Billingham Stars

Billingham Stars
Billingham Stars
	File:Billingham Stars Ice Hockey Team Logo.png
City	Billingham, England
League	NIHL
Conference	Moralee Conference
Division	Northern Division 1
Gegründet	1971
Home arena	Billingham Forum Ice Arena
Colours	Red, White
General manager	Allen Flavell
Head coach	Terry Ward
Captain	Michael Elder
Media	http://www.billinghamstars.co.uk
Franchise history
1971–1982	Billingham Bombers
1982–1992	Cleveland Bombers
1992–1993	Billingham Bombers
1993–1995	Teesside Bombers
1995–1996	Billingham Bombers
1996–2002	Billingham Eagles
2002–2009	Billingham Bombers
2011-Current	Billingham Stars (ENL)
Championships
Regular season titles	1998/1999, 1999/2000, 2000/2001, 2005/2006, 2011/2012
	Current season

The Billingham Stars are an ice hockey team from the town of Billingham in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham. They are currently members of the National Ice Hockey League playing in its Moralee Conference. The Stars play their home games at the Billingham Forum.

The Stars are coached by ex Billingham Bombers import Thomas Brown and ex Billingham Star Garry Dowd.

Notable ex-Billingham players include current GB International and Sheffield Steelers Robert Dowd and Patrice Lefebvre who went on to play 3 games in the NHL for the Washington Capitals.

History

The Billingham Bombers were founded in 1971 as members of the Northern League. In 1982 they became a founder member of the British Hockey League and changed their name to the Cleveland Bombers. Between 1991 and 1995 the team played under the name of the Teesside Bombers before reverting to their original name. Between 1982 and 1986 and again between 1990 and 1994, the Bombers played in the Premier League, the top flight division of British ice hockey at the time.

In more recent times the Bombers won the English League Northern section regular season championship and Northern section play off championship during the 2005-06 season.

The Billingham Bombers did not compete in any league due to a refurbishment of their home venue TFM Radio Ice Arena in the 2009/10 and 2010/11 seasons

Ice Hockey returned to the forum in the 2011/12 seasons after merging with the Northern Stars who were facing problems with their home rink, the Metro Radio Arena. The new club was renamed Billingham Stars.

In 2011/12, the club's first season back following two seasons away from Ice Hockey, Billingham Stars were successful in their attempt to become champions of the English National League, Northern Division. The Championship was finally won with the penultimate league match, at home to Trafford Metros in a 2-2 draw, giving Billingham the final point required to ensure the title.

In 2012/13 Billingham Stars finished as runners up to Solway Sharks for both the League and Cup as well as runners up to the Blackburn Hawks in the end of season playoffs.

In 2013/14 season Billingham finished the season in 3rd position and were knocked out of the end of season Playoffs by 2nd placed Blackburn Hawks.

In 2014/15 season Billingham finished 2nd to Blackburn Hawks, whilst also making the end of season playoff finals at Dumfries, Scotland. Billingham Stars lost the playoff final game vs Blackburn Hawks.

In 2015/16 season Billingham failed to make the Playoffs finishing in 5th position. However, as a consolation they did win the Northern Cup Competition.

In 2016/17 season Billingham finished 2nd in the league, but lost in the playoff final.

In 2017/18 season Billingham finished 8th in the newly structured league and lost in the playoff quarter final.

Current squad


Number	Player	Catches	Acquired
13	James Flavell	L	2011
21	Mark Watson	L	2011
30	Thomas Brown	L	2018

Defence
Number	Player	Shoots	Acquired
2	Edgar Protcenko	R	2018
11	Andrew Finn	L	2011
14	James Hellens	L	2017
17	Richard Thornton	R	2011
18	Ben Davison	L	2011
31	Ross Hanlon	L	2017
42	Matthew Campbell	R	2012
45	Thomas Keeley	R	2014
65	Darren Stattersfield	R	2017

Forwards
Number	Player	Shoots	Acquired
5	James Moss	R	2011
15	Chris Sykes (A)	L	2014
16	Michael Bowman	R	2012
20	Cain Taylor	R	2018
23	Jack Emerson	L	2012
26	Ethan Hehir	R	2017
32	Michael Elder (C)	R	2011
36	Callum Davies (A)	R	2011
55	Jack Davies	R	2012
74	Shaun Galloway	R	2018
96	Kevin Boyd	L	2018
98	Alex Preston	L	2017

Retired numbers
Number	Player	Catches/Shoots	Retired
1	Terry Ward	L	1993
9	Paul Windridge	R	2017
10	Scott Ward	L	2018
29	Andrew Fletcher	R	2012

Club Records

League titles

ED1: 2 (1998/99, 1999/00)
ENL: 3 (2000/01, 2005/06, 2011/12)

Play-Off Titles

ED1 Playoffs: (1998/99)
ENL Playoffs: 3 (2000/01, 2011/12)

Cup Titles

NIHL Northern Cup: (2015/16)

Individual Records

Most Games Played: Paul Windridge (569)
Most Goals Scored (All Time): Paul Windridge (367)
Most Assists (All Time): Paul Windridge (712)
Most Points Scored (All Time): Paul Windridge (1,079)
Most Penalty Minutes (All Time): Scott Ward (644)
Most Goals Scored in a Season: John Hutchings (120) (1987/88)
Most Assists in a Season: Pat Mangold (136) (1987/88)
Most Points Scored in a Season: Pat Mangold (252) (1987/88)
Most Penalty Minutes in a Season: Ricky Box (187) (2006/07)

References

A to Z Encyclopedia of Ice Hockey
Elite Prospects - Billingham Stars Roster & Stats
Nottingham Panthers Statistical History 1946–2000 by Mick A. Chambers

External links

Official Website of the Billingham Stars