Chelmsford Chieftains
Chelmsford Chieftains | |
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City | Chelmsford, Essex, England |
League | NIHL |
Division | Division One South |
Founded | 1987 |
Home arena | Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre |
Colors | White, Amber & Black |
Head coach | Mark Saunders ![]() |
Affiliates | Peterborough Phantoms, NIHL National Chelmsford Warriors, NIHL 2 |
Franchise history | |
1987 – Present | Chelmsford Chieftains |
The Chelmsford Chieftains are an Ice Hockey team based in Chelmsford, Essex that is currently playing in the NIHL South Division 1. Since the team was founded in 1987, the Chieftains have played their home games at the Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre.
Chelmsford's first ever game at the Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre was a challenge match against Peterborough Titans on Saturday 5 September 1987. The Chieftains won the game 11–4 in front of 300 spectators. Stuart Steeves (Chelmsford) scored the first ever goal at the venue at 2.07 in the first period.
After competing in the English Premier Ice Hockey League for eight seasons between 1998 and 2008 (having been absent from the league from 2000 until 2002), the Chelmsford Chieftains withdrew from the league at the end of the 2007/2008 season, and instead entered the English National Ice Hockey League. The hockey governing body in the UK, the EIHA, informed the club that they would be playing in Division 1 for the 2008/2009 season. However, at the league A.G.M., many of the clubs supported a motion to overturn the league's decision and the Chieftains were placed in Division 2. The Chieftains had already assembled a squad capable of playing in Division 1 and at such a late stage, the squad could not be rebuilt.[citation needed] The outcome was that the Chieftains started the season in a very strong position.[citation needed]
In the entire 2008/2009 season, the Chieftains allowed a single point, to the Invicta Mustangs at the start of the season. From then until the end of the season, the Chieftains won every game, with an average score of 8–2.
In 2009/10, they finished fourth in the league.
In the 2010/11 season, the Chieftains contended for top spot. Only in the final few weeks did the Wightlink Raiders cement their place at the top of the table. The Raiders had been the only side the Chieftains had failed to beat during the regular season.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Chelmsford_Chieftains.jpg/220px-Chelmsford_Chieftains.jpg)
At the conclusion of the 2010/11 season, Dean Birrell announced he would be moving to the role of Director of Coaching in Chelmsford, which would oversee the coaching of the Chieftains and Warriors. Taking his place would be MK Lightning forward Gary Clarke, who takes over in a player-coach role for the 2011-12 campaign.
Trophies
[edit]1989 Essex Cup
1990/91 Autumn Trophy
1992/93 British League Entry Playoffs
1996/97 Essex/Kent Cup
1996/97 Essex Cup
1999/00 English League Premier Division Playoffs
1999/00 Data Vision Millenium Cup
1999/00 English League Premier Division
2008/09 English National League South Division 2
2010/11 English National League South Division 1 Playoffs
2011/12 English National League South Division 1 Playoffs
2011/12 Essex Cup
2012/13 National Ice Hockey League South Division 1
2012/13 National Ice Hockey League South Division 1 Playoffs
2013/14 National Ice Hockey League South Division 1
2014/15 National Ice Hockey League South Division 1
2018/19 National Ice Hockey League South Division 2
Runners up in major competitions excluding league
[edit]1996/97 Playoff finalists
1997/98 Playoff finalists
1995/96 Autumn Trophy Finalists
2010/11 English National League South Division 1
2011/12 English National League South Division 1
2012/13 National Ice Hockey League South Cup
2012/13 South East Cup
2017/18 National Ice Hockey League South Division 2
League history
[edit]Season | Name of League | Final Position | # of teams | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | OT Win | OT Loss | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1987/88 | British League Div 2 | 2nd | 14 | 26 | 19 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 201 | 107 | 94 | 39 | |
1988/89 | English First Div | 5th | 8 | 28 | 10 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 148 | 153 | -5 | 23 | |
1989/90 | English First Div | 3rd | 7 | 24 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 222 | 140 | 82 | 33 | |
1990/91 | English First Div | 3rd | 8 | 28 | 17 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 269 | 213 | 56 | 36 | |
1991/92 | English First Div | 8th | 9 | 32 | 15 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 277 | 276 | 1 | 33 | |
1992/93 | English League Conference B | 2nd | 6 | 32 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 357 | 168 | 189 | 47 | |
1993/94 | British League Div 1 South | 8th | 8 | 44 | 10 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 260 | 374 | -114 | 22 | |
1994/95 | British League Div 1 | 10th | 12 | 44 | 10 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 274 | 404 | -130 | 24 | |
1995/96 | British League Div 1 | 10th | 14 | 52 | 16 | 31 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 267 | 377 | -110 | 37 | |
1996/97 | English League Div 1 South | 2nd | 12 | 22 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 175 | 51 | 124 | 37 | |
1997/98 | English League Div 1 South | 2nd | 11 | 20 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 187 | 69 | 118 | 33 | |
1998/99 | English League Prem Div | 4th | 9 | 32 | 14 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 195 | 181 | 14 | 32 | |
1999/00 | English League Prem Div | 1st | 5 | 24 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 138 | 85 | 53 | 39 | |
2000/01 | English National Prem League | 2nd | 9 | 32 | 23 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 203 | 106 | 97 | 48 | |
2001/02 | English National League South | 5th | 10 | 18 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 72 | 28 | 23 | |
2002/03 | English National Prem League | 5th | 12 | 42 | 24 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 245 | 170 | 75 | 54 | |
2003/04 | English Premier Ice Hockey League | 4th | 9 | 32 | 18 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 211 | 149 | 62 | 39 | |
2004/05 | English Premier Ice Hockey League | 7th | 9 | 32 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 128 | 130 | -2 | 28 | |
2005/06 | English Premier Ice Hockey League | 11th | 13 | 48 | 10 | 33 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 149 | 284 | -135 | 25 | |
2006/07 | English Premier Ice Hockey League | 8th | 12 | 44 | 20 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 194 | 184 | 10 | 43 | |
2007/08 | English Premier Ice Hockey League | 9th | 11 | 40 | 12 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 151 | 189 | -38 | 29 | |
2008/09 | English National League Two South | 1st | 9 | 32 | 31 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 282 | 67 | 215 | 63 | |
2009/10 | English National League One South | 4th | 10 | 36 | 23 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 213 | 89 | 124 | 52 | |
2010/11 | English National League One South | 2nd | 11 | 40 | 28 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 253 | 101 | 152 | 64 | |
2011/12 | English National League One South | 2nd | 10 | 36 | 30 | 6 | 0 | ? | ? | 251 | 89 | 162 | 60 | |
2012/13 | English National League One South | 1st | 9 | 32 | 25 | 5 | 2 | ? | ? | 189 | 73 | 116 | 52 | |
2013/14 | English National League One South | 1st | 9 | 32 | 26 | 3 | 3 | ? | ? | 185 | 60 | 125 | 55 | |
2014/15 | English National League One South | 1st | 10 | 36 | 26 | 5 | 5 | ? | ? | 163 | 79 | 84 | 57 | |
2017/18 | National Ice Hockey League South Division 2 | 4th | 14 | 26 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 186 | 74 | 112 | 40 | |
2018/19 | National Ice Hockey League South Division 2 | 4th | 15 | 28 | 21 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 206 | 77 | 129 | 46 |
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 | ||
35 | ![]() |
Luca Tessadri | L | 10 February 2005 | Basildon, England | 2021 from Raiders U18 | U18 Junior | ||
39 | ![]() |
Petr Čech | R | 20 May 1982 | Plzeň, Czech Republic | 2022 from Guildford Phoenix | 22/23 | ||
44 | ![]() |
Sonny Phillips | L | 27 April 1997 | Hornchurch, England | 2014 from Chelmsford Warriors | 22/23 |
Defencemen | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Nat. | Player | Shoots | Date of birth | Place of birth | Acquired | Contract | ||
12 | ![]() |
Jaden Boolkah | 1 October 2003 | England | 2019 from Chelmsford U18 | 22/23 | |||
36 | ![]() |
Callum Burnett | R | 19 January 2001 | England | 2022 from Raiders IHC | 22/23 | ||
4 | ![]() |
Neil Liddiard | R | 7 May 1978 | Swindon, England | 2022 from Swindon Wildcats | 22/23 | ||
47 | ![]() |
Daniel Fay | 4 March 2000 | England | 2022 from Raiders IHC | 22/23 | |||
93 | ![]() |
Daniel Hitchings | R | 18 February 2002 | England | 2022 from Raiders 2 | 22/23 | ||
91 | ![]() |
Casey Wilson | 2002 (age 20) | England | 2022 from Raiders 2 | 22/23 | |||
40 | ![]() |
Archie Salisbury | L | 8 August 2006 | England | 2022 from Peterborough Phantoms | Two-Way |
Forwards | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Nat. | Player | Shoots | Date of birth | Place of birth | Acquired | Contract | |||
3 | ![]() |
T.J. Fillery | R | 18 May 1996 | Harold Wood, England | 2017 from Chelmsford Warriors | 22/23 | |||
8 | ![]() |
Cameron Bartlett | R | 22 November 1993 | Romford, England | 2018 from Invicta Dynamos | 22/23 | |||
9 | ![]() |
Grant Bartlett | R | 22 November 1993 | Romford, England | 2018 from Invicta Dynamos | 22/23 | |||
10 | ![]() |
Kieran Raynor | R | 23 March 1998 | Glasgow, Scotland | 2021 from Peterborough Phantoms 2 | 22/23 | |||
11 | ![]() |
'Sasha' Maltsev* | R | 26 November 2004 | Pyriatyn, Ukraine | 2022 from MHK Sokil U20 | 22/23 | |||
14 | ![]() |
Bailey Chittock | R | 20 June 1997 | Chelmsford, England | 2021 from Raiders 2 | 22/23 | |||
15 | ![]() |
Justin Dennison | 2006 (age 16) | England | 2022 from Peterborough Phantoms 2 | Two-Way | ||||
16 | ![]() |
Leo Markey | 2004 (age 18) | England | 2022 from Peterborough Phantoms 2 | Two-Way | ||||
17 | ![]() |
Harry Harcup | 17 January 2000 | England | 2022 from Slough Jets | 22/23 | ||||
20 | ![]() |
Ross Clark | R | 16 April 2002 | Peterborough, England | 2022 from Raiders IHC | 22/23 | |||
24 | ![]() |
Ollie Baldock | R | 15 January 1998 | Chelmsford, England | 2022 from Raiders IHC | 22/23 | |||
![]() |
Mason Webster | R | 6 August 1994 | Basildon, England | 2022 from Invicta Dynamos | 22/23 | ||||
![]() |
Brandon Webster | 26 May 2000 | Basildon, England | 2022 from Invicta Dynamos | 22/23 | |||||
74 | ![]() |
Chris Beckett | R | 17 March 2005 | Basildon, England | 2021 from Chelmsford U18 | U18 Junior | |||
89 | ![]() |
James Pentecost | R | 9 October 1989 | Peterborough, England | 2021 from Haringey Huskies | 22/23 |
Team Staff | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Nat. | Name | Acquired | Role | Place of birth | Joined From | ||||
![]() |
Mark Saunders | 2022/23 | Head Coach | Kingston upon Thames, England | Raiders 2, NIHL 1 | |||||
![]() |
Neil Liddiard | 2022/23 | Player-Assistant Coach | Swindon, England | Swindon Wildcats, NIHL National |
2021/22 Outgoing
[edit]Outgoing | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Nat. | Player | Shoots | Date of birth | Place of birth | Leaving For |
11 | ![]() |
Darren Brown | R | 2 August 1988 | Chelmsford, England | Retired |
17 | ![]() |
Stanislav Lascek | L | 17 January 1986 | Martin, Slovakia | Invicta Dynamos, NIHL 1 |
21 | ![]() |
Andrew Munroe | R | 2 August 1982 | Ashington, England | Retired |
26 | ![]() |
Julian Smith | R | 6 February 1987 | Peterborough, England | Retired |
43 | ![]() |
Ethan Reid | R | 3 June 2002 | Scotland | Raiders IHC, NIHL National |
88 | ![]() |
Matt Turner | R | 18 November 1988 | Romford, England | Retired |
91 | ![]() |
James Ayling | L | 15 May 1992 | Chelmsford, England | Retired |