Streatham IHC look to a new future

LONDON, UK – One of the UK’s oldest ice hockey clubs turned a new page in their history this week as Streatham ice hockey club officially re-branded themselves back to their original name, after dropping their Redskins nickname of more than 40 years.

Left to right: Will Sanderson, Joe Allen, Sean Scarbrough, Joe Johnston, Adam Wood, Conor Sheehan, Daniel Clayton

The South London based club hit the headlines across the world back in April after announcing their decision to put the club name to a fan vote and no longer compete as Streatham Redskins.

In true British fashion, the overwhelming public opinion was to return to tradition and the original name the club had largely competed with between 1932 and 1973.

This included the ‘Golden Age’ up to the 1950’s when Streatham were crowned British Champions and also had a number of players on their roster who won gold with GB in the 1936 Winter Olympics.

The team largely consisted of Canadians who had served in the British Army, or were flown over especially to play for Streatham. Famous names such as Harvey ‘Red’ Stapleford and Gerry Davey were amongst many more of Canadian heritage to help secure multiple championships alongside their British colleagues.

Goalie Will Sanderson and Captain Joe Johnston pose with new jerseys (Photo Rick Webb)

With the new season starting this weekend and the retro jerseys and logo’s ready for action the club officially launched their home and away jerseys with a nudge to the past in the stunning setting of Canada House in Central London.

A number of the team and management posed for photographs and chatted with staff from the Canadian High Commission, who had kindly helped arrange the event.

All of the junior club from under 9 up to under 18 at Streatham have also re-branded and offer a place for local youngsters to play ice hockey alongside the many ex-pat and immigrant families who have moved to the UK capital from all around the world.

A club spokesman said:

‘We wanted to mark this moment in our club’s long history with a special event and the Canadian High Commission were fantastic supporting us. The players and the management all enjoyed it and we know that this is a positive change that we can all be proud of and use as a catalyst for further progression on and off the ice.’

Streatham IHC will now start the 2016/17 season with a new look from top to bottom and a new hope of building the club up inside their Olympic sized ice rink in SW16.