Earls Court Rangers

Earls Court Rangers were an early English ice hockey team that played in the English National League. They were formed in 1935 and disbanded in 1953. They played their home games at the Earls Court Arena in west London, England at Empress Hall; played only 9 seasons interrupted in 1939 by World War II.

Earls Court Rangers
Founded1935
Dissolved1953
LeagueEnglish National League
Based inLondon
ArenaEarls Court Arena
Colours
  • Orange and chocolate   
  • (1935–37)
  • Orange and black   
  • (1937–39 & 1948–51)
  • Gold, black and white    
  • (1951–53)
Head coachGeorge Redding (1937–39)

Empress Hall

In September 1953, the British Ice Hockey association announced that in the upcoming season the Earls Court Rangers would not play. The club's directors chose not to play that season because its headquarters, Empress Hall in London, was undergoing structural alterations. The alterations were expected to take three months, but in fact the Empress Hall was never rebuilt and now Earls Court 2 and Lillie Road Bus and Tube Depot stand in its spot.[1]

The team was formed in 1935 and played in the league every year until 1940, then from 1948 to 1953. From 1940 to 1947, Empress Hall was under government requisition.[2]

1937 Fixtures

Earl Nicholson, of Harringay Greyhounds, and Howie Peterson, of Earl’s Court Rangers, were suspended on 31 December 1937 until 23 January 1938 for 26 days which was at the time the longest suspension awarded in British ice hockey[3] when both Canadian players "tried to take each other apart"[4] when Earls Court Rangers lost 4-2 against Harringay Greyhounds on 29 December 1937. On 6 November 1937 Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy when visiting London saw Earls Court Rangers play against Harringay Racers.[5]

Coaches

Frank Currie - player coach

Notable players
NameNationalityPositionTimespanRef
Les AnningCanadianWinger1951–1953[6]
Gerry BrownCanadianWinger1937–1939
Keith CampbellCanadianWinger1949–1953[7]
Jack ForseyCanadianWinger1936–1939[8]
Art GreenBritishDefenceman1948–1950
Bill JenningsCanadianWinger1938–1939[9]
Gib HutchinsonCanadian-BritishGoaltender1937–1939[10]
Leo LamoureuxCanadianDefenceman1938–1939[11]
Bobby LeeCanadianCentre1937–1939
George McNeilCanadianDefenceman/winger1937–1938[12]
Don WillsonCanadianCentre1935–1937
Robert WymanBritishDefenceman1937–1938[13]

See also

References
  1. West London Observer Newspaper - Friday 4 September 1953
  2. West London Observer Newspaper - Friday 4 September 1953
  3. Newspaper: Evening Telegraph - Friday 31 December 1937
  4. Canadian Newspaper: Lewiston Evening Journal - 1 January 1938 'Ye Sports Sandwich by Sports Editor Norman S. Thompson'
  5. The Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Monday 8 November 1937
  6. "Les Anning profile". Eurohockey.com.
  7. "Keith William Campbell profile". Eurohockey.com.
  8. "Jack Forsey profile". Eurohockey.com.
  9. "Bill Jennings Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com".
  10. "Gordon Hutchinson profile". Eurohockey.com.
  11. "Leo Lamoureux profile". Eurohockey.com.
  12. "George McNeil profile". Eurohockey.com.
  13. "Robert Wyman profile". Eurohockey.com.
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