Whitley Warriors
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The Whitley Warriors are an ice hockey team based in Whitley Bay in the north east of England. Founded in 1957 as the Bees, they changed their name to the Whitley Warriors in 1964. The Warriors played at the highest level of British ice hockey for much of their history but currently play in the Scottish National League (SNL).
Ahead of the 2025-26 season, the Warriors moved from the NIHL North Division 1 to the Scottish National League (SNL). Their home arena is The Whitley Bay Ice Rink.
Club roster 2022-23
(*) Denotes a Non-British Trained player (Import)
| Netminders | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Nat. | Player | Catches | Date of birth | Place of birth | Acquired | Contract |
| 30 | England | Mark Turnbull | L | (1995-05-15)15 May 1995(age 30) | Northumberland, England | 2021 from Billingham Stars | 22/23 |
| 32 | England | Joshua Crane | L | (1998-10-29)29 October 1998(age 27) | Coventry, England | 2021 from Nottingham Lions | 22/23 |
| England | Jack Wakefield | L | (2002-12-29)29 December 2002(age 23) | Durham, England | 2022 from Åmåls SK J20 | 22/23 |
| Defencemen | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Nat. | Player | Shoots | Date of birth | Place of birth | Acquired | Contract |
| 5 | England | Matthew McDonald | 2000 (age 22) | England | 2021 from Whitley U20 | 22/23 | |
| 13 | England | Kyle Ross | R | (1997-07-28)28 July 1997(age 28) | Whitley Bay, England | 2017 from Essa Stallions | 22/23 |
| 22 | England | Adam Wood | R | (1990-07-04)4 July 1990(age 35) | Somerset, England | 2021 from Streatham IHC | 22/23 |
| 24 | England | Harry Harley 'A' | L | (1995-05-15)15 May 1995(age 30) | Whitley Bay, England | 2018 from Hull Pirates | 22/23 |
| 78 | Latvia | Rihards Grigors* | L | (1992-01-20)20 January 1992(age 34) | Dobele, Latvia | 2021 from Fife Flyers | 22/23 |
| Forwards | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Nat. | Player | Shoots | Date of birth | Place of birth | Acquired | Contract |
| 7 | England | Thomas Fraser | R | 2003 (age 19) | England | 2019 from Whitley U20 | 22/23 |
| 11 | England | Shaun Kippin 'A' | L | (1987-04-15)15 April 1987(age 39) | England | 2015 from Deeside Dragons | 22/23 |
| 14 | England | Dean Holland 'C' | R | (1988-09-22)22 September 1988(age 37) | Newcastle, England | 2014 from Guildford Flames | 22/23 |
| 15 | England | Anthony Wetherell | 1999 (age 23) | England | 2016 from Whitley U18 | 22/23 | |
| 16 | England | Lewis Crisp | 1999 (age 23) | England | 2022 from Billingham Stars | 22/23 | |
| 18 | Czech Republic | Matěj Valiček* | L | (1998-01-30)30 January 1998(age 28) | Czechia | 2021 from HC Baník Sokolov B | 22/23 |
| 20 | United KingdomCanada | Philip Edgar | L | (1993-10-06)6 October 1993(age 32) | Kitchener, ON, Canada | 2017 from University of Waterloo | 22/23 |
| 27 | England | Jamie Ord | (2001-03-04)4 March 2001(age 25) | England | 2016 from Whitley U18 | 22/23 | |
| 31 | England | Adam Finlinson | L | (1998-04-17)17 April 1998(age 27) | Whitley Bay, England | 2017 from Swindon Wildcats | 22/23 |
| 37 | England | Matthew Betham | 2004 (age 18) | England | 2021 from Whitley U20 | 22/23 | |
| 51 | England | Connor Lewis | 2005 (age 17) | England | 2021 from Billingham Stars | 22/23 | |
| 57 | England | Callum Queenan | R | (1996-10-03)3 October 1996(age 29) | Whitley Bay, England | 2019 from Meaford Knights | 22/23 |
2021/22 Outgoing
| Outgoing | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Nat. | Player | Shoots | Date of birth | Place of birth | Leaving For |
| 12 | England | Dylan Hehir | R | 2002 (age 20) | Billingham, England | Leeds Knights, NIHL |
| 26 | Latvia | Rolands Gritans | L | (1991-01-19)19 January 1991(age 35) | Daugavpils, Latvia | Billingham Stars, NIHL 1 |
Honours
British Championship: Winners – 1972/73, 1973/74
English National League Championship: Winners – 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2007/08
English National League: Runners-up – 1997/98
Northern League: Winners – 1973/74, 1974/75 Runners-up – 1976/77, 1977/78, 2006/07, 2010/11
Northern League Play-offs: Winners: 2006/07 Runners-up – 1967/68, 1976/77
English National League North: Winners – 2001/02, 2009/10, 2010/11 Runners-up – 1997/98, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2006/07, 2007/08
English Cup: Winners – 2001/02 Runners-up – 2000/01
Anglo Scottish Cup: Winners – 2000/01
Scottish Cup: Winners – 1991/92, Runners-up – 1992/93
Heineken British Premier League: Runners-up – 1987/88
Benson & Hedges Cup: Runners-up – 1992/93
Autumn Cup: Winners – 1971/72 Runners-up – 1972/73, 1974/75, 1976/77
BIHA Cup: Winners – 1957/58, 1958/59 (as Whitley Bees)
NIHL North Cup: Runners-up – 2019/20 Runners-up – 2021/22
NIHL North Division 1 Moralee: Winners - 2019/20 Runners-up – 2021/22
Ice Hockey Journalists UK Hall of Fame: Terry Matthews (1987), Alfie Miller (1988), J.J. 'Icy' Smith (1988), Hilton Ruggles (2009), David Longstaff (2022)
Junior teams
The Warriors have numerous junior teams, The teams are:
- Under 9 - Mischiefs
- Under 11 - Arrows
- Under 13 - Mohawks
- Under 15 - Tomahawks
- Under 18 - Braves
- Under 20 - Renegades
- Ladies - Beacons
Retired jerseys
Alfie Miller (#10) is the only jersey that has been retired for the Warriors.
Logo
Despite the Warriors' logo depicting a Native American (the logo and colours being "inspired" by the Washington Redskins) and the associated controversy which resulted in the Redskins removing their logo on the grounds that it was considered racist, there has been no similar discussion around the Warriors'. Teams like Frölunda Indians HC and Chicago Blackhawks which have similar logos have come under significant pressure to change their logos on similar grounds. Frolunda announced that they would no longer be called the Indians and would be changing their logo.