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Guildford Flames

Guildford Flames
CityGuildford, Surrey
LeagueElite Ice Hockey League
Founded1992
Home arenaGuildford Spectrum
(capacity: 2,200)
ColorsNavy, crimson, gold, white
       
Owner(s)Sportfact Ltd
Head coachPaul Dixon
CaptainBrett Ferguson
AffiliatesGuildford Phoenix, NIHL 2
Guildford Lightning, WNIHL (Elite)
Championships
British National League Titles2 (1997–98, 2000–01)
English Premier League Titles4 (2005-06, 2007-08, 2011-12, 2012-13)
British National League Playoff Championships3 (1998, 2001, 2004)
Current season

The Guildford Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Guildford, Surrey and they play their home games in the Guildford Spectrum. They compete in the top-tier of hockey in the United Kingdom, the Elite Ice Hockey League.

Founded in October 1992, the Flames originally played in the second-tier leagues of British hockey, first the British National League until 2004, and subsequently the English Premier Ice Hockey League until 2017. On 24 February 2017 it was announced that the Flames would become the 12th Elite Ice Hockey League team, joining from the 2017–18 season.

The team's head coach is Paul Dixon, who took over after Stan Marple retired in 2007.

Formation

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Barry Dow, an American who sponsored and owned the basketball team Guildford Kings and Bill Hurley established and owned the team as management – the two were new to the sport of ice hockey, and brought in Mike Urquhart as coach and Darrin Zinger as captain.[citation needed]

Key players signed for the first season included Canadians Sean Murphy and Dave McGahan due to their high scoring at Solent Vikings. In addition a number of British players including goaltender, Mike Kellond; forward, Danny O'Hanlon and defender, Gary Shearer.[citation needed]

The Flames' inaugural season began in October 1992; they began, unseeded, in the English League Division One. With the Guildford Spectrum not yet completed, the team had to train at Slough's facility. The Flames played their home games at Alexandra Palace until their new home ice was ready and played there for the first time on 23 January 1993.[citation needed]

When 23 January 1993 finally arrived and the Guildford Spectrum opened, the event was a big one. The area's paid-for newspaper The Surrey Advertiser described the local council's £28 million arena as "awesome".[citation needed] Guildford's first game at their new home showed a convincing win with Andy Sparks scoring the first goal at the Spectrum. The team went to the top of the Conference due to that game, a position they held onto for the whole season.[citation needed]

Elite League

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The Guildford Flames were confirmed as an Elite League expansion team in February 2017, stepping up from the English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL), and began play in the UK's top division at the start of the 2017–18 EIHL season.[1]

The Flames finished in sixth in their first season (2017–18), followed by a fifth-placed finish in 2018–19 - a campaign in which they finished runners-up to the Belfast Giants in the Challenge Cup final.[2]

Guildford were again in sixth when the 2019–20 EIHL season's remaining matches were cancelled in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The play-offs were cancelled with only the Challenge Cup seeing a winner (the Sheffield Steelers) crowned.[3]

Then, the 2020–21 Elite League season - originally scheduled for a revised start date of 5 December - was suspended on 15 September 2020 because of ongoing coronavirus pandemic restrictions. The EIHL board determined that the season was non-viable without supporters being permitted to attend matches and unanimously agreed to a suspension.[4] The season was cancelled completely in February 2021.[5]

In the 2021–22 EIHL season, Guildford finished the regular season in fifth place with a 25-25-4 record, reaching the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup (losing 6–5 on aggregate to Nottingham Panthers) and the play-off semi-finals (beating Nottingham 7–6 on aggregate in the quarter-finals, before losing in the last four to Cardiff Devils 3–2).[6][7] Guildford claimed third place by beating Dundee Stars 7–5 in the third/fourth place play-off.[8]

The 2022–23 EIHL season proved to be even better for the Guildford Flames, propelled by a strong start to the campaign that saw the Flames top the league for much of the first half of the season, including at Christmas. Forwards Daniel Tedesco (80 points), captain Brett Ferguson (67 points) and Ryan Tait (62 points) led the way.

The team were neck and neck with eventual league champions the Belfast Giants, with Guildford finishing in 2nd place in the Elite League with a 40-12-2 record from 54 games, good for 82 points - just two behind the Giants.[9] Belfast secured the title after a 6-1 win over the Flames at the SSE Arena on 1 April 2023.[10]

In the Challenge Cup, Guildford reached the semi-finals, before an eventual 6-3 aggregate defeat - once again at the hands of the Belfast Giants. And in the play-offs, the Flames were on the end of an upset at the quarter-final stage, losing 7-6 at the hands of seventh seed the Nottingham Panthers in April 2023.[11]

Guildford's second place league finish in the 2022–23 season saw them earn qualification for the 2023–24 IIHF Continental Cup. However, in May 2023, the club released a statement confirming they would decline their place in the competition.[12]

The 2023–24 EIHL season saw the Flames maintain a record that kept them in the top half of the league table. On 13 March 2024, Guildford finished runners-up in the Challenge Cup final to the Sheffield Steelers, losing 3-1.[13] Guildford ended the regular season in 5th with a 24-20-10 record, eventually losing in the play-off semi-finals to the Sheffield Steelers, 6-3.[14][15] The Flames also lost the 3rd/4th play-off 7-5 to the Cardiff Devils.[16]

Club honours

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The team celebrates winning the 2016 Playoff Championships
The team celebrates winning the 2011 Playoff Championships

Team logo and jersey

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The current team jerseys, for both away and home.
The current team jerseys, for both away and home.

The team logo is very similar to that of the Calgary Flames of the NHL. The team jerseys mirror those used by a former NHL team, Atlanta Thrashers from 1999 to 2006 (with logos replaced and advertisements added).

Current squad

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Squad for 2024-25 Elite League season[17][18]

Netminders
No. Player Catches Acquired Place of Birth Joined from Press Release
1 United States Jake Kupsky L 2024 Waukesha, Wisconsin, US HKM Zvolen, Slovak Extraliga [20]
27 United States Eamon McAdam L 2022 Perkasie, Pennsylvania, US Esbjerg Energy, Metal Ligaen [21]
30 England Adam Long L 2021 Crewe, England Haringey Huskies, NIHL2 [22]
Defencemen
No. Player Shoots Acquired Place of Birth Joined from Press Release
6 Canada Kyle Locke R 2021 Aurora, Ontario, Canada Ontario Tech Ridgebacks, U Sports [23]
19 United States Charlie Curti L 2024 Mound, Minnesota, US Belfast Giants, EIHL [24]
20 Canada Marcus Tesink L 2023 Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada Concordia Stingers, U Sports [25]
40 United KingdomCanada Sam Jones R 2024 Walsall, England CSM Corona Brasov, Erste Liga [26]
45 Canada Travis Brown L 2024 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Belfast Giants, EIHL [27]
46 Canada Michael Crocock A L 2022 Brantford, Ontario, Canada Reading Royals, ECHL [28]
81 United States Charlie Dodero R 2024 Bloomingdale, Illinois, US HK Olimpija, IceHL [29]
Forwards
No. Player Position Acquired Place of Birth Joined from Press Release
7 CanadaItaly Daniel Catenacci C/LW 2024 Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada HC Pustertal Wölfe, IceHL [30]
8 United States Ryan Tait C/RW 2022 Santa Clarita, California, US Jokers de Cergy-Pontoise, Ligue Magnus [31]
16 Canada Jack Jacome RW 2024 Caledon, Ontario, Canada Rungsted Seier Capital, Metal Ligaen [32]
18 Canada Brett Ferguson C LW/C 2021 Vibank, Saskatchewan, Canada HC 07 Detva, Slovak Extraliga [33]
24 Canada Ethan Strang F 2024 Cochrane, Alberta, Canada South Carolina Stingrays, ECHL [34]
26 CanadaItaly Daniel Tedesco LW 2024 Maple, Ontario, Canada Belfast Giants, EIHL [35]
28 Canada Matt Alvaro LW/C 2023 Toronto, Ontario, Canada Fort Wayne Komets, ECHL [36]
86 Canada Jake Coughler C 2024 St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada Lausitzer Füchse, DEL2 [37]
88 EnglandUnited Kingdom Lewis Hook LW 2023 Peterborough, England Belfast Giants, EIHL [38]
91 EnglandUnited Kingdom Joshua Waller LW 2024 Reading, England Cardiff Devils, EIHL [39]
94 Canada Brett Welychka C/RW 2024 London, Ontario, Canada SC Bietigheim Steelers, DEL2 [40]
98 England Samuel Talbot F 2023 London, England Milton Keynes Lightning, NIHL [41]
On Loan
No. Player Position Acquired Place of Birth Playing For Press Release
Team Staff
No. Name Position Place of Birth Joined from Press Release
N/A England Paul Dixon Head coach/GM Sunderland, England Appointed in 2007 [1]
N/A England Andrew Hemmings Assistant coach Guildford, England Appointed in 2022 [2]
N/A England Rob Horspool Equipment manager England Appointed in 2017 [3]
Recent departures
No. Player Position Acquired Leaving For Press Release
1 Canada Taz Burman G 2022 TBC [4]
4 Canada Stephen Calisti D 2024 TBC [5]
5 Canada Bradley Lalonde D 2022 TBC [6]
12 United StatesCanada Matt Tugnutt LW/C 2023 Pionniers de Chamonix Mont-Blanc, Ligue Magnus [7]
14 United KingdomCanada Ben O'Connor D 2022 Dundee Stars, EIHL [8]
14 United KingdomCzech Republic Sean Norris F 2024 Milton Keynes Lightning, NIHL [9]
16 Canada Turner Ripplinger RW 2022 Maine Mariners, ECHL [10]
17 Canada Austin Glover C/RW 2023 TBC [11]
19 Canada Steven McParland C/LW 2023 TBC [12]
24 Canada Alex Yuill D 2021 TBC [13]
25 Canada Patrick Bajkov RW/LW 2023 Cincinnati Cyclones, ECHL [14]
29 England Zack Milton F 2022 Manchester Storm, EIHL [15]
33 Canada Nicolas Ouellet RW 2024 Thetford Assurancia, LNAH [16]
42 Canada Jordan Klimek D 2022 South Carolina Stingrays, ECHL [17]
72 United States Peter Crinella A C 2022 TBC [18]
77 Wales Owen Griffiths C 2021 Manchester Storm, EIHL [19]
77 Canada Matt Murphy D 2024 Cincinnati Cyclones, ECHL [20]
91 Canada Ryan Hughes C 2023 Manchester Storm, EIHL [21]

Retired numbers

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The retired numbers at the Guildford Flames are:

Team captains

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References

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  1. ^ "Guildford Flames to join elite league". Coventry Blaze. 24 February 2017. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Challenge Cup: Belfast Giants retain trophy with overtime win against Flames". BBC Sport. 10 March 2019. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  3. ^ "EIHL cancels all matches for rest of season". eSports Media. 13 March 2020. Archived from the original on 12 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  4. ^ "EIHL Board Suspend 2020-21 Season". eSports Media. 15 September 2020. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  5. ^ "No Elite League Season 2020/21". eSports Media. 2 February 2021. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Cardiff Devils 3:2 Guildford Flames".
  7. ^ "Gamecentre".
  8. ^ "Guildford Flames 7:5 Dundee Stars".
  9. ^ "Standings 2022/2023 Elite Ice Hockey League".
  10. ^ "Giants clinch third straight Elite League title!". 21 August 2019.
  11. ^ "Panthers hold on to knock out second-seeded Flames". 21 August 2019.
  12. ^ "Flames not entering Continental Cup".
  13. ^ "Steelers win 2024 Challenge Cup". 21 August 2019.
  14. ^ "Standings 2024/2025 Elite Ice Hockey League".
  15. ^ "Sheffield Steelers 6:3 Guildford Flames".
  16. ^ "Cardiff Devils 7:5 Guildford Flames".
  17. ^ "Guildford Flames at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  18. ^ "Team". Guildford Flames. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  19. ^ "Guildford Flames Ice Hockey Club - Milton returns for 23-24".
  20. ^ "Kupsky added to netminding group". Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  21. ^ "Griffiths and McAdam return". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  22. ^ "Long signs on for 24-25". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  23. ^ "Locke Signs 2 year deal". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  24. ^ "Curti added to roster". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  25. ^ "FTesink returns for second season". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  26. ^ "Jones joins D group". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  27. ^ "Brown added to D group". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  28. ^ "Crocock agrees fourth season". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  29. ^ "Dodero added to roster with two-year deal". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  30. ^ "Catenacci joins Flames for 24/25 season". www.guildfordflames.com. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  31. ^ "Tait back for two more seasons". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  32. ^ "Jack Jacome joins Flames". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  33. ^ "Ferguson back on two-year deal". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  34. ^ "Ethan Strang added for 24-25 campaign". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  35. ^ "Tedesco back with Flames". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  36. ^ "Alvaro areturns for 2nd term". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  37. ^ "Flames sign Jake Coughler". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  38. ^ "Hook Signs for 3 Seasons". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  39. ^ "Guildford Flames Ice Hockey Club - Waller agrees 2nd tour with Flames". www.guildfordflames.com. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  40. ^ "Welychka joins Flames". www.guildfordflames.com. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  41. ^ "Talbot back for second season". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
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