Heineken, Babcock and 100 years of British Hockey

DURHAM, UK – Hockey is no different to any other part of life. Each period of time has its characters, its heroes, its winners and losers and some stick with the game while others move on with their lives.

Car park of British hockey legends (Duncan Spiers)

Former Scottish hockey star Scott Plews and ex Durham Wasps goalie Frankie Killen may be retired from the game, but that didn’t stop them putting together the event of a lifetime to ensure that those periods of time were finally linked.

The UK Ice Hockey Players 100 year celebration took place recently and was attended by hundreds of hockey players, coaches and officials past and present at the Ramside Hotel in Durham. The event raised money for Macmillan Nurses and the Teenage Cancer Trust.

“I knew Frankie from my time playing for GB juniors” explains Plews, who couldn’t comment on whether the hotel had to take out additional insurance.

“He was the Assistant Coach of the team back then and of course in later years I played against him.”

“It was a seriously difficult and stressful event to put together and we both have jobs as joiners so finding time was difficult. I also run my own clothing company so I was pretty much flat out, but the feedback after the event was brilliant so it made it worthwhile.”

Durham as a host city for the event was symbolic. The cobbled streets and beautiful cathedral and castle give no hint of its hockey heritage. The ice rink closed almost twenty years ago yet to any hockey fan, player or official who was following the sport before that fateful day, the name conjures up memories of the fabled big blue machine, the dynasty of the Durham Wasps.

Drink driving in style

“When Frankie suggested Durham I agreed immediately” explains Plews.

“The Ramside was big enough to hold the golf as well as the event and with the connection the city has to Ice-Hockey, it was a no-brainer.”

“I used to go to Durham hockey schools when I was 13/14 and then played in tournaments as well from a young age. The place is arguably the best hockey town in the country.”

British hockey has a curious case of divided reflection. The lines are blurred but essentially there is a fabled period of time somewhere between the 70’s and mid/late nineties that many of those involved in the game at that time hold dear to their hearts.

This period included the Heineken era of hockey, a time when most teams travelled the length and breadth of the country with rosters full of British players supplemented by imports who became household names, even legendary.

Wembley Arena was packed every year as hockey fans and the BBC cameras travelled to London for a prestigious showcase event that has never really been replaced in some eyes.

Many of those of that era have long since retired or are still involved in the game as coaches or serious veterans. The import laden top league that began with the introduction of the Superleague in 1996 and continues today with the Elite League arguably took some soul away from the sport, at least at the professional level.

Legends of the game Tony Hand MBE and Peter Jonker Johnson

However that soul was in evidence again at the Ramside with some real heavyweights of hockey history celebrating over a two day event that also included a golf tournament, complete with a Heineken sponsored beer trolley.

“I was surprised by the amount of players who hadn’t signed up initially” admits Plews.

“But it’s the same for all things like this. Once it got closer and closer the ticket sales shot through the roof in the last three months before the event”

“We hosted players such as Tony Hand, Kel Land, Alfie Miller, Roly Barrass, Scott Neil, Terry Matthews, Iain Robertson, Michael Tasker, Jonker Johnson and his three sons, Tony Goldstone, Jeff Smith, Johnny Iredale… the list is endless!”

“We even had four guys fly over from Canada and Rob Breskal all the way from Australia literally just to attend.”

Current Manchester Phoenix Coach and former Murrayfield and GB legend Hand was awarded Player of the Century at the awards dinner, and also honoured was Peter ‘Jonker’ Johnson who was not only a top player but has been one of junior hockey’s most influential coaches of the last few decades.

Some famous signatures

Toronto Maple Leafs Coach Mike Babcock, a former defenseman with Whitley Warriors back in the 1980’s gave a message via video link, as did former GB and Nottingham Coach Alex Dampier and former Peterborough Coach Rocky Saganiuk.

There were tables of hockey players from Glasgow, Sunderland, Swindon, Streatham, Billingham, Fife and many other hockey areas of the country, some of which no longer have teams or rinks. All were having a great time sharing memories and reflecting on their time in the game.

The attendees all indebted to the efforts of Plews and Killen, who had the gumption to make it all happen.

Plews is a Fifer himself and not only understands the game but has stuck with it despite chronic back problems that plagued his career. It is this love for the sport and the way it shaped him as a person that motivated him to stand up and be counted and help organise something so impressive.

“I started playing because my friend Paul Wood played” admits Plews.

“Me and my twin brother Ian (who went on to play pro for years too) started public skating and went on to start ice hockey at aged 9.”

“I can honestly say that if I never played hockey I have no idea where I would have ended up. Hockey has helped mould me into someone who has a very good work ethic and the ability to work within a team has also been invaluable to me throughout my working life.”

“I had many highs in my career but when I played for the Paisley Pirates and won the Scottish Cup Final against the Flyers in Fife; that was up there with the best.”

“The fact it was alongside some amazing team mates who still remain some of my closest friends to this day, made it even better. It was a special night for a lot of us.”

“I hung up the skates at 34 as I had to have a disc replaced in my neck. I have had two lower back major surgeries since my neck op in 2010. Would I like to have played longer? Sometimes yes, but I really like coaching at the moment too.”

Plews with son Tyler and Fife Falcons

Whilst Plews senior may no longer be patrolling the blue line, his son Tyler has recently signed up with the Edinburgh Capitals in the Elite League.

The 17 year old defenseman came through the junior ranks at Fife just like his dad and Uncle, and is tipped for a promising future in the game.

Dad may struggle to get to all of Tyler’s games however as he is going to very busy himself this year. Plews Snr has coached Fife u20’s for the past three years, Scotland juniors at all age groups and was awarded the assistant coaching job for GB u16’s this summer alongside former Durham Wasp Rob Wilkinson.

“My future in coaching will be taken slowly but seriously and one season at a time.” Plews says.

“I have no goals in mind such as a senior team at the moment but it has entered my mind. We will just have to wait and see, but one step at a time.”

So with a back-up career as an events co-ordinator in his locker and plenty of hockey ahead, all that is left is for Plews to say his most important thank you.

“Other than thanking Frankie, which I have done many times, the biggest thanks goes to my wife Shirley.”

“She has put up with a lot for me, which I would never have managed to follow through with without her support.”

Despite the residents of nearby Belmont being put on red alert by County Durham Police for the invasion of so many hockey players, we can safely say that the event passed off relatively peacefully.

Some pictures of the event can be seen below, thanks to the camera work of Duncan Spiers. For more pictures please visit the Facebook page.

Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com