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]
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
Defencemen
No. Nat. Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Acquired Contract
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
44 Neil Liddiard R (1978-05-07) 7 May 1978 Swindon, England 2015 from Guildford Flames 20/21
61 Sam Godfrey R (1994-02-02) 2 February 1994 Swindon, England 2017 from Milton Keynes Lightning 21/22
Forwards
No. Nat. Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Acquired Contract
11 Chris Jones R (1991-01-04) 4 January 1991 Cardiff, Wales 2017 from Cardiff Devils 20/21
12 Floyd Taylor L (1995-03-28) 28 March 1995 Swindon, England 2011 from Swindon Lions 20/21
13 Sam Bullas R (1990-09-20) 20 September 1990 Nottingham, England 2014 from Nottingham Panthers 21/22
19 Aaron Nell L (1989-10-22) 22 October 1989 Swindon, England 2014 from Sheffield Steelers 20/21
89 Tomasz Malasinski (*) L (1986-08-23) 23 August 1986 Nowy Targ, Poland 2019 from GKS Katowice 21/22
TBA Jack Goodchild [7] R (2002-10-14) 14 October 2002 England 2020 from Swindon Wildcats 2 / OHA UK U18 20/21

(*) 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.


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 MK 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
  • Swindon Wildcats NIHL – amateur affiliated team playing in National Ice Hockey League South Division 2

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.
  7. "JACK GOODCHILD SIGNS TWO - WAY DEAL WITH LONDON RAIDERS AND SWINDON WILDCATS". Okanagan Hockey UK. 17 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
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