The Swindon Wildcats are a professional ice hockey team based in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. They play in the National Ice Hockey League (NIHL). Since their inception, the Wildcats have played their home games at the 1600-capacity Link Centre in West Swindon. The club was founded in 1986 as the Swindon Wildcats, shortly after the opening of the Link Centre.
The Wildcats were members of the English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL) from 1997 to 2017. Due to the instability of the EPIHL following the culmination of the 2016–17 season, the Swindon Wildcats announced their intention to join the National League.[1]
In their first season competing in the National League, the Wildcats won both the Autumn Cup and National Cup competitions, securing the club's first silverware since the 2000-01 season.[2] The following year the Wildcats won the regular season, becoming the 2018/2019 champions.
The Wildcats' logo is an animated wildcat in the team colours of red and white since the 2008/09 season.
Jerseysedit
The jerseys currently worn by the Swindon Wildcats are in red and white,[3] the colours sported by the team since the 2008–2009 relaunch. They have worn the same jerseys (with a few small variations) since the 2008–2009 season. For the 2019/20 campaign, the Wildcats will have an alternate jersey that is predominantly black with red motifs.[4]
The first Wildcats colours were black, yellow, orange and white. Blue and white were worn in 2006 and 2007.
Mascotedit
The official mascot for the Swindon Wildcats is an anthropomorphized wildcat by the name of Scratch. Scratch took over from his cousin Willie Wildcats during the 2021/22 Season. Willie Wildcat had been the mascot for the 'Cats since their return to the Wildcats name in 2004, after three seasons as the Lynx. However, he retired after a successful career at the Better Link Centre.[5]
swindon, wildcats, professional, hockey, team, based, swindon, wiltshire, england, they, play, national, hockey, league, nihl, since, their, inception, wildcats, have, played, their, home, games, 1600, capacity, link, centre, west, swindon, club, founded, 1986. The Swindon Wildcats are a professional ice hockey team based in Swindon Wiltshire England They play in the National Ice Hockey League NIHL Since their inception the Wildcats have played their home games at the 1600 capacity Link Centre in West Swindon The club was founded in 1986 as the Swindon Wildcats shortly after the opening of the Link Centre Swindon WildcatsCitySwindon WiltshireLeagueNIHLDivisionNational LeagueFounded1986Home arenaLink CentreColorsRed White amp Black General managerAaron NellHead coachAaron NellCaptainSam BullasMediaCats TVAffiliatesSwindon Wildcats 2 NIHL 2 Swindon TopCats WNIHL 1Franchise history1986 1996Swindon Wildcats1996 1997Swindon Ice Lords1997 2000Swindon Chill2000 2001Swindon Phoenix2001 2004Swindon Lynx2004 presentSwindon WildcatsChampionshipsRegular season titles3 1996 97 2000 01 2018 19 Autumn Cups3 1991 2017 2021 Premier Cups1 2017 18 The Wildcats were members of the English Premier Ice Hockey League EPIHL from 1997 to 2017 Due to the instability of the EPIHL following the culmination of the 2016 17 season the Swindon Wildcats announced their intention to join the National League 1 In their first season competing in the National League the Wildcats won both the Autumn Cup and National Cup competitions securing the club s first silverware since the 2000 01 season 2 The following year the Wildcats won the regular season becoming the 2018 2019 champions Contents 1 Logos and uniforms 1 1 Logos 1 2 Jerseys 1 3 Mascot 2 Season by season record 6 3 Club roster 2022 23 7 4 2022 23 Outgoing 5 Retired numbers 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksLogos and uniforms editLogos edit The Wildcats logo is an animated wildcat in the team colours of red and white since the 2008 09 season Jerseys edit The jerseys currently worn by the Swindon Wildcats are in red and white 3 the colours sported by the team since the 2008 2009 relaunch They have worn the same jerseys with a few small variations since the 2008 2009 season For the 2019 20 campaign the Wildcats will have an alternate jersey that is predominantly black with red motifs 4 The first Wildcats colours were black yellow orange and white Blue and white were worn in 2006 and 2007 Mascot edit The official mascot for the Swindon Wildcats is an anthropomorphized wildcat by the name of Scratch Scratch took over from his cousin Willie Wildcats during the 2021 22 Season Willie Wildcat had been the mascot for the Cats since their return to the Wildcats name in 2004 after three seasons as the Lynx However he retired after a successful career at the Better Link Centre 5 Season by season record 6 editSeason League GP W L OTW OTL Pts Rank Post Season2007 2008 EPIHL 40 16 20 1 3 37 7th Qualification2008 2009 EPIHL 54 21 29 2 2 48 8th Quarter Final Loss2009 2010 EPIHL 54 12 31 4 7 39 8th Semi Final Loss2010 2011 EPIHL 54 16 31 3 4 42 7th Quarter Final Loss2011 2012 EPIHL 54 25 23 0 6 56 7th Quarter Final Loss2012 2013 EPIHL 54 20 22 1 11 53 7th Quarter Final Loss2013 2014 EPIHL 54 23 23 6 2 60 5th Semi Final Loss2014 2015 EPIHL 48 24 20 4 0 56 5th Quarter Final Loss2015 2016 EPIHL 54 30 19 5 65 6th Quarter Final Loss2016 2017 EPIHL 48 22 22 4 48 6th Qualification2017 2018 NIHL S1 32 18 6 4 4 48 3rd Conf QF Loss2018 2019 NIHL S1 42 31 7 1 3 67 Champions Conf SF LossClub roster 2022 23 7 edit Denotes a Non British Trained player Import NetmindersNo Nat Player Catches Date of birth Place of birth Acquired Contract30 nbsp Renny Marr L 1997 10 08 8 October 1997 age 26 Lochgelly Scotland 2017 from Coventry Blaze 22 2345 nbsp Dean Skinns L 1984 10 03 3 October 1984 age 39 Basingstoke England 2021 from MK Lightning 22 23DefencemenNo Nat Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Acquired Contract4 nbsp Oliver Stone L 1998 07 26 26 July 1998 age 25 Swindon England 2022 from Basingstoke Bison 22 2324 nbsp Tyler Plews A R 1997 09 13 13 September 1997 age 26 Kirkcaldy Scotland 2018 from Edinburgh Capitals 23 2428 nbsp Stevie Whitfield R 1990 10 12 12 October 1990 age 33 Swindon England 2007 from Swindon Cougars 22 2361 nbsp Sam Godfrey R 1994 02 02 2 February 1994 age 29 Swindon England 2018 from Guildford Flames 22 2377 nbsp Ben Nethersell R 1998 01 05 5 January 1998 age 25 Worthing England 2013 from Okanagan Hockey Academy UK 22 23ForwardsNo Nat Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Acquired Contract3 nbsp nbsp Balint Pakozdi L 1999 05 03 3 May 1999 age 24 Budapest Hungary 2021 from New Hampshire Junior Monarchs 22 2311 nbsp Chris Jones A R 1991 01 04 4 January 1991 age 32 Cardiff Wales 2017 from Cardiff Devils 22 2312 nbsp Floyd Taylor L 1995 03 28 28 March 1995 age 28 Swindon England 2011 from Swindon Leopards 22 2313 nbsp Sam Bullas C R 1990 09 20 20 September 1990 age 33 Nottingham England 2010 from Nottingham Panthers 22 2316 nbsp Reed Sayers R 2001 05 09 9 May 2001 age 22 Swindon England 2018 from Cardiff Fire 22 2318 nbsp Loris Taylor L 1993 08 01 1 August 1993 age 30 Swindon England 2022 from Bristol Pitbulls 22 2319 nbsp Aaron Nell L 1989 10 22 22 October 1989 age 34 Swindon England 2013 from Sheffield Steelers 22 2337 nbsp Jack Goodchild R 2002 10 14 14 October 2002 age 21 Winchester England 2021 from Okanagan Hockey Academy UK 22 2371 nbsp Edgars Bebris L 1991 08 07 7 August 1991 age 32 Aizkraukle Latvia 2021 from MK Lightning 22 2389 nbsp Tomasz Malasinski L 1986 08 23 23 August 1986 age 37 Nowy Targ Poland 2019 from KH GKS Katowice 23 2491 nbsp Colby Tower R 1997 02 12 12 February 1997 age 26 Troy NS Canada 2022 from Nipissing University 22 23 nbsp Russell Cowley L 1983 08 12 12 August 1983 age 40 Edmonton AB Canada 2022 from MK Lightning 22 23Team StaffNo Nat Name Acquired Position Place of birth Joined From19 nbsp Aaron Nell 2015 General Manager amp Player Coach Swindon England Okanagan Hockey Academy U18N A nbsp Lee Richardson 2019 Assistant coach Swindon England Oxford City Stars NIHL 2N A nbsp Pete Bradford 2010 Equipment Manager EnglandN A nbsp Steve Bradford 2014 Equipment Manager EnglandN A nbsp Mark Thorne 2014 Assistant Equipment Manager England2022 23 Outgoing editOutgoingNo Nat Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Leaving For27 nbsp Joshua Shaw R 2005 10 21 21 October 2005 age 18 Frimley England Bristol Pitbulls38 nbsp Emil Svec L 1994 07 12 12 July 1994 age 29 Milevsko Czechia Hull Seahawks41 nbsp Oliver Endicott L 2004 06 10 10 June 2004 age 19 Swindon England Iisalmen Peli Karhut U2044 nbsp Neil Liddiard R 1978 05 07 7 May 1978 age 45 Swindon England Chelmsford Chieftains73 nbsp Sam Smith R 2001 09 02 2 September 2001 age 22 Cardiff Wales Bristol Pitbulls94 nbsp Declan Balmer L 1995 06 09 9 June 1995 age 28 Hull England Hull SeahawksRetired numbers edit6 nbsp Lee Brathwaite D 1992 1997 1998 20097 nbsp Bryan Larkin D 1991 20019 nbsp Gary Dickie F 1993 199710 nbsp Steve Nell F 1986 1988 1990 1996 1997 1998 General Manager 2004 2021 Now Managing Director 14 nbsp Daryl Lipsey F 1986 199515 nbsp Scott Koberinski F 1989 199317 nbsp Ian Richards F 1987 1999See also editSwindon Wildcats NIHL amateur affiliated team playing in National Ice Hockey League South Division 2References edit Club Statement Swindon Wildcats Retrieved 18 April 2017 NATIONAL CUP FINAL Swindon Wildcats 4 6 Sheffield Steeldogs 2 4 Swindon Advertiser Retrieved 23 July 2018 Houlihan Owen 24 May 2017 New change to Wildcats next league campaign Swindon Advertiser Retrieved 1 June 2017 Wildcats reveal 19 20 jersey design Swindon Wildcats 12 July 2019 Retrieved 17 July 2019 Willie Wildcat Announces Retirement Swindon Wildcats Eliteprospects com http www eliteprospects com team php team 1372 amp year0 2012 Swindon Wildcats Elite Prospects www eliteprospects com External links editOfficial website Swindon Wildcats Academy Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Swindon Wildcats amp oldid 1179934005, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
