016
Mascot
Number Player Shoots Acquired
69 England Westy The Duck R 2016
Retired numbers
Number Player Catches/Shoots Retired
1 England Terry Ward L 1993
29 England Andrew Fletcher R 2012

Club Records

League titles

  • ED1: 2 (1998/99, 1999/00)
  • ENL: 3 (2000/01, 2005/06, 2011/12)

Play-Off Titles

  • ED1 Playoffs: (1998/99)
  • ENL Playoffs: 3 (2000/01, 2011/12)

Cup Titles

  • NIHL Northern Cup: (2015/16)

Individual Records

  • Most Games Played: Paul Windridge (569)
  • Most Goals Scored (All Time): Paul Windridge (367)
  • Most Assists (All Time): Paul Windridge (712)
  • Most Points Scored (All Time): Paul Windridge (1,079)
  • Most Penalty Minutes (All Time): Scott Ward (644)
  • Most Goals Scored in a Season: John Hutchings (120) (1987/88)
  • Most Assists in a Season: Pat Mangold (136) (1987/88)
  • Most Points Scored in a Season: Pat Mangold (252) (1987/88)
  • Most Penalty Minutes in a Season: Ricky Box (187) (2006/07)

References

  1. ↑ "Billingham Stars :: Coaches Vow To Bring Stars Success". www.billinghamstars.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
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