Swindon Wildcats
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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.
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. The following year the Wildcats won the regular season, becoming the 2018/2019 champions. The Wildcats are the reigning NIHL National Champions having won the title on 28th of February 2026 against the Sheffield Steeldogs.
Logos and uniforms
Logo
The Wildcats' logo is an animated wildcat in the team colours of red and white.
Jerseys
The jerseys currently worn by the Swindon Wildcats are in red and white, 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.
The first Wildcats colours were black, yellow, orange and white. Blue and white were worn in 2006 and 2007.
Mascot
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.
Season-by-season record
| Season | League | GP | W | L | OTW | OTL | Pts. | Rank | Postseason |
| 2007–2008 | EPIHL | 40 | 16 | 20 | 1 | 3 | 37 | 7th | Qualification |
| 2008–2009 | EPIHL | 54 | 21 | 29 | 2 | 2 | 48 | 8th | Quarter-Final Loss |
| 2009–2010 | EPIHL | 54 | 12 | 31 | 4 | 7 | 39 | 8th | Semi-Final Loss |
| 2010–2011 | EPIHL | 54 | 16 | 31 | 3 | 4 | 42 | 7th | Quarter-Final Loss |
| 2011–2012 | EPIHL | 54 | 25 | 23 | 0 | 6 | 56 | 7th | Quarter-Final Loss |
| 2012–2013 | EPIHL | 54 | 20 | 22 | 1 | 11 | 53 | 7th | Quarter-Final Loss |
| 2013–2014 | EPIHL | 54 | 23 | 23 | 6 | 2 | 60 | 5th | Semi-Final Loss |
| 2014–2015 | EPIHL | 48 | 24 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 56 | 5th | Quarter-Final Loss |
| 2015–2016 | EPIHL | 54 | 30 | 19 | – | 5 | 65 | 6th | Quarter-Final Loss |
| 2016–2017 | EPIHL | 48 | 22 | 22 | – | 4 | 48 | 6th | Qualification |
| 2017–2018 | NIHL S1 | 32 | 18 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 48 | 3rd | Conf QF Loss |
| 2018–2019 | NIHL S1 | 42 | 31 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 67 | Champions | Conf SF Loss |
| 2024–2025 | NIHL NAT | 54 | 32 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 77 | 3rd | Semi-Final Loss |
| 2025–2026 |
Club roster 2022–23
Source:
(*) Denotes a Non-British Trained player (Import)
| Netminders | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Nat. | Player | Catches | Date of birth | Place of birth | Acquired | Contract |
| 30 | Scotland | Renny Marr | L | (1997-10-08)8 October 1997(age 28) | Lochgelly, Scotland | 2017 from Coventry Blaze | 22/23 |
| 45 | England | Dean Skinns | L | (1984-10-03)3 October 1984(age 41) | Basingstoke, England | 2021 from MK Lightning | 22/23 |
| Defencemen | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Nat. | Player | Shoots | Date of birth | Place of birth | Acquired | Contract |
| 4 | England | Oliver Stone | L | (1998-07-26)26 July 1998(age 27) | Swindon, England | 2022 from Basingstoke Bison | 22/23 |
| 24 | Scotland | Tyler Plews 'A' | R | (1997-09-13)13 September 1997(age 28) | Kirkcaldy, Scotland | 2018 from Edinburgh Capitals | 23/24 |
| 28 | England | Stevie Whitfield | R | (1990-10-12)12 October 1990(age 35) | Swindon, England | 2007 from Swindon Cougars | 22/23 |
| 61 | England | Sam Godfrey | R | (1994-02-02)2 February 1994(age 32) | Swindon, England | 2018 from Guildford Flames | 22/23 |
| 77 | England | Ben Nethersell | R | (1998-01-05)5 January 1998(age 28) | Worthing, England | 2013 from Okanagan Hockey Academy UK | 22/23 |
| Forwards | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Nat. | Player | Shoots | Date of birth | Place of birth | Acquired | Contract |
| 3 | HungaryUnited Kingdom | Bálint Pákozdi | L | (1999-05-03)3 May 1999(age 26) | Budapest, Hungary | 2021 from New Hampshire Junior Monarchs | 22/23 |
| 11 | Wales | Chris Jones 'A' | R | (1991-01-04)4 January 1991(age 35) | Cardiff, Wales | 2017 from Cardiff Devils | 22/23 |
| 12 | England | Floyd Taylor | L | (1995-03-28)28 March 1995(age 31) | Swindon, England | 2011 from Swindon Leopards | 22/23 |
| 13 | England | Sam Bullas 'C' | R | (1990-09-20)20 September 1990(age 35) | Nottingham, England | 2010 from Nottingham Panthers | 22/23 |
| 16 | England | Reed Sayers | R | (2001-05-09)9 May 2001(age 24) | Swindon, England | 2018 from Cardiff Fire | 22/23 |
| 18 | England | Loris Taylor | L | (1993-08-01)1 August 1993(age 32) | Swindon, England | 2022 from Bristol Pitbulls | 22/23 |
| 19 | England | Aaron Nell | L | (1989-10-22)22 October 1989(age 36) | Swindon, England | 2013 from Sheffield Steelers | 22/23 |
| 37 | England | Jack Goodchild | R | (2002-10-14)14 October 2002(age 23) | Winchester, England | 2021 from Okanagan Hockey Academy UK | 22/23 |
| 71 | Latvia | Edgars Bebris | L | (1991-08-07)7 August 1991(age 34) | Aizkraukle, Latvia | 2021 from MK Lightning | 22/23 |
| 89 | Poland | Tomasz Malasinski* | L | (1986-08-23)23 August 1986(age 39) | Nowy Targ, Poland | 2019 from KH GKS Katowice | 23/24 |
| 91 | Canada | Colby Tower* | R | (1997-02-12)12 February 1997(age 29) | Troy, NS, Canada | 2022 from Nipissing University | 22/23 |
| England | Russell Cowley | L | (1983-08-12)12 August 1983(age 42) | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | 2022 from MK Lightning | 22/23 |
| Team Staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Nat. | Name | Acquired | Position | Place of birth | Joined From |
| 19 | England | Aaron Nell | 2015 | General Manager & Player-Coach | Swindon, England | Okanagan Hockey Academy U18 |
| N/A | England | Lee Richardson | 2019 | Assistant coach | Swindon, England | Oxford City Stars, NIHL 2 |
| N/A | England | Pete Bradford | 2010 | Equipment Manager | England | |
| N/A | England | Steve Bradford | 2014 | Equipment Manager | England | |
| N/A | England | Mark Thorne | 2014 | Assistant Equipment Manager | England |
2022/23 Outgoing
| Outgoing | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Nat. | Player | Shoots | Date of birth | Place of birth | Leaving For |
| 27 | England | Joshua Shaw | R | (2005-10-21)21 October 2005(age 20) | Frimley, England | Bristol Pitbulls |
| 38 | Czech Republic | Emil Svec | L | (1994-07-12)12 July 1994(age 31) | Milevsko, Czechia | Hull Seahawks |
| 41 | England | Oliver Endicott | L | (2004-06-10)10 June 2004(age 21) | Swindon, England | Iisalmen Peli-Karhut U20 |
| 44 | England | Neil Liddiard | R | (1978-05-07)7 May 1978(age 47) | Swindon, England | Chelmsford Chieftains |
| 73 | Wales | Sam Smith | R | (2001-09-02)2 September 2001(age 24) | Cardiff, Wales | Bristol Pitbulls |
| 94 | England | Declan Balmer | L | (1995-06-09)9 June 1995(age 30) | Hull, England | Hull Seahawks |
Retired numbers
6 England Lee Brathwaite, D, 1992–1997, 1998–2009
7 Canada Bryan Larkin, D, 1991–2001
9 Canada Gary Dickie, F, 1993–1997
10 England Steve Nell, F, 1986–1988, 1990–1996, 1997–1998, General Manager 2004–2021 (Now Managing Director)
14 Canada Daryl Lipsey, F, 1986–1995
15 Canada Scott Koberinski, F, 1989–1993
17 England Ian Richards, F, 1987–1999
See also
- Swindon Wildcats NIHL – amateur affiliated team playing in National Ice Hockey League South Division 2