Guildford Flames

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

Guildford Flames
CityGuildford, Surrey
LeagueElite Ice Hockey League
Founded1992
Home arenaGuildford Spectrum
(capacity: 2,200)
ColorsNavy, crimson, gold, white
       
Owner(s)Sportfact Ltd
Head coachPaul Dixon
CaptainBrett Ferguson
AffiliatesGuildford Phoenix, NIHL 2
Guildford Lightning, WNIHL (Elite)
Championships
British National League Titles2 (1997–98, 2000–01)
English Premier League Titles4 (2005-06, 2007-08, 2011-12, 2012-13)
British National League Playoff Championships3 (1998, 2001, 2004)
Current season

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

Elite League

The Guildford Flames were confirmed as an Elite League expansion team in February 2017, stepping up from the English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL), and began play in the UK's top division at the start of the 2017–18 EIHL season.[1]

The Flames finished in sixth in their first season (2017–18), followed by a fifth-placed finish in 2018–19 - a campaign in which they finished runners-up to the Belfast Giants in the Challenge Cup final.[2]

Guildford were again in sixth when the 2019–20 EIHL season's remaining matches were cancelled in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The play-offs were cancelled with only the Challenge Cup seeing a winner (the Sheffield Steelers) crowned.[3]

Then, the 2020–21 Elite League season - originally scheduled for a revised start date of 5 December - was suspended on 15 September 2020 because of ongoing coronavirus pandemic restrictions. The EIHL board determined that the season was non-viable without supporters being permitted to attend matches and unanimously agreed to a suspension.[4] The season was cancelled completely in February 2021.[5]

In the 2021–22 EIHL season, Guildford finished the regular season in fifth place with a 25-25-4 record, reaching the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup (losing 6–5 on aggregate to Nottingham Panthers) and the play-off semi-finals (beating Nottingham 7–6 on aggregate in the quarter-finals, before losing in the last four to Cardiff Devils 3–2).[6][7] Guildford claimed third place by beating Dundee Stars 7–5 in the third/fourth place play-off.[8]

The 2022–23 EIHL season proved to be even better for the Guildford Flames, propelled by a strong start to the campaign that saw the Flames top the league for much of the first half of the season, including at Christmas. Forwards Daniel Tedesco (80 points), captain Brett Ferguson (67 points) and Ryan Tait (62 points) led the way.

The team were neck and neck with eventual league champions the Belfast Giants, with Guildford finishing in 2nd place in the Elite League with a 40-12-2 record from 54 games, good for 82 points - just two behind the Giants.[9] Belfast secured the title after a 6-1 win over the Flames at the SSE Arena on 1 April 2023.[10]

In the Challenge Cup, Guildford reached the semi-finals, before an eventual 6-3 aggregate defeat - once again at the hands of the Belfast Giants. And in the play-offs, the Flames were on the end of an upset at the quarter-final stage, losing 7-6 at the hands of seventh seed the Nottingham Panthers in April 2023.[11]

Guildford's second place league finish in the 2022–23 season saw them earn qualification for the 2023–24 IIHF Continental Cup. However, in May 2023, the club released a statement confirming they would decline their place in the competition.[12]

Club honours
  • Season 2022/23
  • Season 2021/22
    • 2021–22 EIHL All-Stars First Team: Jamal Watson
  • Season 2018/19
    • Patton Conference Champions
    • Challenge Cup runners-up
    • 2018–19 EIHL All-Stars Second Team: Calle Ackered, Jesse Craige
  • Season 2017/18
    • 2017–18 EIHL All-Stars First Team: Jesse Craige
    • 2017–18 EIHL All-Stars Second Team: Calle Ackered, John Dunbar
  • Season 2015/16
The team celebrates winning the 2016 Playoff Championships
    • 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
The team celebrates winning the 2011 Playoff Championships

Team logo and jersey
The current team jerseys, for both away and home.
The current team jerseys, for both away and home.

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).

Current squad

Squad for 2023-24 Elite League season[13][14]

Netminders
No. Player Catches Acquired Place of Birth Joined from Press Release
1 Canada Taz Burman L 2022 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Alberta Golden Bears, U Sports [16]
27 United States Eamon McAdam L 2022 Perkasie, Pennsylvania, US Esbjerg Energy, Metal Ligaen [17]
30 England Adam Long L 2021 Crewe, England Haringey Huskies, NIHL2 [18]
Defencemen
No. Player Shoots Acquired Place of Birth Joined from Press Release
5 Canada Bradley Lalonde R 2022 Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada Greenville Swamp Rabbits, ECHL [19]
6 Canada Kyle Locke R 2021 Aurora, Ontario, Canada Ontario Tech Ridgebacks, U Sports [20]
14 United KingdomCanada Ben O'Connor A L 2022 Durham, England HSC Csíkszereda, Erste Liga [21]
20 Canada Marcus Tesink L 2023 Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada Concordia Stingers, U Sports [22]
24 Canada Alex Yuill L 2021 Wellington, Ontario, Canada Ontario Tech Ridgebacks, U Sports [23]
42 Canada Jordan Klimek L 2022 Langley, British Columbia, Canada DEAC, Erste Liga [24]
46 Canada Michael Crocock A L 2022 Brantford, Ontario, Canada Reading Royals, ECHL [25]
Forwards
No. Player Position Acquired Place of Birth Joined from Press Release
8 United States Ryan Tait C/RW 2022 Santa Clarita, California, US Jokers de Cergy-Pontoise, Ligue Magnus [26]
16 Canada Turner Ripplinger RW 2022 Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada Regina Cougars, U Sports [27]
17 Canada Austin Glover C/RW 2023 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Anglet, Ligue Magnus [28]
18 Canada Brett Ferguson C LW/C 2021 Vibank, Saskatchewan, Canada HC 07 Detva, Slovak Extraliga [29]
19 United States Bryan Lemos RW/C 2023 East Providence, Rhode Island, US Indy Fuel, ECHL [30]
25 United States Logan Fredericks C 2022 Millstone Township, New Jersey, US Wichita Thunder, ECHL [31]
28 Canada Matt Alvaro LW/C 2023 Toronto, Ontario, Canada Fort Wayne Komets, ECHL [32]
29 England Zack Milton* F 2022 England Basingstoke Bison, NIHL [33]
47 Canada Ryan Hughes C 2023 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Alberta Golden Bears, U Sports [34]
72 United States Peter Crinella A C 2022 East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, US Wichita Thunder, ECHL [35]
77 Wales Owen Griffiths C 2021 Cardiff, Wales Nottingham Panthers, EIHL [36]
88 EnglandUnited Kingdom Lewis Hook LW 2023 Peterborough, England Belfast Giants, EIHL [37]
98 England Samuel Talbot F 2023 England Milton Keynes Lightning, NIHL [38]
On Loan
No. Player Position Acquired Place of Birth Playing For Press Release
Team Staff
No. Name Position Place of Birth Joined from Press Release
N/A England Paul Dixon Head coach/GM Sunderland, England Appointed in 2007
N/A England Andrew Hemmings Assistant coach Guildford, England Appointed in 2022
N/A England Rob Horspool Equipment manager England Appointed in 2017
Recent departures
No. Player Position Acquired Leaving For Press Release
7 EnglandUnited Kingdom Robert Lachowicz LW/C 2021 Glasgow Clan, EIHL
13 Canada Tristan Frei C/RW 2021 TBC
13 United States Anthony Petruzzelli LW/RW 2023 Jacksonville Icemen, ECHL
20 Sweden Sam Marklund C/LW 2022 GKS Katowice, Polska Hokej Liga
26 CanadaItaly Daniel Tedesco LW 2022 Belfast Giants, EIHL
29 Canada Ian McNulty A C/LW 2021 Coventry Blaze, EIHL
50 Canada Levi Cable LW/RW 2021 TBC
81 Canada Kobe Walker F 2023 TBC

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
  • 2015–17 – Jeremy Lundin
  • 2017–20 – Jesse Craige
  • 2021– Brett Ferguson

References
  1. "Guildford Flames to join elite league". Coventry Blaze. 24 February 2017. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  2. "Challenge Cup: Belfast Giants retain trophy with overtime win against Flames". BBC Sport. 10 March 2019. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  3. "EIHL cancels all matches for rest of season". eSports Media. 13 March 2020. Archived from the original on 12 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  4. "EIHL Board Suspend 2020-21 Season". eSports Media. 15 September 2020. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  5. "No Elite League Season 2020/21". eSports Media. 2 February 2021. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  6. "Cardiff Devils 3:2 Guildford Flames".
  7. "Gamecentre".
  8. "Guildford Flames 7:5 Dundee Stars".
  9. "Standings 2022/2023 Elite Ice Hockey League".
  10. "Giants clinch third straight Elite League title!". 21 August 2019.
  11. "Panthers hold on to knock out second-seeded Flames". 21 August 2019.
  12. "Flames not entering Continental Cup".
  13. "Guildford Flames at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  14. "Team". Guildford Flames. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  15. "Guildford Flames Ice Hockey Club - Milton returns for 23-24".
  16. "Burman back for 2nd season". Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  17. "Griffiths and McAdam return". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  18. "Long and Milton return for 23-24". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  19. "Lalonde returns for 23/24". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  20. "Kyle Locke returns to Flames blueline group". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  21. "O'Connor returns for 2nd term". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  22. "Flames and Tesink come together term". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  23. "Yuill and Ripplinger back for third terms". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  24. "Crinella and Klimek agree to 2nd season". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  25. "Crocock returns". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  26. "Tait back for two more seasons". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  27. "Yuill and Ripplinger back for third term". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  28. "Austin Glover Joins Flames". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  29. "Ferguson back on two-year deal". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  30. "Lemos making overseas debut with Flames". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  31. "Fredericks returns for 2nd term". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  32. "Alvaro added to forward group". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  33. "Long and Milton return for 23-24". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  34. "Hughes to make pro debut with Flames". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  35. "Crinella and Klimek agree to 2nd season". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  36. "Griffiths and McAdam return". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  37. "Hook and Flames come together for 23-24". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  38. "Former GB U18 Talbot joins Flames". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
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