Bradford Sabres
Bradford Sabres was an English ice hockey team that played in Division 2 of North league of the British Universities Ice Hockey Association. They played their home games at the Bradford Ice Arena, Bradford, West Yorkshire. The team was established in 2005, and disbanded in 2020.
Introduction
The Bradford Sabres served as the ice hockey team for the University of Bradford and were administered and funded by the University of Bradford Union. The club was founded in 2005 after a group of students decided that there should be an ice hockey club at the university. The early sessions consisted of only a handful of players, almost all of whom had no previous experience playing hockey.
The club disbanded in 2020, and a significant number of players moved to the Leeds Gryphons.
Seasons
2005–2006
In the Sabres' debut season, numbers were low until the intake of first-year students at the beginning of the 2005-2006 season. Among them were a large number of beginners as well as several players with previous experience, notably Jan Kucera and Tim Kelly. The team's first game was away against the Sheffield Bears where they suffered a 7-0 defeat. Netminder Kaz Matsumoto was awarded the Man of the Match award, having faced over 70 shots. Defender Tim Kelly was on the ice for 56 of the 60 minutes played.
In the Sabres' first home game, they were defeated 6-9 by the Birmingham Eagles. Making his debut in this match was Czech Republic born Jan Kucera who introduced himself to university hockey by scoring all six of the Sabres' goals and winning his first Man of the Match award.
The Sabres secured their first victory in their following game against Newcastle Wildcats. This was the first of many very close and enjoyable games between the two teams. The Sabres secured a 6-5 victory. Jan Kucera scored all six for the Sabres, and after two matches for the club, he was being recognised as the best player in the division. The Man of the Match in this game was rookie netminder Stephen Wilson, playing the second 30 minutes and helping the team to hold on for their first victory.
This was the only victory the team had in their debut season, and they finished bottom of the seven-team division. Another moment of note that season was away at Newcastle. The team were down 3-0 at the end of the first period. In the second period, Jan Kucera scored a hat-trick in under one minute, scoring the first goal from open play, and the next two by winning the face-off and scoring unassisted. The Sabres lost the match 4-3. The team were due to compete in their first ever national championships in April, where teams from both the north and south divisions competed over a weekend in a cup competition. Due to administrative complications, the team was not allowed to compete and was disqualified from the league. Their final position of seventh did not count.
Players of note
On-ice officials
Season | Coach | Captain | Alternate (1) | Alternate (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2004–2005 | Mike Currie | Mike Currie | N/A | N/A |
2005–2006 | Mike Currie | Mike Currie | Tim Kelly | Jan Kucera |
2006–2007 | Adam Chamberlain | Robert Harvey | Tim Kelly | Hassan Majeed |
2007–2008 | Adam Chamberlain | Peter Lee | Tim Kelly | Hassan Majeed |
2008–2009 | Andy Brown | Rick Thomas | Stephen Alexander | Jonny Leadbeater |
2009–2010 | Andy Brown | Jason Simpson | Jonny Leadbeater | Jan Kucera |
2010–2011 | Andy Brown | Andy Marks | Dan Cannon | Garen Arnet-Zargarian |
2011–2012 Div. 2 | Andy Brown | Andy Marks | Dan Cannon | Thomas Dawson |
2011–2012 Div. 3 | Andy Brown | Nick Grady | Gintare Karpaviciute | Nathan Hewitt |
2012–2013 Div. 2 | Andy Brown | Andy Marks | Pontus Ekhem | Mitch White |
2012–2013 Div. 3 | Andy Brown | Rob Caddle | Dave Reid | Nathan Hewitt |
Awards
Season | The Tim Kelly Award | Players Player | Most Improved | Rookie of the Year | Endeavour | Nationals MVP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005–2006 | N/A | N/A | Ben Moss | N/A | N/A | N/A |
2006–2007 | Tim Kelly | Kaz Matsumoto | Peter Lee | Stephen Alexander | Paul Hacking | Brian O'Brien |
2007–2008 | Kaz Matsumoto | Peter Lee | Rick Thomas | Luke Brind | Stephen Alexander | Alison Hover / Bruno Le Quellec |
2008–2009 | S. Alexander | |||||
2009–2010 | S. Wilson | |||||
2010–2011 | Tom Maynard | Garen Arnet-Zargarian | Thomas Dawson | Peter Marshall | Andy Marks | Dan Cannon |
2011-2012 | Thomas Dawson | Pontus Ekhem | Benj Robinson | Benj Robinson | Andy Marks | Joshua Hampton / Rob Caddle |
2012–2013 | Andrew Marks (Honorable mention to Omar Chu.) | Matt Passmore | Oliver Roberts | Matt Passmore | Tony Christie | Matt Passmore / Omar Chu |
Season records
Season | Goals | # | Assists | # | PIM | # |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
07-08 | Peter Lee | 17 | James Davidson | 13 | Peter Lee | 72 |
11-12 | Nazar Striletski | 38 | Daniel Cannon | 22 | ||
12-13 | Mitch White | 30 | Mitch White | 24 | Carl Atkinson | 37 |
All-time records
Record | Player | Number |
---|---|---|
Most Points | Nazar Striletski | 134[1] |
Goals in a Game | Peter Lee | 7 |
Seasons Played | Thomas Dawson | 6 |
Minutes Played in a Match | Tim Kelly | 56 |
PIM | Peter Lee | 80 |
Sabres Alumni Game
Season | Winning Team |
---|---|
2014–2015 | Current |
2015–2016 | N/A |
References
- ^ "Elite Prospects - BUIHA Stats All-time totals".
- Bradford Sabres website
- University of Bradford Union
- v
- t
- e
- English Ice Hockey Association
- Ice Hockey UK
- Northern Ireland Ice Hockey Association
- Scottish Ice Hockey
- Belfast Giants
- Cardiff Devils
- Coventry Blaze
- Dundee Stars
- Fife Flyers
- Glasgow Clan
- Guildford Flames
- Manchester Storm
- Nottingham Panthers
- Sheffield Steelers
National League | |
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North Division 1 | |
South Division 1 | |
North Division 2 | |
South Division 2 |
WNIHL Elite |
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WNIHL Premier |
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Division 1 North |
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Division 1 South |
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- Birmingham Lions
- Bradford Sabres
- Bristol Lions
- Caledonia Steel Queens
- Cambridge University Blues
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- Edinburgh Eagles
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- Imperial Devils
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- Newcastle Wildcats
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- Oxford University Ice Hockey Club
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- UCL Yetis
- UEA Avalanche
- League Championship
- British Championship
- Challenge Cup
- Knockout Cup
- Varsity Match
- Alan Weeks Trophy
- Best British Forward
- British Netminder of the Year
- Coach of the Year Trophy
- Ice Hockey Annual Trophy
- Player of the Year Trophy
- Vic Batchelder Memorial Award
and competitions
- British Ice Hockey Association
- Ahearne Cup
- Autumn Cup
- British Hockey League
- British National League (1954–60)
- British National League (1996–2005)
- English League
- English League North
- English National League
- English National League (1981–82)
- English Premier League
- Ice Hockey Superleague
- Inter-City League
- Northern League
- Northern League
- Scottish National League
- Scottish Premier Hockey League
- Southern League
- Aldershot Bullets
- Ayr Bruins
- Ayr Scottish Eagles
- Blackburn Eagles
- Blackpool Seagulls
- Brighton Tigers
- Cardiff Rage
- Castlereagh Knights
- Dumfries Vikings
- Dunfermline Vikings
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- Durham City Wasps
- Durham Wasps
- Earls Court Rangers
- Edinburgh Capitals (SNL)
- Flintshire Freeze
- Fylde Flyers
- Harringay Greyhounds
- Harringay Racers
- Hull Pirates
- Hull Stingrays
- Hull Thunder
- Humberside Seahawks
- Isle of Wight Wildcats
- Kilmarnock Storm
- Lancashire Raptors
- Liverpool Leopards
- London Canadians
- London Lions
- London Knights
- London Racers
- Manchester Minotaurs
- Manchester Phoenix
- Manchester Storm (1995–2002)
- Medway Bears
- Milton Keynes Kings
- Moray Tornadoes
- Murrayfield Racers
- Murrayfield Racers (2018–2022)
- Newcastle Jesters
- Newcastle Vipers
- Niagara Ice Hockey Club
- Oxford Blades
- Peterborough Pirates
- Princes Ice Hockey Club
- Richmond Flyers
- Sheffield Lancers
- Sheffield Scimitars
- Sheffield Spartans
- Slough Jets ENL
- Southampton Vikings
- Stevenage Oilers
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- Stevenage Strikers
- Sunderland Chiefs
- Swindon TopCats B
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- Wightlink Buccaneers
- Wightlink Raiders
- Wightlink Tigers