OXFORD, UK – The hockey community in Oxford will come together once more on June 24th as the Norman Elliott Memorial game takes place in the historic city. Former players and special guests will ice in front of a passionate crowd, as they all pay tribute to the former ice rink legend.
It is just one year on since the passing of the much loved Norman Elliott yet few would have imagined what was to come for his beloved Oxford City Stars side and it’s Captain Darren, his son in the months to follow the inaugural memorial event.
Photo by Peter Magnusen
Pictured smiling on the ice amongst the former great and good of Oxford ice hockey club, an emotional Darren Elliott had good reason to be proud of his efforts to put on a tribute for his late father.
A packed Oxpens Road ice rink lapped up every moment of a game featuring those who had given blood, sweat and tears to the City Stars cause since the club formed in 1984. Stood vacant was the centre ice viewpoint Norm had stood watching the team almost every week, when not doing his usual job of managing the rink.
The smiles on the faces of those playing that day, were soon wiped as the current City Stars side encountered a terrible start to the season just a couple of months later and by Christmas the ENL 1 team was no more.
Pulled out of the league and all of their results expunged, a disconsolate Elliott was left with no other choice than to leave his beloved team and the man known as ‘Mr Oxford’ became a part of the formidable Chelmsford Chieftains line-up for the latter half of the season.
A Play-Off winner’s medal with Chelmsford gave an awful season a nice finish, despite an ankle injury ruling him out of icing in the final. It completed a rollercoaster season for the 33 year old who had previously iced for nine consecutive years in Oxford colours despite a number of offers to tempt him away.
So now comes the second Norm Elliott Memorial game in a couple of weeks with the likes of Scott Gough, John Matassa, Alan Armour and the Johnston brothers Andy and Rob amongst others all likely to ice alongside Darren himself.
The afternoon of hockey will include a ten minute game featuring Oxford Juniors, a ten minute game featuring the Oxford Women’s team and then an exhibition game between Stars past and Present.
All proceeds excluding costs (all players will be contributing) will be donated to charity and for those Oxford fans desperate to find out who will be icing for the City Stars next season, there will no doubt be information floating around the rink on the night.
The Norman Elliott Memorial game will take place on the 24 June at Oxford Ice Rink, the event starts at 16.30 with tickets available on the door.
Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com
