Telford Tigers
| Telford Tigers | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| City | Telford, Shropshire |
| League | EPIHL |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Operated | 1985-1999, 2001-present |
| Home arena |
Telford Ice Rink Capacity: 2300 Ice size: 184 ft x 85 ft 52°40′26″N 2°26′42″W / 52.673810°N 2.445120°W |
| Colours |
White, orange, black |
| Head coach | Tom Watkins |
| Captain | Jason Silverthorn |
| Affiliate(s) |
|
| Website | tigershockeyuk |
| Franchise history | |
| 1985-1999 | Telford Tigers |
| 1999-2000 | Telford Timberwolves |
| 2001-2005 | Telford Wildfoxes |
| 2005-present | Telford Tigers |
White, orange, black
The Telford Tigers are an English Premier League (EPL or EPIHL) ice hockey team that formed in 1985. After initially closing in 1999, a new team, under the name 'Telford Wild Foxes', was formed in 2001; and re-adopted the original name in 2005.
The team is currently owned by Telford Ice Sports Ltd. In November 2016, faced with mounting debts, the team began the process of entering creditors voluntary liquidation. A creditors' meeting, which would have decided the fate of the club, was scheduled for 30 November 2016, but on 25 November a consortium of local businesses intervened and acquired the club's assets, securing its future for the remainder of the season.
After the Telford Ice Rink opened in October 1984, several challenge games involving Altrincham Aces, Blackpool Seagulls, Nottingham Panthers and Solihull Barons were staged to see if a Telford team would be sustainable.
Telford Tigers IH Club Ltd. was formed for season 1985–86 by Central TV commentator Gary Newbon with entertainer David Ismay as chairman and Canadian defenceman Chuck Taylor as player coach. Newbon and Taylor had previously been involved with the Barons, as had squad members Mark Budz, Gordie Patterson, Alan Gould, Paul O'Higgin and Dave Welch. Goalie John Wolfe and Andy Steel signed for the new club from Grimsby.
The club had been granted permission by the BIHA to join the First Division of the British Hockey League, and finished third in their inaugural season, with near sell out crowds seeing Budz score 134 points and Taylor make the All Star Team.
In 1986–87, Tigers new import Dean Vogelgesang scored 196 points, and Budz made the All Star team with 200 points. Tigers did not lose a single home game, but finished fourth in the league due to a nine-point penalty inflicted on them for icing an ineligible player.
For 87–88, the First Division was split into North-South conferences. Tigers won the Southern conference by two points, and beat Northern Conference champions Cleveland Bombers 21–14 on aggregate to take the title. They played Peterborough Pirates, who had finished bottom of the Premier Division, in a Promotion Playoff. After winning the first leg 14–12, they crumbled in the second. They led 6–1 after two periods but Pirates managed to score eight unanswered goals in the third to stay up by a single goal aggregate scoreline. Imports Kevin Conway and Tim Salmon were voted onto the All Star Team, and Chuck Taylor was named Coach of the Year.
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Wikipedia