The Billingham Stars are an ice hockey team from the town of Billingham in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees in Teesside. They are currently members of the National Ice Hockey League playing in its Division 1 North (Moralee Conference). The Stars play their home games at the Billingham Forum.
| Billingham Stars | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Billingham, England |
| League | NIHL |
| Division | Division 1 North |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Home arena | Billingham Forum Ice Arena |
| Colours | Red, White, Black |
| General manager | Allen Flavell |
| Head coach | Richie Thornton, Stephen Foster |
| Captain | Michael Elder |
| Media | https://www.starshockey.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, 2023/2024 |
| Playoff championships | 1998/1999, 2011/2012, 2023/2024 |
 Current season | |
The Stars are currently coached by ex-Durham Wasps player Stephen Foster and former Billingham player Richie Thornton.
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
editThe 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 the 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.
Billingham Stars won the 2023/24 English National League, Northern Division championship, confirming the title with a 3-0 away win against Hull Jets. They collected the trophy at their next home game, the following day, against Solihull Barons. They also reached the playoff final, but lost to Blackburn Hawks on a shootout.
Club roster 2022-23
edit(*) Denotes a Non-British Trained player (Import)
| Netminders | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Nat. | Player | Catches | Date of birth | Place of birth | Acquired | Contract | ||
| 2 | 
|
Jacob Hammond | 2004 (age 18) | England | 2021 from Billingham U18 | 22/23 | |||
| 30 | 
|
Thomas Brown | L | 20 July 2000 | Middlesbrough, England | 2018 from Whitley Warriors | 22/23 | ||
| 31 |
|
Ryan Wardell | L | 30 January 2005 | Sunderland, England | 2021 from Billingham U18 | 22/23 | ||
| Defencemen | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Nat. | Player | Shoots | Date of birth | Place of birth | Acquired | Contract | |||
| 7 |
|
Benjamin Greenhalgh | 2005 (age 17) | England | 2021 from Billingham U18 | 22/23 | ||||
| 12 |
|
Tommy Spraggon | R | 26 January 2005 | Billingham, England | 2021 from Billingham U18 | Two-Way | |||
| 14 |
|
James Hellens | 2001 (age 21) | England | 2018 from Billingham U18 | 22/23 | ||||
| 26 | 
|
Rolands Gritāns* | L | 19 January 1991 | Daugavpils, Latvia | 2022 from Whitley Warriors | 22/23 | |||
| 38 |
|
Stuart Jackson | 2002 (age 20) | England | 2019 from Billingham U20 | 22/23 | ||||
| 62 |
|
Patriks Grigors* | L | 19 February 2001 | Jelgava, Latvia | 2021 from Dundee Comets | 22/23 | |||
| 81 |
|
Joseph Dowdle | 2001 (age 21) | England | 2019 from Billingham U20 | 22/23 | ||||
| Forwards | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Nat. | Player | Shoots | Date of birth | Place of birth | Acquired | Contract | |||
| 5 |
|
James Moss | 1 June 1992 | England | 2010 from Northern Stars | 22/23 | ||||
| 6 |
|
Samuel Dowd | 2005 (age 17) | England | 2022 from Billingham U18 | 22/23 | ||||
| 8 |
|
Joseph Walls | 2003 (age 19) | England | 2019 from Billingham U18 | 22/23 | ||||
| 15 |
|
Chris Sykes 'A' | L | 5 January 1992 | Sheffield, England | 2014 from Sutton Sting | 22/23 | |||
| 19 |
|
Shaun Galloway | R | 14 January 2001 | Bishop Auckland, England | 2018 from Billingham U20 | 22/23 | |||
| 23 |
|
Jack Emerson | L | 19 September 1996 | Easington, England | 2021 from Billingham U18 | 22/23 | |||
| 32 |
|
Michael Elder 'C' | R | 24 June 1993 | Durham, England | 2011 from Northern Stars | 22/23 | |||
| 33 |
|
Finley Bradon | R | 24 November 2005 | Darlington, England | 2021 from Billingham U18 | Two-Way | |||
| 40 |
|
Ethan McLaughlin | 2003 (age 19) | England | 2022 from Whitley U20 | 22/23 | ||||
| 70 |
|
Callum Wilkinson | L | 24 February 2002 | England | 2019 from Billingham U20 | 22/23 | |||
| 77 |
|
Lewis Hall | 1999 (age 23) | England | 2021 from Billingham U20 | 22/23 | ||||
| 88 |
|
Lucas Dowdle | 2005 (age 17) | England | 2021 from Billingham U18 | 22/23 | ||||
| 98 |
|
Alex Preston | L | 31 January 1998 | Billingham, England | 2021 from Tornado Luxembourg | 22/23 | |||
| Team Staff | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Nat. | Name | Acquired | Role | Place of birth | Joined From | |||
|
|
Stephen Foster | 2011/12 | Coach | Durham, England | Northern Stars, ENL | ||||
|
|
Robert Wilkinson | 2021/22 | Coach | England | Billingham U20, England U20 | ||||
| 32 |
|
Michael Elder | 2022/23 | Player-Assistant Coach | Durham, England | ||||
2021/22 Outgoing
edit| Outgoing | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Nat. | Player | Shoots | Date of birth | Place of birth | Leaving For |
| 25 |
|
Lewis Crisp | 1999 (age 23) | England | Whitley Warriors, NIHL 1 | |
Retired Numbers
edit| No. | Player | Position | Career |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Terry Ward | G | 1981–1993 |
| 13 | James Flavell | G | 2004-2019 |
| 29 | Andrew Fletcher | F | 1995–2012 |
| 9 | Paul Windridge | F | 1989-2017 |
| 10 | Scott Ward | F | 1997-2018 |
Club Records
editLeague titles
edit
- ED1: 2 (1998/99, 1999/00)
- ENL: 4 (2000/01, 2005/06, 2011/12, 2023/24)
Play-Off Titles
edit- ED1 Playoffs: (1998/99)
- ENL Playoffs: 3 (2000/01, 2011/12)
Cup Titles
edit- NIHL Northern Cup: (2015/16)
Individual Records
edit- 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
edit- A to Z Encyclopedia of Ice Hockey
- Elite Prospects - Billingham Stars Roster & Stats
- Nottingham Panthers Statistical History 1946–2000 by Mick A. Chambers