Billingham Stars

(Redirected from Billingham Bombers)

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
CityBillingham, England
LeagueNIHL
DivisionDivision 1 North
Founded1971 (1971)
Home arenaBillingham Forum Ice Arena
ColoursRed, White, Black
     
General managerAllen Flavell
Head coachRichie Thornton, Stephen Foster
CaptainMichael Elder
Mediahttps://www.starshockey.co.uk/
Franchise history
1971–1982Billingham Bombers
1982–1992Cleveland Bombers
1992–1993Billingham Bombers
1993–1995Teesside Bombers
1995–1996Billingham Bombers
1996–2002Billingham Eagles
2002–2009Billingham Bombers
2011-CurrentBillingham Stars (ENL)
Championships
Regular season titles1998/1999, 1999/2000, 2000/2001, 2005/2006, 2011/2012, 2023/2024
Playoff championships1998/1999, 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

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The 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

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(*) 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 (2000-07-20) 20 July 2000 (age 24) Middlesbrough, England 2018 from Whitley Warriors 22/23
31   Ryan Wardell L (2005-01-30) 30 January 2005 (age 19) 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 (2005-01-26) 26 January 2005 (age 19) 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 (1991-01-19) 19 January 1991 (age 33) 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 (2001-02-19) 19 February 2001 (age 23) 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 (1992-06-01) 1 June 1992 (age 32) 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 (1992-01-05) 5 January 1992 (age 32) Sheffield, England 2014 from Sutton Sting 22/23
19   Shaun Galloway R (2001-01-14) 14 January 2001 (age 23) Bishop Auckland, England 2018 from Billingham U20 22/23
23   Jack Emerson L (1996-09-19) 19 September 1996 (age 28) Easington, England 2021 from Billingham U18 22/23
32   Michael Elder 'C' R (1993-06-24) 24 June 1993 (age 31) Durham, England 2011 from Northern Stars 22/23
33   Finley Bradon R (2005-11-24) 24 November 2005 (age 18) 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 (2002-02-24) 24 February 2002 (age 22) 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 (1998-01-31) 31 January 1998 (age 26) 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

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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

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Billingham Stars Retired Numbers
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

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League titles

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The Billingham Stars celebrating at the Billingham Forum, having received the trophy for winning the NIHL Division 1 North Moralee Conference during the 2023/24 season.
  • ED1: 2 (1998/99, 1999/00)
  • ENL: 4 (2000/01, 2005/06, 2011/12, 2023/24)

Play-Off Titles

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  • ED1 Playoffs: (1998/99)
  • ENL Playoffs: 3 (2000/01, 2011/12)

Cup Titles

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  • NIHL Northern Cup: (2015/16)

Individual Records

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  • 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

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