Wightlink Tigers
| Wightlink Tigers | |
|---|---|
| City | Ryde, Isle of Wight, England |
| League | ENIHL |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Home arena | Ryde Arena Capacity: 1000 Ice size: 165ft x 80ft |
| Colours | White, Orange, Black |
| Head coach | Jason Coles |
| Captain | Andrew Robinson |
| Website | Official website |
The Wightlink Tigers (formerly Vectis Tigers) are an amateur English ice hockey team from the Isle of Wight, they are currently in Division 2 of the southern conference of the ENIHL. Although no promotion or relegation system exists between the leagues (apart from between the two ENIHL divisions), the ENIHL is seen as the third tier of English ice hockey. The Isle of Wight also have a team in the EPIHL called the Wightlink Raiders although they play at the same arena the teams currently are not linked in any way.
Contents
History
At the end of the 2006/2007 hockey season the EIHA (English Ice Hockey Association) made a decision that the current junior ice hockey format in England needed updating. After much discussion it was agreed that juniors would now end at 'under 18s'. This left many Junior players across the country with a sudden loss of teams to play for. Players not good enough for the English Premier League (EPIHL) but who didn't just want to play Recreational (Rec) hockey were left with only one choice but to play in the ENIHL (Formally English Division 1). Roy Meadows along with the help and support of Campbell MacFarlane as well as many other committed helpers formed the basis of what became the Wightlink Tigers. It also gave the chance for many Isle of Wight Wildcats players to contiune playing Ice Hockey on the Isle of Wight
After a failed attempt a few years previous of bringing an ED1 team to the Isle of Wight, it was great news in July 2007 it was announced the Wightlink Tigers had been accepted to play in the Southern group of the ENL.
The Tigers did not have the best of starts to their history, losing their first 15 games of their opening season. However, there have been moments where the Tigers have pound for pound matched some of the better teams in the league. On 17 February 2008, the Vectis Tigers recorded their first competitive win in the clubs history, beating namesakes the Telford ENL Tigers 5–2 in the last game of the season.
2008–2009
The first names for the 2008–2009 roster were announced 08/08/08 and include returnees Micheal Treadwell and 2007-2008s players player Aaron Taylor joined by former Solihull Barons player Elliott Foley. Micheal Palin and Joe Osborne return as Captain and Alternate respectively while Ex-Wightlink Raiders player Steve Gosset makes the move down to the ENL to concentrate on his studying. Former Gosport players David Webb, Kent Johnson and Alex Murray join the squad followed by Daniel Giden who along with Scott Carter bring a wealth of British EPL hockey experience to the team from the Wightlink Raiders. Jason Coles joins mid way through the season and the team is guided to 2nd spot in the league behind last years EPL team the Chelmsford Chieftains. Playoff hockey was at Ryde Arena and saw the Tigers take on The MK Thunder who finished 2nd to bottom in the South 1 league. The latter came out victorious and stayed up.
2009–2010
The Wightlink Raiders drop from EPL to ENL South 1 which sees an exodus of players make the step up. David Webb, Kevin Tanner, Kent Johnson, Steve Gossett, Kieran Annis and Alex Murray all left for the Raiders which left large holes in the Tigers Roster. Returnees included Jason Coles as Captain, Adam Rich, Niall Bound, Joe Osbourne, Ricky Attrill, Richard Nembhard, Rowen Salter, Tony Blaize, Aaron Knight, Martin Goddard, Thomas Eklund, Graham MacFarlane, Chris Randall, Richard Gutteridge and Jamie Lee. Returning was veteran Paul Sanderson after a season out. Juniors icing with the tigers this season included Aaron Edwards, Matthew Wilks, Jordan Rickets and James McEllan. The first game of the season was played against the Wightlink Raiders as a friendly with raiders coming out top on a 9–0 win. Niall Bound left soon after to step up to ENL 1 but were joined later in the season by Ricky Rutherford and Nathan Webb from the Haringey Greyhounds. James Eklund made the step up from newly formed Rec team the Solent Vikings.
2010–2011
Returnees include James Eklund, Ricky Attrill, Graham MacFarlane, Ricky Rutherford, Martin Goddard, Joe Osbourne, Richard Gutteridge, Nathan Webb, Jason Coles, Tony Blaize, Christopher Randall and Jamie Lee. New to the squad are Peter Scovell who after uni for 3years has returned to hockey for his first competitive season after Juniors. Dan Giden and Scott Carter return after a year out from the sport. Elliot Folley is back in the net after a stint with the Swindon Wildcats. Making his first season in competitive hockey is former junior Shaun harris. Also back is former captain Micheal Palin after finding it hard to commit last year due to work commitments. Not returning are both renowned tough guy Adam Rich and Rowen Salter who make the switch to the Solent Vikings due to work and family commitments. Aaron Taylor is out after braking a foot last year and has not returned.
Team roster
Coaching staff
Goaltenders
- #??
Scott Bickerstaff - #??
Dan Wellar-Evans - #?? Micheal Treadwell
- #11 Elliott Powell
Defencemen
- #10 Ricky Attrill
- #12 James Eklund
- #18
Scott Carter Non EIHA Trained - #21 Joe Osborne
- #24 Richard Gutteridge
- #27 Shaun Harris
- #36 Tony Blaize
- #?? Graham Ruddick
- #?? Luke Tull
- #?? Stephen Indge
Forwards
- #05 Jordan Rickets
- #15 Graham MacFarlane
- #19 Martin Goddard
- #26 Nathan Webb
- #33 Jason Coles Non-EIHA Trained – Player Coach
- #68 Michael Palin
- #73 Chris Randell
- #81 Jamie Lee
- #?? Aaron Edwards
- #?? Andrew Robinson
- #?? Chris Petts
Previous players
- #61
Seb Cerdan - #11 Kevin Tanner
- #12 Niall Bound
- #24 Stephen Gossett
- #03 Rowen Salter
- #08 Micheal Squibb
- #91 Aaron Taylor
- #71 Richie Huntley
- #05 Steven Laing
- #35 Adam Dobson
- #06 Richard Nembhard
- #?? Sarah Johnstone
- #?? James Boast
- #07 Thomas Eklund
- #09 Adam Rich
- #?? George Smith
- #06 David Webb
- #07 Kent Johnson
- #73 Alex Murray
- #13 Kieran Annis
- #?? Paul Sanderson
- #03 Ryan Attrill
- #77 Mathew Wilks
- #11
Daniel Giden - player #68 UK Michael Palin
- #25 Roy Meadows – Former coach
