Chelmsford Chieftains

British ice hockey team

Chelmsford Chieftains

City| Chelmsford, Essex, England
League| NIHL
Division| Division One South
Founded| 1987
Home arena| Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre
Colors| White, Amber & Black

Head coach| Lewis Clifford
Affiliates| Peterborough Phantoms, NIHL National
Chelmsford Warriors, NIHL 2
Franchise history
1987 – Present| Chelmsford Chieftains

The Chelmsford Chieftains are an Ice Hockey team based in Chelmsford, Essex that is currently playing in the NIHL South Division 1. Since the team was founded in 1987, the Chieftains have played their home games at the Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre.

Chelmsford's first ever game at the Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre was a challenge match against Peterborough Titans on Saturday 5 September 1987. The Chieftains won the game 11–4 in front of 300 spectators. Stuart Steeves (Chelmsford) scored the first ever goal at the venue at 2.07 in the first period.

After competing in the English Premier Ice Hockey League for eight seasons between 1998 and 2008 (having been absent from the league from 2000 until 2002), the Chelmsford Chieftains withdrew from the league at the end of the 2007/2008 season, and instead entered the English National Ice Hockey League. The hockey governing body in the UK, the EIHA, informed the club that they would be playing in Division 1 for the 2008/2009 season. However, at the league A.G.M., many of the clubs supported a motion to overturn the league's decision and the Chieftains were placed in Division 2. The Chieftains had already assembled a squad capable of playing in Division 1 and at such a late stage, the squad could not be rebuilt.[citation needed] The outcome was that the Chieftains started the season in a very strong position.[citation needed]

In the entire 2008/2009 season, the Chieftains allowed a single point, to the Invicta Mustangs at the start of the season. From then until the end of the season, the Chieftains won every game, with an average score of 8–2.

In 2009/10, they finished fourth in the league.

In the 2010/11 season, the Chieftains contended for top spot. Only in the final few weeks did the Wightlink Raiders cement their place at the top of the table. The Raiders had been the only side the Chieftains had failed to beat during the regular season.

The Chieftains after their ENL1 South play-off win over Wightlink Raiders.

At the conclusion of the 2010/11 season, Dean Birrell announced he would be moving to the role of Director of Coaching in Chelmsford, which would oversee the coaching of the Chieftains and Warriors. Taking his place would be MK Lightning forward Gary Clarke, who takes over in a player-coach role for the 2011-12 campaign.

## Trophies

[edit]

1989 Essex Cup
1990/91 Autumn Trophy
1992/93 British League Entry Playoffs
1996/97 Essex/Kent Cup
1996/97 Essex Cup
1999/00 English League Premier Division Playoffs
1999/00 Data Vision Millenium Cup
1999/00 English League Premier Division
2008/09 English National League South Division 2
2010/11 English National League South Division 1 Playoffs
2011/12 English National League South Division 1 Playoffs
2011/12 Essex Cup
2012/13 National Ice Hockey League South Division 1
2012/13 National Ice Hockey League South Division 1 Playoffs
2013/14 National Ice Hockey League South Division 1
2014/15 National Ice Hockey League South Division 1
2018/19 National Ice Hockey League South Division 2

## Runners up in major competitions excluding league

[edit]

1996/97 Playoff finalists
1997/98 Playoff finalists
1995/96 Autumn Trophy Finalists
2010/11 English National League South Division 1
2011/12 English National League South Division 1
2012/13 National Ice Hockey League South Cup
2012/13 South East Cup

2017/18 National Ice Hockey League South Division 2

## League history

[edit]

Season | Name of League | Final Position | # of teams | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | OT Win | OT Loss | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |

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1987/88 | British League Div 2 | 2nd | 14 | 26 | 19 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 201 | 107 | 94 | 39 |
1988/89 | English First Div | 5th | 8 | 28 | 10 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 148 | 153 | -5 | 23 |
1989/90 | English First Div | 3rd | 7 | 24 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 222 | 140 | 82 | 33 |
1990/91 | English First Div | 3rd | 8 | 28 | 17 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 269 | 213 | 56 | 36 |
1991/92 | English First Div | 8th | 9 | 32 | 15 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 277 | 276 | 1 | 33 |
1992/93 | English League Conference B | 2nd | 6 | 32 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 357 | 168 | 189 | 47 |
1993/94 | British League Div 1 South | 8th | 8 | 44 | 10 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 260 | 374 | -114 | 22 |
1994/95 | British League Div 1 | 10th | 12 | 44 | 10 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 274 | 404 | -130 | 24 |
1995/96 | British League Div 1 | 10th | 14 | 52 | 16 | 31 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 267 | 377 | -110 | 37 |
1996/97 | English League Div 1 South | 2nd | 12 | 22 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 175 | 51 | 124 | 37 |
1997/98 | English League Div 1 South | 2nd | 11 | 20 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 187 | 69 | 118 | 33 |
1998/99 | English League Prem Div | 4th | 9 | 32 | 14 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 195 | 181 | 14 | 32 |
1999/00 | English League Prem Div | 1st | 5 | 24 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 138 | 85 | 53 | 39 |
2000/01 | English National Prem League | 2nd | 9 | 32 | 23 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 203 | 106 | 97 | 48 |
2001/02 | English National League South | 5th | 10 | 18 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 72 | 28 | 23 |
2002/03 | English National Prem League | 5th | 12 | 42 | 24 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 245 | 170 | 75 | 54 |
2003/04 | English Premier Ice Hockey League | 4th | 9 | 32 | 18 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 211 | 149 | 62 | 39 |
2004/05 | English Premier Ice Hockey League | 7th | 9 | 32 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 128 | 130 | -2 | 28 |
2005/06 | English Premier Ice Hockey League | 11th | 13 | 48 | 10 | 33 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 149 | 284 | -135 | 25 |
2006/07 | English Premier Ice Hockey League | 8th | 12 | 44 | 20 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 194 | 184 | 10 | 43 |
2007/08 | English Premier Ice Hockey League | 9th | 11 | 40 | 12 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 151 | 189 | -38 | 29 |
2008/09 | English National League Two South | 1st | 9 | 32 | 31 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 282 | 67 | 215 | 63 |
2009/10 | English National League One South | 4th | 10 | 36 | 23 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 213 | 89 | 124 | 52 |
2010/11 | English National League One South | 2nd | 11 | 40 | 28 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 253 | 101 | 152 | 64 |
2011/12 | English National League One South | 2nd | 10 | 36 | 30 | 6 | 0 | ? | ? | 251 | 89 | 162 | 60 |
2012/13 | English National League One South | 1st | 9 | 32 | 25 | 5 | 2 | ? | ? | 189 | 73 | 116 | 52 |
2013/14 | English National League One South | 1st | 9 | 32 | 26 | 3 | 3 | ? | ? | 185 | 60 | 125 | 55 |
2014/15 | English National League One South | 1st | 10 | 36 | 26 | 5 | 5 | ? | ? | 163 | 79 | 84 | 57 |
2017/18 | National Ice Hockey League South Division 2 | 4th | 14 | 26 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 186 | 74 | 112 | 40 |
2018/19 | National Ice Hockey League South Division 2 | 4th | 15 | 28 | 21 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 206 | 77 | 129 | 46 |

[1]

## Club roster 2022-23

[edit]

(*) Denotes a Non-British Trained player (Import)

Netminders

No.  | Nat.  | Player  | Catches  | Date of birth  | Place of birth  | Acquired  | Contract
35 |  | Luca Tessadri  | L  |  (2005-02-10) 10 February 2005 (age 20) | Basildon, England  | 2021 from Raiders U18 | U18 Junior
39 |  | Petr Čech | R  |  (1982-05-20) 20 May 1982 (age 43) | Plzeň, Czech Republic  | 2022 from Guildford Phoenix | 22/23
44 |  | Sonny Phillips  | L  |  (1997-04-27) 27 April 1997 (age 28) | Hornchurch, England  | 2014 from Chelmsford Warriors | 22/23
Defencemen

No.  | Nat.  | Player  | Shoots  | Date of birth  | Place of birth  | Acquired  | Contract
12 |  | Jaden Boolkah  |  |  (2003-10-01) 1 October 2003 (age 21) | England | 2019 from Chelmsford U18  | 22/23
36 |  | Callum Burnett  | R  |  (2001-01-19) 19 January 2001 (age 24) | England | 2022 from Raiders IHC | 22/23
4 |  | Neil Liddiard  | R  |  (1978-05-07) 7 May 1978 (age 47) | Swindon, England  | 2022 from Swindon Wildcats | 22/23
47 |  | Daniel Fay  |  |  (2000-03-04) 4 March 2000 (age 25) | England | 2022 from Raiders IHC | 22/23
93 |  | Daniel Hitchings  | R  |  (2002-02-18) 18 February 2002 (age 23) | England | 2022 from Raiders 2 | 22/23
91 |  | Casey Wilson  |  | 2002 (age 20)  | England | 2022 from Raiders 2 | 22/23
40 |  | Archie Salisbury  | L  |  (2006-08-08) 8 August 2006 (age 18) | England | 2022 from Peterborough Phantoms | Two-Way
Forwards

No.  | Nat.  | Player  | Shoots  | Date of birth  | Place of birth  | Acquired  | Contract
3 |  | T.J. Fillery  | R  |  (1996-05-18) 18 May 1996 (age 29) | Harold Wood, England  | 2017 from Chelmsford Warriors | 22/23
8 |  | Cameron Bartlett  | R  |  (1993-11-22) 22 November 1993 (age 31) | Romford, England  | 2018 from Invicta Dynamos | 22/23
9 |  | Grant Bartlett  | R  |  (1993-11-22) 22 November 1993 (age 31) | Romford, England  | 2018 from Invicta Dynamos | 22/23
10 |  | Kieran Raynor  | R  |  (1998-03-23) 23 March 1998 (age 27) | Glasgow, Scotland  | 2021 from Peterborough Phantoms 2 | 22/23
11  |  | 'Sasha' Maltsev*  | R  |  (2004-11-26) 26 November 2004 (age 20) | Pyriatyn, Ukraine  | 2022 from MHK Sokil U20 | 22/23
14 |  | Bailey Chittock  | R  |  (1997-06-20) 20 June 1997 (age 28) | Chelmsford, England  | 2021 from Raiders 2 | 22/23
15 |  | Justin Dennison  |  | 2006 (age 16)  | England | 2022 from Peterborough Phantoms 2 | Two-Way
16 |  | Leo Markey  |  | 2004 (age 18)  | England | 2022 from Peterborough Phantoms 2 | Two-Way
17 |  | Harry Harcup  |  |  (2000-01-17) 17 January 2000 (age 25) | England | 2022 from Slough Jets | 22/23
20 |  | Ross Clark  | R  |  (2002-04-16) 16 April 2002 (age 23) | Peterborough, England  | 2022 from Raiders IHC | 22/23
24 |  | Ollie Baldock  | R  |  (1998-01-15) 15 January 1998 (age 27) | Chelmsford, England  | 2022 from Raiders IHC | 22/23
|  | Mason Webster  | R  |  (1994-08-06) 6 August 1994 (age 30) | Basildon, England  | 2022 from Invicta Dynamos | 22/23
|  | Brandon Webster  |  |  (2000-05-26) 26 May 2000 (age 25) | Basildon, England  | 2022 from Invicta Dynamos | 22/23
74 |  | Chris Beckett  | R  |  (2005-03-17) 17 March 2005 (age 20) | Basildon, England  | 2021 from Chelmsford U18  | U18 Junior
89 |  | James Pentecost  | R  |  (1989-10-09) 9 October 1989 (age 35) | Peterborough, England  | 2021 from Haringey Huskies | 22/23
Team Staff

No.  | Nat.  | Name  | Acquired  | Role  | Place of birth  | Joined From
|  | Mark Saunders  | 2022/23  | Head Coach  | Kingston upon Thames, England  | Raiders 2, NIHL 1
|  | Neil Liddiard  | 2022/23  | Player-Assistant Coach  | Swindon, England  | Swindon Wildcats, NIHL National

## 2021/22 Outgoing

[edit]

Outgoing

No.  | Nat.  | Player  | Shoots  | Date of birth  | Place of birth  | Leaving For
11 |  | Darren Brown  | R  |  (1988-08-02) 2 August 1988 (age 36) | Chelmsford, England  | Retired
17 |  | Stanislav Lascek  | L  |  (1986-01-17) 17 January 1986 (age 39) | Martin, Slovakia  | Invicta Dynamos, NIHL 1
21 |  | Andrew Munroe  | R  |  (1982-08-02) 2 August 1982 (age 42) | Ashington, England  | Retired
26 |  | Julian Smith  | R  |  (1987-02-06) 6 February 1987 (age 38) | Peterborough, England  | Retired
43 |  | Ethan Reid  | R  |  (2002-06-03) 3 June 2002 (age 23) | Scotland | Raiders IHC, NIHL National
88 |  | Matt Turner  | R  |  (1988-11-18) 18 November 1988 (age 36) | Romford, England  | Retired
91 |  | James Ayling  | L  |  (1992-05-15) 15 May 1992 (age 33) | Chelmsford, England  | Retired

* v
* t
* e

Ice hockey in the United Kingdom

Governing bodies|

* English Ice Hockey Association
* Ice Hockey UK
* Northern Ireland Ice Hockey Association
* Scottish Ice Hockey

Elite League|

* Belfast Giants
* Cardiff Devils
* Coventry Blaze
* Dundee Stars
* Fife Flyers
* Glasgow Clan
* Guildford Flames
* Manchester Storm
* Nottingham Panthers
* Sheffield Steelers

National Ice Hockey League|

| National League|

* Basingstoke Bison
* Bees IHC
* Bristol Pitbulls
* Hull Seahawks
* Leeds Knights
* Milton Keynes Lightning
* Peterborough Phantoms
* Raiders
* Sheffield Steeldogs
* Solway Sharks
* Swindon Wildcats
* Telford Tigers

|

North Division 1|

* Billingham Stars
* Blackburn Hawks
* Deeside Dragons
* Nottingham Lions
* Sheffield Scimitars
* Solihull Barons
* Widnes Wild

South Division 1|

* Cardiff Fire
* Chelmsford Chieftains
* Invicta Dynamos
* Milton Keynes Thunder
* Oxford City Stars
* Raiders 2
* Slough Jets
* Solent Devils
* Streatham IHC

North Division 2|

* Altrincham Aces
* Blackburn Hawks 2
* Bradford Bulldogs
* Coventry Blaze NIHL
* Hull Jets
* Nottingham Lions 2
* Sheffield Titans
* Sutton Sting
* Telford Tigers 2

South Division 2|

* Basingstoke Buffalo
* Guildford Phoenix
* Haringey Huskies
* Invicta Mustangs
* Lee Valley Lions
* Peterborough Phantoms 2
* Solent Devils 2
* Streatham Hawks
* Swindon Wildcats 2

Scottish National League|

* Aberdeen Lynx
* Dundee Rockets
* Edinburgh Capitals
* Kilmarnock Storm
* Kirkcaldy Kestrels
* North Ayrshire Wild
* Paisley Pirates
* Solway Sharks (SNL)
* Whitley Warriors

Women's National Ice Hockey League|

| WNIHL Elite|

* Bracknell Queen Bees
* Kingston Diamonds
* Nottingham Vipers
* Solihull Vixens
* Streatham Storm

|

WNIHL Premier|

* Bracknell Firebees
* Cardiff Comets
* Chelmsford Cobras
* Kingston Diamonds B
* Milton Keynes Falcons
* Sheffield Shadows
* Swindon TopCats
* Whitley Squaws

Division 1 North|

* Grimsby Wolves
* Nottingham Vipers B
* Sheffield Shadows B
* Solway Sharks Ladies
* Telford Wrekin Raiders
* Widnes Wild Women

Division 1 South|

* Coventry Phoenix
* Oxford Midnight Stars
* Peterborough Penguins
* Slough Sirens
* Solent Amazons
* Streatham Storm B
* Swindon TopCats B

British University Teams|

* Birmingham Lions
* Bradford Sabres
* Bristol Lions
* Caledonia Steel Queens
* Cambridge University Blues
* Cardiff Redhawks
* Coventry and Warwick Panthers
* Edinburgh Eagles
* Huddersfield Ice Hawks
* Hull Ice Hogs
* Imperial Devils
* Kent Knights
* Leeds Gryphons
* London Dragons
* Manchester Metros
* Newcastle Wildcats
* Northumbria Kings
* Nottingham Mavericks
* Oxford University Ice Hockey Club
* Sheffield Bears
* Southampton Spitfires
* St Andrews Typhoons
* UCL Yetis
* UEA Avalanche

Competitions|

* League Championship
* British Championship
* Challenge Cup
* Ken Taggart Memorial Trophy and Memorial Bowl
* Knockout Cup
* Varsity Match

Player awards|

* Alan Weeks Trophy
* Best British Forward
* British Netminder of the Year
* Coach of the Year Trophy
* Ice Hockey Annual Trophy
* Player of the Year Trophy
* Vic Batchelder Memorial Award

Defunct leagues
and competitions|

* British Ice Hockey Association
* Ahearne Cup
* Autumn Cup
* British Hockey League
* British National League (1954–60)
* British National League (1996–2005)
* English League
* English League North
* English National League
* English National League (1981–82)
* English Premier League
* Ice Hockey Superleague
* Inter-City League
* Northern League
* Northern League
* Scottish National League
* Scottish Premier Hockey League
* Southern League

Defunct teams|

* Aldershot Bullets
* Ayr Bruins
* Ayr Scottish Eagles
* Blackburn Eagles
* Blackpool Seagulls
* Brighton Tigers
* Cardiff Rage
* Castlereagh Knights
* Dumfries Vikings
* Dunfermline Vikings
* Dundee Comets
* Dundee Tigers
* Durham City Wasps
* Durham Wasps
* Earls Court Rangers
* Edinburgh Capitals (SNL)
* Flintshire Freeze
* Fylde Flyers
* Harringay Greyhounds
* Harringay Racers
* Hull Pirates
* Hull Stingrays
* Hull Thunder
* Humberside Seahawks
* Isle of Wight Wildcats
* Kilmarnock Storm
* Lancashire Raptors
* Liverpool Leopards
* London Canadians
* London Lions
* London Knights
* London Racers
* Manchester Minotaurs
* Manchester Phoenix
* Manchester Storm (1995–2002)
* Medway Bears
* Milton Keynes Kings
* Moray Tornadoes
* Murrayfield Racers
* Murrayfield Racers (2018–2022)
* Newcastle Jesters
* Newcastle Vipers
* Niagara Ice Hockey Club
* Oxford Blades
* Peterborough Pirates
* Princes Ice Hockey Club
* Richmond Flyers
* Sheffield Lancers
* Sheffield Scimitars
* Sheffield Spartans
* Slough Jets ENL
* Southampton Vikings
* Stevenage Oilers
* Stevenage Sharks
* Stevenage Strikers
* Sunderland Chiefs
* Swindon TopCats B
* TDC Northern Stars
* Telford Tigers ENL
* Telford Titans
* Wembley Lions
* Wembley Monarchs
* Wightlink Buccaneers
* Wightlink Raiders
* Wightlink Tigers

Miscellaneous|

* Great Britain men's national ice hockey team
* Great Britain women's national ice hockey team
* British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame
* Ice Hockey Journalists UK

Related
IIHF
IIHF Continental Cup
IIHF European Champions Cup

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "NIHL S1 Cup Group B – English Ice Hockey Association".

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