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Warming up again in the hockey hotbed
by Craig Simpson
The north east of England is often described as a hotbed of British ice hockey.
In recent years it has been difficult to justify that status with a faltering Newcastle team in the Elite League and Whitley Warriors in the ENL, while the old Sunderland club were battling to continue without a permanent rink to call home.
Just over fifteen years ago, the North East was able to boast weekend attendances around 6-7000 at Durham Wasps, Whitley Warriors, Sunderland Chiefs and Billingham Bombers. In addition each club had their own junior development structure to produce the future generations of players.
This summer with the suspension of Vipers’ operations and the merger between Northern Stars (ex-Sunderland) and Billingham the north east now has just two clubs in operation.
Whitley Warriors and the newly named Billingham Stars are playing in the ENL North Division 1 – the third tier of British Ice Hockey in front of less than 1500 fans each weekend.
Warriors are two-time League and Playoff winners but having to rebuild their squad following Simon Leach’s decision to stand down at the end of last season, and the loss of practically their entire top line. Billingham on the other hand are back at the Forum – now known as the TFM Radio Ice Arena – after the facility was given a multi-million pound facelift.
Last weekend the two teams met for the first time in over two years, and the “Sold Out” signs were up at the Forum as the fans bought into the first derby game of the season.
I said earlier in the season when speaking to the “A View From The Bridge” podcast that rivalries were important in building and maintaining supporter interest. In the heyday mentioned earlier, there was Wasps v Warriors as the very definition of ‘rivalry’. the four north east clubs competed in the Castle Eden Cup in front of a packed house at Durham.
So when the Stars and Warriors met on Teesside the Forum was rocking with an 800-strong full house, and the players as well as the supporters were relishing the occasion.
So there are signs that there is life back in the hockey hotbed with fans getting behind the two remaining senior clubs. Billingham are getting their fair share of ex Newcastle and ex Durham fans along with the traditional Teesside support. Whitley too are getting ex Vipers taking in a weekly hockey fix.
The squads are filled with local players, the majority of whom having come through the junior ranks at their respective clubs, making it very much a "made in the north east" feel to the team.Added to this, and possibly more importantly, the two clubs junior development systems are full to bursting with evidence that those who are good enough will get the chance with the Stars or Warriors senior teams.
If these two can build and maintain a strong rivalry then if a new rink emerges in Durham, Gateshead or wherever then the next generation of players can stay in the north east without having to move away to further their careers.
For the record, Billingham took the bragging rights in the first derby game with a 7-2 win. The next installment of the derby series is at Hillheads on Sunday December 18, 5pm face off.
The hockey hotbed may have cooled over the past decade, but there’s signs that it may be warming up again.
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| Club | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts |
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- Adam Walker
- Alex Birch
- Andy Pierce
- Chris Gent
- Christopher Beal
- Craig Simpson
- Dave Simms
- Elliott Stanley
- Gareth Chalmers
- James Broughton
- James Gordon
- Katy Madgwick
- Luke Catterson
- Mark Briggs
- Mark Duell
- Mat Young
- Patrick Smyth
- Promotion
- Russ Morrell
- Seanna Murdock
- Stephen Dowson
- Stewart Roberts
- Tom Forster
- Vicki Smart
- William Lyon
