Widnes Wild

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Ice hockey team in Widnes, England

Widnes Wild

City| Widnes, England
League| NIHL
Division| Division One North
Founded| 2013
Home arena| Planet Ice Widnes
Capacity: 500
Ice size: 56m x 28m
Colours| Black, Gold & White

Owner(s)| North West Winter Sports Club, Chairman
Matt Lloyd (Paralympian)
General manager| Jon Anderson
Head coach| Richard Haggar
Affiliates| Widnes Wild Women, WNIHL 2
Farm club(s)| Widnes Junior Wild
Website| http://www.widneswild.co.uk/

The Widnes Wild[1] are an English ice hockey team from the town of Widnes who play at Planet Ice Ice Rink in Widnes. They were formed in 2013. They currently compete in the Moralee Conference of the English Ice Hockey Association National Ice Hockey League (North).

The current club chairman is Paralympian Matt Lloyd.[2]

The club has a youth system which starts at Under-9's, as well as a women's team competing in the Women's Premier League.[3]

With the support of the local community the Widnes Wild run a vibrant schools programme to introduce children to ice hockey.[4]

In the 15/16 season the Wild finished second in the league to Deeside Dragons. In the final league game of the season the Wild forfeited the games against the Deeside Dragons citing safety fears, after Wild player Lee Kemp suffered a head injury following an altercation with Dragons' Alex Roberts.[5]

The Wild finished the 16/17 season second in the league to the Blackburn Eagles, missing out on promotion after a dramatic overtime loss to the Deeside Dragons;[6] however, the Wild went on to win their first piece of silverware by winning the 16/17 D2N Playoffs.[7]

In September 2017 it was announced that Ollie Barron had won the first English National Ice Hockey League D2N Player of the Month award.[8]

In the summer of 2018 it was announced that the Wild would be sponsored by YKK.

The Wild also won the NIHL Laidler Playoffs in the 2017/18 season and 2018/19 season to complete a trio of playoff championship titles[9] as well as being crowned league champions for the first time in the 2018/19 season. At the end of the 2018/19 season it was announced that Ollie Baron would step down as player/coach to focus on his life outside of hockey and Mike Clancy was appointed as the new head coach.[10]

## League history

[edit]

Season  | Position  | Wins  | Draws  | Losses  | ±

|
|
|
|
|

2013-14  | 5  | 11  | 1  | 16  | -50
2014-15  | 4  | 20  | 2  | 14  | 37
2015-16  | 2  | 19  | 3  | 6  | 86
2016-17  | 2  | 20  | 4  | 4  | 59
2017-18  | 2  | 23  |  | 9  | 82
2018-19  | 1  | 28  |  | 4  | 140
2019-20  | 4  | 15  |  | 7  | 51

[11]

## 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 |  | Evan Coles  | L  |  (2000-02-13) 13 February 2000 (age 24) | Sheffield, England  | 2021 from Bradford Bulldogs | Two-Way
39 |  | Miles Finney  | L  |  (1993-10-16) 16 October 1993 (age 31) | England | 2022 from Sheffield Steeldogs | 22/23
|  | Jake Lowndes  |  | 2002 (age 20)  | England | 2022  | 22/23
Defencemen

No.  | Nat.  | Player  | Shoots  | Date of birth  | Place of birth  | Acquired  | Contract
5 |  | Rhys Edwards  | L  |  (2006-06-04) 4 June 2006 (age 18) | England | 2022 from Bradford Bulldogs | Two-Way
15 |  | Lee Kemp  | L  |  (1988-01-18) 18 January 1988 (age 36) | Nottingham, England  | 2015  | 22/23
18 |  | Jonathon Williamson  | L  | 1994 (age 28)  | England | 2022 from Altrincham Aces | 22/23
20 |  | Bez Hughes  | R  |  (1995-05-02) 2 May 1995 (age 29) | Wrexham, Wales  | 2016 from Telford Tigers NIHL | 22/23
71 |  | Jack Murray  |  |  (2001-05-23) 23 May 2001 (age 23) | Blackpool, England  | 2021 from Blackburn Hawks | 22/23
84 |  | Thomas Jackson  | R  |  (1995-05-21) 21 May 1995 (age 29) | Glossop, England  | 2014 from Hull Jets | 22/23
86 |  | Kieron Furlong  |  | 2002 (age 20)  | England | 2021 from Hull Jets | 22/23
91 |  | Calum Ruddick  | L  |  (1990-12-19) 19 December 1990 (age 33) | Manchester, England  | 2022 from Blackburn Hawks | 22/23
Forwards

No.  | Nat.  | Player  | Shoots  | Date of birth  | Place of birth  | Acquired  | Contract
9 |  | Ken Armstrong  | R  |  (1985-06-14) 14 June 1985 (age 39) | Sale, England  | 2013 from Blackburn Eagles  | 22/23
10 |  | Nathan Britton  | R  |  (1993-03-20) 20 March 1993 (age 31) | Sheffield, England  | 2021 from Sheffield Senators | 22/23
14 |  | Joe Wyatt  |  | 1990 (age 32)  | England | 2021 from Altrincham Aces | 22/23
16 |  | Michael Gilbert  |  | 1997 (age 25)  | England | 2017 from Altrincham Aces | 22/23
17 |  | Andrew Hopkins  |  | 1997 (age 25)  | Northern Ireland | 2022 from Altrincham Aces | 22/23
19 |  | Richard Haggar  | R  |  (1991-01-26) 26 January 1991 (age 33) | Hull, England  | 2021 from Hull Jets | 22/23
23 |  | Josh Reynolds  |  | 2002 (age 20)  | England | 2022 from Bradford Bulldogs | 22/23
24 |  | Adam Jasečko  | L  |  (2004-09-13) 13 September 2004 (age 20) | Spisska Nova Ves, Slovakia  | 2022 from Hull Jets | Two-Way
44 |  | Daniel Haid  |  |  (1993-12-02) 2 December 1993 (age 30) | Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany  | 2019 from Chemnitz Crashers | 22/23
63 |  | Joe Coulter  | R  |  (1995-06-12) 12 June 1995 (age 29) | Dumfries, Scotland  | 2022 from Leeds Knights | 22/23
89 |  | Matthew Barlow  | L  | 1999 (age 23)  | Partington, England  | 2021 from Bradford Bulldogs | 22/23
94 |  | Joe Greaves  | L  |  (1992-07-17) 17 July 1992 (age 32) | Royton, England  | 2021 from Blackburn Hawks | 22/23
Team Staff

No.  | Nat.  | Name  | Acquired  | Role  | Place of birth  | Joined From
19 |  | Richard Haggar  | 2020/21  | Player-Coach  | Hull, England  |
|  | Jason Coles | 2021/22  | Assistant coach  | England |
|  | Mark Gillingham  | 2013/14  | Assistant coach  | Blackpool, England  | Fylde Flyers, NIHL 2
|  | Jon Anderson  | 2015/16  | General Manager  | Widnes, England  |
|  | Louis Rosslyn  | 2021/22  | Equipment Manager  | England |

## 2021/22 Outgoing

[edit]

Outgoing

No.  | Nat.  | Player  | Shoots  | Date of birth  | Place of birth  | Leaving For
4 |  | Tom Brierley  | R  |  (1989-10-26) 26 October 1989 (age 34) | Cleethorpes, England  | Hull Jets, NIHL 2
13 |  | Vladislavs Vulkanovs  | R  |  (1998-02-28) 28 February 1998 (age 26) | Ventspils, Latvia  | Sheffield Steeldogs, NIHL National
28 |  | Chris Wilcox  | R  |  (1986-12-25) 25 December 1986 (age 37) | Solihull, England  | Hull Seahawks, NIHL National
32 |  | Harrison Walker  | L  |  (2002-06-25) 25 June 2002 (age 22) | Bradford, England  | Leeds Knights, NIHL National
56 |  | Tom Stubley  | R  |  (1998-11-30) 30 November 1998 (age 25) | York, England  | Hull Seahawks, NIHL National

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Widnes Wild
2. ^ Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News
3. ^ Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News
4. ^ Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News
5. ^ Liverpool Echo
6. ^ Runcorn and Widnes World Runcorn and Widnes World
7. ^ Widnes Wild
8. ^ English Ice Hockey Association
9. ^ "Wild win title again".
10. ^ "Clancy Appointed Head Coach". 6 May 2019.
11. ^ Elite Prospects

* 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|

* 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
* Nottingham Lions
* Solihull Barons
* Sutton Sting
* Whitley Warriors

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
* Deeside Dragons
* Hull Jets
* Sheffield Senators
* Telford Tigers 2
* Widnes Wild

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

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
* 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
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