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Guildford Flames

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Guildford Flames
CityGuildford, Surrey
LeagueElite Ice Hockey League
Founded1992
Home arenaGuildford Spectrum
(capacity: 2,200)
ColorsNavy, crimson, gold, white
       
OwnerSportfact Ltd
Head coachPaul Dixon
CaptainMatt Alvaro[1]
AffiliatesGuildford Phoenix, NIHL 2
Guildford Lightning, WNIHL (Elite)
Championships
British National League Titles2 (1997–98, 2000–01)
English Premier League Titles4 (2005-06, 2007-08, 2011-12, 2012-13)
British National League Playoff Championships3 (1998, 2001, 2004)
Current season

The Guildford Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Guildford, Surrey. They play their home games in the Guildford Spectrum and compete in the top-tier of hockey in the United Kingdom, the Elite Ice Hockey League.

Founded in October 1992, the Flames originally played in the second-tier leagues of British hockey, first the British National League until 2004, and subsequently the English Premier Ice Hockey League until 2017. On 24 February 2017 it was announced that the Flames would become the 12th Elite Ice Hockey League team, joining from the 2017–18 season.

The team's head coach is Paul Dixon, who took over after Stan Marple retired in 2007.

Formation

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Barry Dow, an American who sponsored and owned the basketball team Guildford Kings and Bill Hurley established and owned the team as management – the two were new to the sport of ice hockey, and brought in Mike Urquhart as coach and Darrin Zinger as captain.[citation needed]

Key players signed for the first season included Canadians Sean Murphy and Dave McGahan due to their high scoring at Solent Vikings. In addition a number of British players including goaltender, Mike Kellond; forward, Danny O'Hanlon and defender, Gary Shearer.[citation needed]

The Flames' inaugural season began in October 1992; they began, unseeded, in the English League Division One. With the Guildford Spectrum not yet completed, the team had to train at Slough's facility. The Flames played their home games at Alexandra Palace until their new home ice was ready and played there for the first time on 23 January 1993.[citation needed]

When 23 January 1993 finally arrived and the Guildford Spectrum opened, the event was a big one. The area's paid-for newspaper The Surrey Advertiser described the local council's £28 million arena as "awesome".[citation needed] Guildford's first game at their new home showed a convincing win with Andy Sparks scoring the first goal at the Spectrum. The team went to the top of the Conference due to that game, a position they held onto for the whole season.[citation needed]

Elite League

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The Guildford Flames were confirmed as an Elite League expansion team in February 2017, stepping up from the English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL), and began play in the UK's top division at the start of the 2017–18 EIHL season.[2]

The Flames finished in sixth in their first season (2017–18), followed by a fifth-placed finish in 2018–19 – a campaign in which they finished runners-up to the Belfast Giants in the Challenge Cup final.[3]

Guildford were again in sixth when the 2019–20 EIHL season's remaining matches were cancelled in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The play-offs were cancelled with only the Challenge Cup seeing a winner (the Sheffield Steelers) crowned.[4]

Then, the 2020–21 Elite League season – originally scheduled for a revised start date of 5 December – was suspended on 15 September 2020 because of ongoing coronavirus pandemic restrictions. The EIHL board determined that the season was non-viable without supporters being permitted to attend matches and unanimously agreed to a suspension.[5] The season was cancelled completely in February 2021.[6]

In the 2021–22 EIHL season, Guildford finished the regular season in fifth place with a 25-25-4 record, reaching the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup (losing 6–5 on aggregate to Nottingham Panthers) and the play-off semi-finals (beating Nottingham 7–6 on aggregate in the quarter-finals, before losing in the last four to Cardiff Devils 3–2).[7][8] Guildford claimed third place by beating Dundee Stars 7–5 in the third/fourth place play-off.[9]

The 2022–23 EIHL season proved to be even better for the Guildford Flames, propelled by a strong start to the campaign that saw the Flames top the league for much of the first half of the season, including at Christmas. Forwards Daniel Tedesco (80 points), captain Brett Ferguson (67 points) and Ryan Tait (62 points) led the way.

The team were neck and neck with eventual league champions the Belfast Giants, with Guildford finishing in 2nd place in the Elite League with a 40-12-2 record from 54 games, good for 82 points, just two behind the Giants.[10] Belfast secured the title after a 6-1 win over the Flames at the SSE Arena on 1 April 2023.[11]

In the Challenge Cup, Guildford reached the semi-finals, before an eventual 6-3 aggregate defeat – once again at the hands of the Belfast Giants. And in the play-offs, the Flames were on the end of an upset at the quarter-final stage, losing 7-6 at the hands of seventh seed the Nottingham Panthers in April 2023.[12]

Guildford's second place league finish in the 2022–23 season saw them earn qualification for the 2023–24 IIHF Continental Cup. However, in May 2023, the club released a statement confirming they would decline their place in the competition.[13]

The 2023–24 EIHL season saw the Flames maintain a record that kept them in the top half of the league table. On 13 March 2024, Guildford finished runners-up in the Challenge Cup final to the Sheffield Steelers, losing 3-1.[14] Guildford ended the regular season in 5th with a 24-20-10 record, eventually losing in the play-off semi-finals to the Sheffield Steelers, 6-3.[15][16] The Flames also lost the 3rd/4th play-off 7-5 to the Cardiff Devils.[17]

In 2024–25, Guildford finished 6th in the league standings, thus once again qualifying for the end of season play-offs. The Flames regular season record was 25-22-7. The Flames were eliminated at the quarter-final stage by eventual champions the Nottingham Panthers, 8-6 on aggregate.

Club honours

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Domestic

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Benson & Hedges Cup

  • 1996–97, 1998–99

British National League

  • Champions: 1997–98, 2000–01
  • Playoffs: 1997–98, 2000–01, 2003–04
  • Southern Conference: 1997–98

Challenge Cup

  • Runners-up: 2018–19, 2023–24

Christmas Cup

  • 2000–01
The team celebrates winning the 2011 Playoff Championships

English Premier Ice Hockey League

  • League: 2005–06, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2012–13
  • Playoffs: 2010–11
  • Cup: 2006–07, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2015–16

Patton Conference

  • 2018–19

Individual

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The team celebrates winning the 2016 Playoff Championships

EIHL All-Stars First Team

  • 2017–18: Jesse Craige
  • 2021–22: Jamal Watson
  • 2022–23: Daniel Tedesco

EIHL All-Stars Second Team

  • 2017–18: Calle Ackered
  • 2017–18: John Dunbar
  • 2018–19: Calle Ackered
  • 2018–19: Jesse Craige
  • 2022–23: Brett Ferguson
  • 2022–23: Ben O'Connor
  • 2025–26: Mathieu Gosselin

Team logo and jersey

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The current team jerseys, for both away and home.
The current team jerseys, for both away and home.

The team logo is very similar to that of the Calgary Flames of the NHL. The team jerseys mirror those used by a former NHL team, Atlanta Thrashers from 1999 to 2006 (with logos replaced and advertisements added).

Current squad

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Squad for 2025–26 Elite League season[18][19]

Netminders
No. Player Catches Acquired Place of Birth Joined from Press Release
1 United States Brad Arvanitis L 2026 Holliston, United States Maine Mariners, ECHL [21]
1 CanadaRepublic of Ireland Taz Burman L 2025 Vancouver, Canada Cardiff Devils, EIHL [22]
30 England Adam Long L 2021 Crewe, England Haringey Huskies, NIHL 2 [23]
40 CanadaItaly Justin Fazio L 2025 Sarnia, Canada Asiago Hockey 1935, AlpsHL [24]
Defencemen
No. Player Shoots Acquired Place of Birth Joined from Press Release
5 Canada Jonathan Racine L 2025 Montreal, Canada CSM Corona Brasov, Erste Liga [25]
7 Canada Sean Comrie R 2025 Edmonton, Canada MacEwan University Griffins, U Sports [26]
19 United States Charlie Curti A L 2024 Mound, United States Belfast Giants, EIHL [27]
20 Canada Marcus Tesink L 2023 Saint John, Canada Concordia Stingers, U Sports [28]
26 United States Nate Kallen R 2026 San Diego, United States Vienna Capitals, ICEHL [29]
45 CanadaUnited Kingdom Travis Brown A L 2024 Winnipeg, Canada Belfast Giants, EIHL [30]
59 United States Jake Willets R 2026 Erie, United States Reading Royals, ECHL [31]
71 Canada Karl Boudrias L 2026 Châteauguay, Canada Belfast Giants, EIHL [32]
TBC Canada Jordan Power L 2026 Ottawa, Canada Coventry Blaze, EIHL [33]
Forwards
No. Player Position Acquired Place of Birth Joined from Press Release
8 England Elliot Lewis* C 2025 Southampton, England Milton Keynes Lightning, NIHL [34]
13 Canada Tyler Busch A C 2025 Lloydminster, Canada Cardiff Devils, EIHL [35]
16 Canada Jack Jacome A RW 2024 Caledon, Canada Rungsted Seier Capital, Metal Ligaen [36]
17 Canada Tyler Preziuso RW 2025 Burnaby, Canada Alberta Golden Bears, U Sports [37]
24 England Zack Milton F 2025 Ashford, England Basingstoke Bison, NIHL [38]
27 Canada Josh Nixon RW 2025 Mississauga, Canada Maine Mariners, ECHL [39]
27 United States Chase Gresock F 2026 Powell, United States Dragons de Rouen, Ligue Magnus [40]
28 Canada Matt Alvaro C LW/C 2023 Toronto, Canada Fort Wayne Komets, ECHL [41]
63 Canada Mathieu Gosselin RW/LW 2025 Quebec City, Canada Cincinnati Cyclones, ECHL [42]
67 Canada Justin Ducharme RW/LW 2026 Mirabel, Canada Fife Flyers, EIHL [43]
68 Canada Brett Neumann C/RW 2026 Toronto, Canada Glasgow Clan, EIHL [44]
86 Canada Jake Coughler C 2024 St. Catharines, Canada Lausitzer Füchse, DEL2 [45]
88 EnglandUnited Kingdom Lewis Hook LW 2023 Peterborough, England Belfast Giants, EIHL [46]
91 EnglandUnited Kingdom Joshua Waller LW 2024 Reading, England Cardiff Devils, EIHL [47]
93 Canada Ethan Strang F 2024 Cochrane, Canada South Carolina Stingrays, ECHL [48]
95 Canada Cole Sanford RW/C 2026 Vernon, Canada Cardiff Devils, EIHL [49]
96 Canada Cole Ully LW 2025 Calgary, Canada Glasgow Clan, EIHL [50]
98 England Samuel Talbot F 2023 London, England Milton Keynes Lightning, NIHL [51]
Team Staff
No. Name Position Place of Birth Joined from Press Release
N/A England Paul Dixon Head coach/GM Sunderland, England Appointed in 2007
N/A England Andrew Hemmings Assistant coach Guildford, England Appointed in 2022
N/A England Matty Simpson Equipment manager England Appointed in 2024
Recent departures
No. Player Position Acquired Leaving For Press Release
6 England Ben Solder D 2025 Fife Flyers, EIHL
29 United States Nick Seitz F 2025 Gothiques d'Amiens, Ligue Magnus
42 Canada Jamal Watson D 2025 ECDC Memmingen Indians, DEL2

Retired numbers

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The retired numbers at the Guildford Flames are:

Team captains

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  • 1992–94 – Darren Zinger
  • 1994–99 – Paul Thompson
  • 1999-00 – Karry Biette
  • 2000–01 – Wayne Crawford
  • 2001–07 – Paul Dixon
  • 2007–09 – Ricky Plant
  • 2009–10 – Rob Lamey
  • 2010–15 – David Longstaff
  • 2015–17 – Jeremy Lundin
  • 2017–20 – Jesse Craige
  • 2021–25 – Brett Ferguson
  • 2025-Current - Matt Alvaro

References

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  1. ↑ "Flames select captains".
  2. ↑ "Guildford Flames to join elite league". Coventry Blaze. 24 February 2017. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  3. ↑ "Challenge Cup: Belfast Giants retain trophy with overtime win against Flames". BBC Sport. 10 March 2019. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  4. ↑ "EIHL cancels all matches for rest of season". eSports Media. 13 March 2020. Archived from the original on 12 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  5. ↑ "EIHL Board Suspend 2020-21 Season". eSports Media. 15 September 2020. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  6. ↑ "No Elite League Season 2020/21". eSports Media. 2 February 2021. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  7. ↑ "Cardiff Devils 3:2 Guildford Flames".
  8. ↑ "Gamecentre".
  9. ↑ "Guildford Flames 7:5 Dundee Stars".
  10. ↑ "Standings 2022/2023 Elite Ice Hockey League".
  11. ↑ "Giants clinch third straight Elite League title!". 21 August 2019.
  12. ↑ "Panthers hold on to knock out second-seeded Flames". 21 August 2019.
  13. ↑ "Flames not entering Continental Cup".
  14. ↑ "Steelers win 2024 Challenge Cup". 21 August 2019.
  15. ↑ "Standings 2024/2025 Elite Ice Hockey League".
  16. ↑ "Sheffield Steelers 6:3 Guildford Flames".
  17. ↑ "Cardiff Devils 7:5 Guildford Flames".
  18. ↑ "Guildford Flames at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  19. ↑ "Team". Guildford Flames. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  20. ↑ "Guildford Flames Ice Hockey Club - Lewis added on two-way with Milton Keynes".
  21. ↑ "Arvanitis completes netminding group". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  22. ↑ "Burman returns to Flames". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  23. ↑ "Long signs for 6th season". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  24. ↑ "Fazio Back". Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  25. ↑ "Racine Returns". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  26. ↑ "Comrie making pro debut at Flames". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  27. ↑ "Curti agrees second term". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  28. ↑ "Tesink returns for third term". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  29. ↑ "Kallen joins Flames". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  30. ↑ "Brown signs on for 3rd term". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  31. ↑ "Jake Willets to make EIHL debut with Flames". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  32. ↑ "Boudrias signs with Flames". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  33. ↑ "Power Joins Flames". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  34. ↑ "Lewis added on two-way with Milton Keynes". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  35. ↑ "Busch back for 2nd term". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  36. ↑ "Jacome back for 3rd season". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  37. ↑ "Preziuso added to roster". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  38. ↑ "Milton takes on full time roster role". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  39. ↑ "Flames add forward Josh Nixon". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  40. ↑ "Chase Gresock joins Flames". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  41. ↑ "Alvaro back for 4th term". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  42. ↑ "Gosselin Re-signs". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  43. ↑ "Ducharme moves to Flames". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
  44. ↑ "Flames add Neumann". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  45. ↑ "Coughler back for second season". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  46. ↑ "Hook returns". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  47. ↑ "Waller Re-signs". www.guildfordflames.com. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  48. ↑ "Strang back for follow-up campaign". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  49. ↑ "Cole Sanford transfers to Flames". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
  50. ↑ "Ully transfers to Flames". www.guildfordflames.com. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  51. ↑ "Talbot signs 2 year deal". Guildford Flames. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
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