LONDON, UK – For some British hockey fans the announced departures of Milton Keynes Lightning and Guildford Flames from the English Premier League to the Elite League came as a shock, however to long term followers of the sport it was simply the latest chapter of the cyclical nature of the game in the UK.
Both clubs entered the EPL at different times but effectively dropped down from a level above, with MK slightly different in that they rebranded under new ownership. The Lightning first skated out in what was then the third tier of UK hockey in 2002 with import trio Claude Dumas, Dwayne Newman and Nick Poole backed up by local British talent.
Former Super League star Poole also took on coaching responsibilities and led the team to second place in the league and a Play-Off win straight away.
‘MK hockey had gone through some turbulent times (some of which I had been around for) when MKL started and I was determined to put a side together that would put smiles back on the faces of players and fans’ explained Poole, who had previously iced with the London Knights and Manchester Storm.
‘I wanted us to be a quick offensive team that put opponents on the back foot. I think we did that but more importantly we created a team that players liked playing for and I think our supporters could see and feel the enjoyment.’
The Guildford Flames arrived in the EPL in 2005/6 after the British National League dissolved and immediately became one of the big boys in the league. The slick Surrey outfit arrived with a bang winning the league at the first attempt, thanks to free scoring forwards Milos Melicherik and Jozef Kohut backed up by an array of British stars including GB international goalie Joe Watkins. Coach Stan Marple had long-time GB international defenceman Paul Dixon as his assistant that year and the Durham man would go on to lead the team alone in future years.
‘I remember in that first year thinking that there was a lot of good British players playing in this league along with some good imports’ explained Dixon who by then had already enjoyed an illustrious playing career.
Flames in action (Kev Slyfield)
‘The main difference of course was the import level as we had iced eight in the BNL, so it was good that we still had much of the same British core in the team that first year. It helped a lot. One of my most memorable experiences that year was playing on the Isle of Wight for the first time in my career. That was a real eye opener.’
The island side finished bottom of the league that year on their reduced sized ice pad and would only last a few more years in the EPL before dropping down a league. They were not alone, as Romford Raiders, Chelmsford Chieftains and others also bid farewell to a league where standards and budgets gradually rose year on year.
‘The league started to get stronger in my eyes as it started to attract better players both on the Brits front and with the imports’ explained Dixon, who hung up his skates in 2016 to focus on coaching.
‘The younger British players in the league were playing with better players and of course that developed them faster. Teams started to practise more and started to get better organised as the years went on and also we had some teams drop out of the Elite League and come to the EPL like Manchester and Basingstoke which also made it better as a competition.’
The cyclical change in British hockey always has its winners and losers however, and whilst MK enjoyed a lot of success under Poole, who cemented himself as a club legend as Player Coach during his tenure, the 43 year old is pragmatic when discussing the league’s progress over the last decade or so.
‘For better or worse it became a near professional league’ said the Alberta native, in reference to the increased import limits and budgets.
Old rivals clash again
‘The overall standard of coaching improved and at the top end of the table the games became very tight. Unfortunately the gulf between top and bottom is now probably bigger than it ever has been in terms of budgets and spending power. Hopefully the new league format will address this and there will be more parity which will lead to a better and more sustainable competition.’
‘The introduction of more imports and the move to import goalies has not been great in hindsight but again this looks like it is being addressed. Fingers crossed the birth of the new league will help both clubs and players enjoy a better future.’
‘To me it looks as if it is going back to the beginning of the EPL cycle. That was a time when players like Rob Dowd, Rob Farmer, and Craig Peacock were all plying their trade in the league. Let’s hope some of the next generation have similar success.’
With the future of the EPL’s replacement competition, the ‘Premier Ice Hockey League’ still not clarified, the only certainty is that the EPL no longer exists and is now archived in hockey history alongside the BNL, Superleague and British Premier League.
Both Guildford and Milton Keynes have been two of the most successful clubs in its history, with MK bagging a further Cup and Play-Off title this season under current coach Pete Russell. Between them, both Dixon and Poole can look back on some great memories in the competition.
‘My favourite bits have been winning trophies as any time you win a trophy it is good’ admitted Dixon, whose team won 5 League championships, 5 Premier Cups, and 2 Play-Off titles in their time in the EPL.
‘Our first year in the league we won the title so that was a great achievement obviously but also the first time we won the Play-Off title was special. We had been in every finals weekend since 2006 but it wasn’t until 2010/11 that we finally managed to lift that trophy. Also doing the double in as many seasons is a great memory.’
MK step up in style with 2017 Play-Off win
Milton Keynes Lightning bagged 3 league championships, a Cup and 5 Play-Off titles within their EPL history and while Poole is no longer officially involved with the team after leaving in 2016, he can look back with a sense of achievement.
‘Looking back I think I am most proud of the overall ethos of the club we created’ he explained.
‘We had some very successful times and won trophies which I will always remember. However, particularly in the early days, we had a lot of buy in from all the players and supporters who really connected with the club.’
‘We created a team that was far bigger than the sum of its parts. We ran the budget on a shoe string to begin with and our performance on the ice was always of a high standard. There was a lot of pride from the players and although we liked to have a good time off the ice the players demanded the most from each other and it resulted in several trophies and some great memories.’
So both clubs now move on to the Elite League where hockey fans in both towns get to watch the latest chapter of the sport. Will the Lightning and Flames flourish up with the big boys or will they fall… only time will tell.
Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com
This article was published originally in the EPL Play-Off weekend programme and has been adapted to reflect the outcome.
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