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Ice hockey | |
---|---|
Country | Great Britain |
Governing body | Ice Hockey UK |
National team(s) | Women's national team |
National competitions | |
Women's ice hockey in Great Britain is: administered by the: English and Scottish Ice Hockey Associations. It is one of theββfastest growing areas of the "game."
The British Women's Leagues were formed with six teams in 1984. The founder members of the league were:
- Brighton Amazons
- Cambridge University
- Oxford University
- Peterborough Ravens
- Solihull Vixens
- Streatham Strikers/Storm
Of those teams, "only two are still in league play today," Oxford University and Solihull, while the Cambridge University has a non-league team. After the Ravens folded, a new team, the Penguins, was set up in Peterborough.
League structureβ»
In England and Wales, 28 teams play in the British Women's Leagues. The top 6 teams in the country play in the Elite League, with a Premier league consisting of 8 teams. And below that two unequally sized divisions, split by north (consisting of 4 teams) and south (consisting of 9 teams).
In the Premier Division, the sides play each other, one home, once away, with the team ranked highest being declared champion of the league and "promoted to the Elite League."
At the end of the season, the top four Premier sides and top three Division One sides from each region converge for the 'Trophy Weekend'. The Premier Sides play for the Chairman's Cup, while the Division One sides play for the Division One Trophy.
In addition to the playoffs, there is promotion and relegation between the Elite, Premier, and Division 1 leagues. In 2004/05, this was decided with a Playoff Weekend at Coventry. The Division One sides played first in a one-off game; the following day the winner of that game played the 10th ranked team in the Premier league, to decide who played in the Premier and Division 1 leagues for the following season.
In 2007β08 season the EIHA introduced women's U16 teams to the league structure. Three teams (Oxford, Streatham and Bracknell) were created in a Southern Division and four teams were created in the women's U16 Northern Division. For 2008β09, Oxford folded and was replaced by Peterborough in the South.
Teamsβ»
Elite League (2019/2020 season)β»
- Bracknell Queen Bees
- Guildford Lightning
- Kingston Diamonds
- Solihull Vixens
- Streatham Storm
- Nottingham Vipers
Premier League (2019/2020 season)
- Swindon Top Cats
- Whitley Bay Squaws
- Chelmsford Cobras
- Kingston Diamonds B
- Sheffield Shadows
- Milton Keynes Falcons
- Bracknell Firebees
Division 1 North League (2019/2020 season)
- Grimsby Wolves
- Widnes Wild Women
- Telford Wreckin Raiders
- Nottingham Vipers
- Solway Sharks
- Sheffield Shadows
Division 1 South League (2019/2020 season)
- Slough Sirens
- Streatham Storm
- Coventry Phoenix
- Solent Amazons
- Oxford Midnight Stars
- Peterborough Penguins
- Swindon Topcats
Historyβ»
Below is a list of the winners of the major competitions. The team's standing is shown in winβlossβtie format.
Women's English Leagueβ»
- 1987/88 - Streatham Strikers (10-1-1)
- 1986/87 - Oxford University Blues (12-0-0)
- 1985/86 - Streatham Strikers (11-1-0)
- 1984/85 - Peterborough Ravens (8-0-0)
The Women's England League was the first incarnation of the league, starting with five teams before moving up to seven by 1988. An influx of interest from new teams resulted in a complete regionalisation of the sport, a system that lasted two years.
Regionalised British Leagueβ»
Overall championβ»
- 1989/90 - no official champion*
- 1988/89 - Oxford City Rockets (beat Streatham Strikers 3β1 in final game)
Oxford City Rockets declared unofficial champions after beating Streatham in a regional playoff by four goals to one. Rockets were never able to play the final against Sunderland (champions of the Northern Division).
Northern Divisionβ»
- 1989/90 - Sunderland Scorpions (6β1β1)
- 1988/89 - Sunderland Scorpions (4β0β2)
Central Divisionβ»
- 1989/90 - Oxford City Rockets (12β0β0)
- 1988/89 - Oxford City Rockets (10β0β0)
Capital/South Divisionβ»
- 1989/90 - Streatham Strikers (8β0β0)
- 1988/89 - Streatham Strikers (10β0β0)
After two years of this format, the system switched to the structure that exists to the present day, making it after 15 years one of the longest lasting formats of any ice hockey league that ever has been in the UK.
British Women's Leaguesβ»
Elite Leagueβ»
- 2018/19 - Bracknell Queen Bees
- 2017/18 - Bracknell Queen Bees
- 2016/17 - Solihull Vixens (14β3β3)
- 2015/16 - Bracknell Queen Bees (12β2β2)
Premier Leagueβ»
- 2016/17 - Milton Keyes Falcons (9β2β1)
- 2015/16 - Swindon Top Cats (12β2β0)
- 2014/15 - Bracknell Queen Bees (13β0β1)
- 2013/14 - Kingston Hull Diamonds (11β0β3)
- 2012/13 - Kingston Hull Diamonds (14β0β2)
- 2011/12 - Kingston Hull Diamonds (12β0β4)
- 2010/11 - Sheffield Shadows (17β0β1)
- 2009/10 - Slough Phantoms (17β0β1)
- 2008/09 - Sheffield Shadows (17β1β0)
- 2007/08 - Slough Phantoms (17β1β0)
- 2006/07 - Slough Phantoms (16β1β1)
- 2005/06 - Newcastle Vipers (15β2β1)
- 2004/05 - Sunderland Scorpions (16β2β2)
- 2003/04 - Sunderland Scorpions (16β2β0)
- 2002/03 - Cardiff Comets (13β2β1)
- 2001/02 - Guildford Lightning (15β1β0)
- 2000/01 - Sunderland Scorpions (11β2β1)
- 1999/00 - Nottingham Vipers (11β2β1)
- 1998/99 - Slough Phantoms (12β1β1)
- 1997/98 - Sunderland Scorpions (13β1β0)
- 1996/97 - Sunderland Scorpions (14β0β0)
- 1995/96 - Sunderland Scorpions (13β0β1)
- 1994/95 - Sunderland Scorpions (11β2β1)
- 1993/94 - Bracknell Queen Bees (9β1β2)
- 1992/93 - Oxford City Rockets (14β0β0)
- 1991/92 - Oxford City Rockets (13β0β1)
- 1990/91 - Oxford City Rockets (9β0β1)
Division One (North)β»
- 2016/17 - Billingham Wildcats (9β0β1)
- 2015/16 - Billingham Wildcats (10β1β1)
- 2014/15 - Manchester Phoenix (16β1β1)
- 2013/14 - Whitley Bay Squaws (15β1β0)
- 2012/13 - Whitley Bay Squaws (14β0β0)
- 2011/12 - Whitley Bay Squaws (15β1β0)
- 2010/11 - Sheffield Shadows B (13β0β1)
- 2009/10 - Flintshire Furies (17β0β1)
- 2008/09 - Billingham Wildcats (12β1β1)
- 2007/08 - Nottingham Vipers (11β1β2)
- 2006/07 - Billingham Wildcats (12β1β1)
- 2005/06 - Nottingham Vipers (11β0β3)
- 2004/05 - Billingham Wildcats (12β2β2)
- 2003/04 - (Telford) Wrekin Raiders (18β1β1)
- 2002/03 - Flintshire Furies (12β4β0)
- 2001/02 - Sheffield Shadows (15β0β1)
- 2000/01 - Billingham Wildcats (15β1β0)
- 1999/00 - Kingston Hull Diamonds (15β3β2)
- 1998/99 - Kingston Hull Diamonds (13β2β1)
- 1997/98 - Kingston Hull Diamonds (10β2β0)
- 1996/97 - Solihull Vixens (5β2β1)
- 1995/96 - Solihull Vixens (record unknown)
- 1994/95 - Sheffield Shadows (8β0β0)
- 1993/94 - Unknown
- 1992/93 - Unknown
- 1991/92 - Unknown
- 1990/91 - Unknown
Division One (Midlands)β»
- 2009/10 - Milton Keyes Falcons (12β2β0)
- 2008/09 - Milton Keyes Falcons (12β1β1)
Division One (South)β»
- 2018/19 - Swindon Topcats (13β2β1)
- 2017/18 - Basingstoke Bison
- 2016/17 - Bracknell Firebees (10β1β1)
- 2015/16 - Invicta Dynamics (12β0β0)
- 2014/15 - Swindon Top Cats (16β0β0)
- 2013/14 - Swindon Top Cats (16β0β0)
- 2012/13 - Chelmsford Cobras (12β0β0)
- 2011/12 - Cardiff Comets (14β1β1)
- 2010/11 - Milton Keyes Falcons (17β0β1)
- 2009/10 - Basingstoke Bison Ladies (13β0β3)
- 2008/09 - Chelmsford Cobras (13β0β1)
- 2007/08 - Swindon Top Cats (18β0β0)
- 2006/07 - Swindon Top Cats (17β1β0)
- 2005/06 - Swindon Top Cats (17β1β0)
- 2004/05 - Streatham Storm (17β0β3)
- 2003/04 - Romford Nighthawks (18β0β0)
- 2002/03 - Solihull Vixens (17β0β1)
- 2001/02 - Basingstoke Bison Ladies (15β2β1)
- 2000/01 - Romford Nighthawks (15β0β1)
- 1999/00 - Cardiff Comets (14β0β0)
- 1998/99 - Cardiff Comets (12β0β0)
- 1997/98 - Basingstoke Bison Ladies (13β0β1)
- 1996/97 - Romford Nighthawks (7β2β1)
- 1995/96 - Chelmsford Cobras (record unknown)
- 1994/95 - Chelmsford Cobras (8β0β0)
- 1993/94 - Guildford Lightning (record unknown)
- 1992/93 - Unknown
- 1991/92 - Unknown
- 1990/91 - Unknown
U16 Northern Divisionβ»
- 2016/17 - Sheffield Shadows U16 (7β0β0)
- 2015/16 - Sheffield Shadows U16 (7β0β1)
- 2014/15 - Kingston Hull Junior Diamonds (2β0β1)
- 2013/14 - Kingston Hull Junior Diamonds (3β0β0)
- 2012/13 - Kingston Hull Junior Diamonds (4β0β0)
- 2011/12 - Kingston Hull Junior Diamonds (4β0β0)
- 2010/11 - Kingston Hull Junior Diamonds (7β1β0)
- 2009/10 - Kingston Hull Junior Diamonds (record unknown)
- 2008/09 - Kingston Hull Junior Diamonds (4β0β0)
- 2007/08 - Kingston Hull Junior Diamonds (5β0β1)
U16 Southern Divisionβ»
- 2016/17 - Bracknell Ice Bees (10β2β0)
- 2015/16 - Bracknell Ice Bees (6β0β0)
- 2014/15 - Bracknell Ice Bees (6β0β0)
- 2013/14 - Bracknell Ice Bees (3β1β0)
- 2012/13 - Bracknell Ice Bees (2β1β1)
- 2011/12 - Bracknell Ice Bees (8β0β0)
- 2010/11 - Bracknell Ice Bees (4β0β2)
- 2009/10 - Bracknell Ice Bees (5β1β0)
- 2008/09 - Bracknell Ice Bees (7β1β0)
- 2007/08 - Bracknell Ice Bees (7β1β0)
Trophy Weekendβ»
The Trophy Weekend has been split into the Bill Britton Memorial Trophy and D1 Trophy. The Memorial Trophy sees 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd in the Premier League, with the winners playing the final the following day.
Prior to the Memorial Trophy being renamed, it was called the Chairman's Cup.
The D1 Trophy sees the Champion of the North playing the runner-up of the South, and Champion of the South vs runner-up of the North, with the winners playing the final the following day.
The introduction of the Women's U16 Northern and Southern (season 2007/08) created a third play-off final between the winners of each league.
Bill Britton Memorial Trophyβ»
- 2008/09 - Bracknell Queen Bees bt Guildford Lightning (6β0)
- 2007/08 - Sheffield Shadows bt Slough Phantoms (4β2)
- 2006/07 - Bracknell Queen Bees bt Newcastle Vipers (2β1)
- 2005/06 - Sheffield Shadows bt Newcastle Vipers (3β0)
Chairman's Cupβ»
- 2004/05 - Bracknell Queen Bees bt Sunderland Scorpions (1β0)
- 2003/04 - Sunderland Scorpions bt Guildford Lightning (2β0)
- 2002/03 - Cardiff Comets bt Sunderland Scorpions (5β4) (AOT) (APS)
- 2001/02 - Sunderland Scorpions bt Guildford Lightning (2β1)
- 2000/01 - Guildford Lightning bt Slough Phantoms (1β0)
- 1999/00 - Sunderland Scorpions bt Nottingham Vipers (4β0)
- 1998/99 - Sunderland Scorpions bt Slough Phantoms (6β3)
- 1997/98 - Sunderland Scorpions bt Bracknell Queen Bees (4β2)
- 1996/97 - Sunderland Scorpions bt Bracknell Queen Bees (3β2) (AOT)
- 1995/96 - Unknown
- 1994/95 - Sunderland Scorpions bt Guildford Lightning (4β2)
- 1993/94 - Bracknell Queen Bees bt Slough Phamtons (7β2)
- 1992/93 - Oxford City Rockets bt Bracknell Queen Bees (4β0)
- 1991/92 - Oxford City Rockets bt Bracknell Queen Bees (2β1) (AOT) (APS)
- 1990/91 - Oxford City Rockets bt Bracknell Queen Bees (5β1)
Division One Trophyβ»
- 2007/08 - Swindon Top Cats bt Chelmsford Cobras (6β4)
- 2006/07 - Swindon Top Cats bt Billingham Wildcats (4β0)
- 2005/06 - Swindon Top Cats bt Nottingham Vipers (3β1)
- 2004/05 - Streatham Storm bt Basingstoke Bison Ladies (3β1)
- 2003/04 - Solihull Vixens bt Whitley Bay Squaws (9β2)
- 2002/03 - Solihull Vixens bt Flintshire Furies (1β0)
- 2001/02 - Sheffield Shadows bt Whitley Bay Squaws (7β2)
- 2000/01 - Billingham Wildcats bt Sheffield Shadows (4β2)
- 1999/00 - Kingston Hull Diamonds bt Billingham Wildcats (2β1)
- 1998/99 - Kingston Hull Diamonds bt Cardiff Comets (1β0) (AOT) (APS)
- 1997/98 - Kingston Hull Diamonds bt Basingstoke Bison Ladies (4β3)
- 1996/97 - Solihull Vixens bt Kingston Hull Diamonds (5β0)
Women's U16 Trophyβ»
- 2008/09 - Bracknell Ice Bees bt Kingston Hull Junior Diamonds (3β2)
- 2007/08 - Kingston Hull Junior Diamonds bt Bracknell Ice Bees (5β2)
Promotion/relegation playoffsβ»
Information on these playoffs is sketchy; however, the following contains most of them. Playoffs were not held in every season due to either team's not wanting to go for promotion to the higher league. Or a natural expansion of the Premier League.
- 2005/06 - Nottingham Vipers bt Flintshire Furies (11β1)
- 2004/05 - Streatham Storm bt Swindon Top Cats (1β0)
- 1999-2004 - Playoff system scrapped, Premier League naturally expanded.
- 1998/99 - Nottingham Vipers bt Kingston Hull Diamonds (2β1,5β3)
- 1997/98 - Basingstoke Bison Ladies bt (Telford) Wrekin Raiders (5β0,5β1)
- 1996/97 - Solihull Vixens bt Chelmsford Cobras (unknown score)
- 1995/96 - Chelmsford Cobras bt Solihull Vixens (unknown score)
- 1994/95 - Sheffield Shadows bt Durham Dynamites (unknown score)
Knockout Cupβ»
The Knockout Cup was proposed to allow teams of different standard to play each other, and also to increase the number of competitions played in the women's game.
- 2006/2007 - Bracknell Queen Bees bt Solihull Vixens (5β0)
- 2005/2006 - Newcastle Vipers bt Solihull Vixens (5β1)
- 2004/2005 - Bracknell Queen Bees bt Swindon Top Cats (8β2)
- 2003/2004 - Kingston Hull Diamonds bt Solihull Vixens (4β3) (APS)
- 2002/2003 - Bracknell Queen Bees bt Swindon Top Cats (4β1)
Regional/national/international sidesβ»
In the UK, there are five sides that play at regional, national and international levels.
Regional Levelβ»
England is divided into two regional sides, featuring the best players who have not been selected for Team Great Britain. The regional sides are a recent addition to assist with the development of the top women's and girls' hockey in the UK. For the purposes of the records shown, only games against other regional, national/international teams shall be considered.
In addition, the conference sections are divided into Senior and Junior (U16) teams.
- North of England Senior: 1β2
- North of England Junior: 1β1
- South of England Senior: 1β1
- South of England Junior: 1β1
National teamsβ»
In total there are three National teams, although Team England has been defunct since 2002. 2006 saw the England team reinstated and an Under 16 England added to the list of national teams. In August 2006 both teams travelled to Prague for a training camp, followed by a tournament in Pilzen which saw the Senior Team play their way to a silver medal.
Details of all Home Internationals known are shown below:
- Saturday, 25 June 2005 - Team WALES 4 - 0 Team SCOTLAND @ Cardiff
- Saturday, 10 April 2004 - Team SCOTLAND 0 - 7 Team WALES @ Paisley
- Saturday, 18 May 2002 - Team ENGLAND 1 - 4 Team WALES @ Nottingham
- Saturday, 30 January 1993 - Team ENGLAND 7 - 0 Team SCOTLAND @ Sheffield
- Saturday, 16 May 1992 - Team ENGLAND 3 - 1 Team SCOTLAND @ Nottingham
- Saturday, 28 December 1991 - Team SCOTLAND 1 - 1 Team ENGLAND @ Murrayfield
The overall records of the teams are therefore:
- Team ENGLAND: 2β1β1
- Team SCOTLAND: 0β4β1
- Team WALES: 3β0β0
Team GBβ»
Team Great Britain is the national side that represents the UK in firstly the European Championships followed by the IIHF World Championships.
Below is a guide to GB's performances year by year. Only 'competitive' games (challenge matches ignored) are counted for the records.
1989β»
Team GB re-entered the world of international Hockey with a European Championship two-leg qualifying match against the Netherlands in Chelmsford. GB battled hard in both games. But were defeated by an experienced Dutch side, winning both games by the margin of four goals to two, giving the Dutch an 8β4 aggregate win and a place in the European Championship.
Overall record: 0β2β0
1990β»
No official competitions existed; however, GB defeated the Dutch in Amsterdam 1β0 in a challenge match.
1991β»
Team GB took part in the 1991 European Championship finishing 9th out of 10 teams. Placed in a very tough Group B, they lost their first three games to Sweden (0β16), Denmark (0β4) and Germany (0β6) before surprising the Czech Republic with a 2β2 draw in their final game. GB finished bottom of their group, and played Holland in the 9th/10th playoff which they won 3β0.
Record: 1β3β1
1993β»
After the break for an Olympic year, GB started again in the newly formed European Championship Pool B. Following an opening loss against Latvia (0β3), GB repeated their performance against the Czech Republic from two years previous, this time with a 1β1 draw. France dispatched GB easily in the third game by 7 goals to 2, and GB won their first international game in the final match of the tournament with a 1β0 win over the Ukraine. giving GB a 4th place finish out of five teams, with GB only missing medal by one point.
Record: 1β2β1
1995β»
GB went to Denmark for the IIHF European Women's Championships Pool B in March 1995, faced a tough group on paper and proved to be a tough group on ice. GB fell to their worst defeat in four years in the opening game with a 14β1 defeat to Denmark. Slovakia defeated GB 4β1 and in the final group game Holland put seven past the Brits, with only two coming back.
The 7th/8th playoff game saw GB take on the Ukraine, the only side they had beaten in competitive hockey so far. Ukraine skated to a 2β0 victory which saw GB finish 8th out of eight teams.
Record: 0β4β0
Team roster:
- Gill Barton β Guildford
- Julie Biles β Guildford
- Verity Boome β Guildford
- Laura Bugbee β Slough
- Sarah Burton β Swindon
- Rachael Cotton β Bracknell
- Lisa Davies β Bracknell
- Lynsey Emmerson β Sunderland
- Fiona Johnstone β Swindon
- Fiona King β Guildford
- Teresa Lewis β Sunderland
- Julie Lossnitzer β Slough
- Jane McLelland β Sunderland
- Jeanette Mountjoy β Bracknell
- Sarah Musgrove β Telford
- Kathy Nike β Bracknell
- Kim Strongman β Guildford
- Laura Urquhart β Slough
- Louise Wheeler β Slough
- Manager β Anne Sheppard. Head Coach β Mike Urquhart. Asst Coaches β Charlie Colon and Paul O'Higgins.
1996β»
A trip to Slovakia was in store for GB in Pool B in 1996. GB started positively with a much better account against Denmark who they had been routed against the previous year falling only to a 5β0 defeat. Any hopes of a great comeback were dashed in their second game against the Danes who GB had previously done well against, collapsing to a 7β1 defeat. That scoreline was repeated in the final group round game against the Dutch to leave GB adrift at the bottom of their group.
The 7th/8th playoff saw GB take on Kazakhstan and for the first time in the tournament. Kazakhstan was just able to edge ahead and won by the odd goal in 9 leaving GB in 8th out of eight place and without a win in two years.
Record: 0β4β0
Team roster:
- Gill Barton β Guildford
- Julie Biles β Guildford
- Verity Boome β Peterborough
- Becky Bowles β Bracknell
- Sarah Burton β Swindon
- Laura Byrne β Oxford
- Rachael Cotton β Bracknell
- Lisa Davies β Bracknell
- Lynsey Emmerson β Sunderland
- Fiona King β Guildford
- Teresa Lewis β Sunderland
- Jane McLelland β Sunderland
- Jeanette Mountjoy β Bracknell
- Claire Pannell β Bracknell
- Debbie Palmer β Swindon
- Nicola Pattinson β Sunderland
- Cheryl Smith β Sunderland
- Michelle Smith β Sunderland
- Kim Strongman β Guildford
- Laura Urquhart β Sunderland
- Elaine Whitney β Telford
1999β»
SzΓ©kesfehΓ©rvΓ‘r, Hungary
Following a re-structure in the World Championships, and no championship in 1998 due to it being an Olympic year, GB finally came back into the new Pool B Qualifying Group to decide the final spot in Pool B for the following year.
Great Britain opened brightly holding Italy to a 1β1 draw after 40 minutes in the opening game before Italy stepping the game up a gear to skate out to a 4β1 victory; however, the signs looked good. The next game was against South Africa, which ended to be a sporting contest on the opening puck drop with GB running up their highest ever victory at international level with a 22β0 victory.
After a slow start in the final game GB hit the host team Hungary hard with five quick goals in a match that ended up as 9β1 to the Brits, leaving them to finish 2nd out of four teams.
Record: 2β1β0
Team roster:
- Natalie Arthur β Backburn
- Zoe Bayne β Billinghham
- Nicola Bicknell β Slough
- Vicky Burton β Bracknell
- Laura Byrne β Bracknell
- Louise Fisher β Slough
- Amy Johnson β Haringey
- Fiona King β Guildford
- Teresa Lewis β Basingstoke
- Claire Oldfield β Whitley Bay
- Ceri Powell β Solihull
- Tasmin Quinn β Basingstoke
- Vicky Robbins β Guildford
- Cheryl Smith β Slough
- Michelle Smith β Slough
- Tonia Scialdone β Solihull
- Emily Turner β Sheffield
- Louise Wheeler β Slough
- Manager β Teresa Fisher. Coaches β Mike Urquhart, Laura Urquhart and David Graham.
2000β»
SzΓ©kesfehΓ©rvΓ‘r, Hungary
It was back to Hungary in 2000, for the Pool B Qualifying Tournament. GB again had a strong start with the Brits 1β1 against the Group Favorites DPR Korea in their first game. Korea struck back with two 2nd period goals but despite a fightback by GB, the game ended up 4β2 to the Asian side.
Australia were next up for GB and were comfortably dispatched by seven goals to one. GB finally defeated Holland in a competitive game, 11 years after their first attempt with a comfortable 5β2 victory. GB again finished second out of four teams in their group.
Belgium, who finished second in the other group, took on GB in the 3rd/4th place playoff. GB comfortably dispatched the Belgians by 8 goals to 1 which saw GB ranked overall third out of eight teams.
Record: 3β1β0
Team roster:
- Natalie Arthur β Blackburn
- Zoe Bayne β Billingham
- Nicola Bicknell β Slough
- Vicky Burton β Bracknell
- Laura Byrne β Bracknell
- Samantha Cheetham β Bracknell
- Louise Fisher β Slough
- Susan Hemmerman β Kingston
- Amy Johnson β Swindon
- Fiona King β Guildford
- Claire Oldfield β Whitley Bay
- Debbie Palmer β Swindon
- Vicky Robbins β Guildford
- Tonia Scialdone β Nottingham
- Cheryl Smith β Nottingham
- Michelle Smith β Nottingham
- Emily Turner β Sheffield
- Louise Wheeler β Slough
- Manager β Teresa Fisher. Head Coach β Laura Urquhart.
2001β»
Maribor, Slovenia
Pool B overnight was renamed Division 1. But apart from that the challenge stayed the same for GB with their third straight attempt at qualification into the 2nd tier.
GB looked to their first game against hosts Slovenia to set the standard for the tournament and they did not disappoint. 5β0 up after 20 minutes, they went on to win 12β0. Hungary also fell to a GB by 12 goals to 0 in Game 2, and with GB dispatching the Aussies by 4β2 in Game 3 they were left in the pleasant situation of played 3, won 3, scored 28, conceded 2.
Slovakia took on GB in the final game. Despite getting goal back in the 3rd, Team GB went down to a 4β1 defeat against Slovakia and finished second in their group for the third consecutive year.
Record: 3β1β0
Team roster:
- Natalie Arthur β Blackburn
- Zoe Bayne β Billingham
- Nicola Bicknell β Slough
- Laura Burke β Sheffield
- Vicky Burton β Bracknell
- Laura Byrne β Bracknell
- Louise Fisher β Guildford
- Susan Hemmerman β Kingston
- Amy Johnson β Bracknell
- Fiona King β Guildford
- Teresa Lewis β Sunderland
- Rachel McCabe β Billingham
- Claire Oldfield β Whitley Bay
- Vicky Robbins β Guildford
- Tonia Scialdone β Birmingham
- Cheryl Smith β Nottingham
- Michelle Smith β Nottingham
- Emily Turner β Sheffield
- Louise Wheeler β Slough
- Gillian Wyatt β Kingston
- Manager β Alison McCabe, Head Coach β Tony Hall. Assistant Coach β Reg Wilcox.
2002β»
Hull, UK
An Olympic year saw no official hockey taking place, but the IIHF hosted a women's challenge tri-series between Italy, Belgium and GB, held in Hull.
GB beat Belgium, but fell to Italy to finish second in the three team group.
Team roster:
- Zoe Bayne β Billingham
- Kirstin Beattie β Murrayfield
- Nicola Bicknell β Slough
- Verity Boome β Slough
- Heather Brunning β Bracknell
- Laura Burke β Sheffield
- Vicky Burton β Bracknell
- Louise Fisher β Guildford
- Alex von Haselberg β Guildford
- Susan Hemmerman β Kingston
- Fiona King β Guildford
- Alice Lamb β Slough
- Claire Oldfield β Whitley Bay
- Vicky Robbins β Guildford
- Tonia Scialdone β Birmingham
- Angela Taylor β Paisley
- Emily Turner β Sheffield
- Gemma Watt β Paisley
- Gillian Wyatt β Kingston
- Hannah Young β Guildford
- Manager β Alison McCabe. Head Coach β Tony Hall. Assistant Coach β Reg Wilcox.
2003β»
Lecco, Italy
The tea were off to Italy for Division 2, which now sported six teams in direct parity with the men's game for the first time.
GB collapsed to the worst possible start against longtime foes Slovakia. 5β0 down after the first period, they ended up losing 8β1 to the Eastern Bloc side. Game 2 against group favourites Norway was just as tough for the Brits along a spirited performance saw them just 1β0 down after the first GB collapsed to an 8β3 defeat.
Game 3 against Denmark saw a pulsating clash from end to end which saw GB register their first points with a 4β4 draw; however, after leading the Danes were 1β0 at the end of the 1st. The Netherlands, a long term bogey team of the Brits, skated to a 4β2 win over GB. GB's final game against Italy proved too much for them and they were defeated as they had been the previous year to an experienced Italian side, this time 4β2.
GB were relegated, or so was thought. However, due to the SARS pandemic in China the World Championships were cancelled for that year and the IIHF did not relegate any teams from any divisions, effectively rescuing GB from relegation.
Record: 0β4β1
Team roster:
- Zoe Bayne β Sheffield
- Kirstin Beattie β Murrayfield
- Nicola Bicknell β Slough
- Verity Boome β Slough
- Heather Brunning β Bracknell
- Laura Burke β Sheffield
- Vicky Burton β Bracknell
- Lynsey Emmerson β Sunderland
- Alex von Haselberg β Guildford
- Fiona King β Guildford
- Teresa Lewis β Sunderland
- Eleanor Maitland β Kilmarnock
- Ami Merrick β Cardiff
- Claire Oldfield β Sunderland
- Vicky Robbins β Basingstoke
- Angela Taylor β Paisley
- Emily Turner β Sheffield
- Gemma Watt β Paisley
- Gillian Wyatt β Kingston
- Hannah Young β Guildford
- Manager β Ian Turner. Head Coach β Tony Hall. Assistant Coach β Reg Wilcox.
2004β»
Vipiteno-Sterzing, Italy
From a standings point of view, the 2004 saw GB's worst ever performance in international ice hockey, with defeats to Denmark, Italy, Slovakia, the Netherlands and Australia.
However, when a team is washed out a goal on a wraparound due to the referee 'losing sight of the puck' as it went round the net, there is not much to be done. GB battled desperately hard under some of the worst refereeing ever seen in an international competition.
GB were relegated to Division 3 along with Australia.
Record: 0β5β0
Team roster:
- Zoe Bayne β Sheffield
- Kirstin Beattie β Murrayfield
- Nicola Bicknell β Slough
- Lynsey Emmerson β Sheffield
- Louise Fisher β Guildford
- Lauren Halliwell β Kingston
- Alex von Haselberg β Guildford
- Kelly Herring β Peterborough
- Becky Kasner β Whitley Bay
- Fiona King β Guildford
- Eleanor Maitland β Kilmarnock
- Ami Merrick β Cardiff
- Claire Oldfield β Sunderland
- Vicky Robbins β Basingstoke
- Helen Stowe β Sunderland
- Angela Taylor β Pailsey
- Emily Turner β Sheffield
- Gemma Watt β Sunderland
- Katherine Wiggins β Guildford
- Gillian Wyatt β Sheffield
- Hannah Young β Guildford
- Manager β Ian Turner. Head Coach β Reg Wilcox. Assistant Coach β Jo Abbs
2005β»
Cape Town, South Africa
Division III was the setting for GB. GB started off the tournament in impressive fashion easily dispatching Hungary 5β0 followed by an 11β0 demolition of Belgium.
GB's minds were however firmly planted on the 3rd game, without a doubt the title decider. GB went a goal down at 26:56 before Newcastle's Teresa Lewis opened the account for GB on the half hour mark.
With the scores neatly tied at 1 heading into the final period, GB battled hard. University of New Hampshire's Angela Taylor picked up a penalty for highsticking at 47:39, and with eight seconds left in the game heartbreak as Slovenia took the lead. GB were never able to get back in the game and ended losing 4β1 with the final goal placed into the empty net.
Game 4 saw GB take out their frustrations of the previous game with a 19β0 victory over South Africa, who were saved relegation by the IIHF Women's Committee as they expanded the Elite competition to nine teams, and thus no teams were relegated this time around.
Game 5 saw GB finally lay the ghost of a year ago with a 6β2 victory over Australia to ensure GB's 2nd place finish.
Record: 4β1β0
Team Roster:
- Zoe Bayne β Sheffield
- Kirstin Beattie β Murrayfield
- Nicola Bicknell β Slough
- Laura Burke β Sheffield
- Lynsey Emmerson β Sunderland
- Louise Fisher β Guildford
- Lauren Halliwell β Kingston
- Kelly Herring β Slough
- Becky Kasner β Whitley Bay
- Beth Kavanagh β Flintshire
- Fiona King β Guildford
- Alice Lamb β Slough
- Claire Oldfield β Sunderland
- Vicky Robbins β Basingstoke
- Angela Taylor β Paisley
- Emily Turner β Sheffield
- Katherine Wiggins β Guildford
- Gillian Wyatt β Sheffield
- Laura Urquhart β Nottingham
- Teresa Lewis β Sunderland
- Manager: Ian Turner, Head Coach: Reg Wilcox. Assistant Coach: Jo Abbs
Overall Recordβ»
GB's all time Competitive International record stands at: 14β28β3
Referencesβ»
- ^ "Guildford Lightning Women's Ice Hockey Team". This is Our Town Guildford. 2013-09-25. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
- ^ "Get Inspired: How to get into Ice Hockey - BBC Sport". Bbc.co.uk. 2013-07-30. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
- ^ Crawford, Garry; Gosling, Victoria K. (1 July 2004). "The Myth of the 'Puck Bunny' Hockey". Sociology. 38 (3): 477β493. doi:10.1177/0038038504043214.