Swindon Wildcats

WAVETECH CHIEFTAINS 10 SWINDON WILDCATS 6

October 3 1993

 

PREVIEW

Welcome to Swindon Wildcats and good luck to both teams tonight, writes Karl Goebel.

 

Last Saturday Chieftains played their first league game away against Telford Tigers.

 

The final result was 12-5 in favour of Telford and everyone on the team played well and never let up until the final buzzer went.

 

Telford have a strong side and will be a top contender in the northern division.

Last Sunday at home against Guildford, Chieftains lost the services of Dave Greenland, as he suffered a broken ankle in the second period.

Everyone on the team wishes Dave a speedy recovery!

 

MATCH REPORT

Chieftains hit back after Saturday's disaster at Medway by defeating Swindon Wildcats, writes Mick Jordan.

 

Wildcats struck first through Neil Browne but Chieftains hit back with three unanswered goals from Adam Anderson, Sean Cyr - his first goal for the club - and Rick Smith.

 

Wildcats pulled a goal back before the first break thanks to a Gary Dickie powerplay strike.

 

A superb Karl Goebel short-handed goal after 27 minutes stretched the lead but Swindon's reply was instant through Dickie again.

 

Chelmsford found some breathing space with two goals in a minute from Goebel and Smith before Ian Richards and Karl Rogers traded goals to make it 7-4 by the close of the second period.

 

Chieftains continued to attack in the third and with Wildcats' picking up penalties Rogers again found the net.

 

Mickey Keen increased the lead 9-4 before Browne netted his second after fifty-five minutes.

 

Keen scored a great short-handed breakaway goal just a minute later and Browne took some personal satisfaction from the game by competing his hat-trick with ninety seconds remaining.

 

So ended a disappointing run of four successive league and cup defeats.

 

CHIEFTAINS - 1 James Grindlay 4 Shaun Cyr 7 Gary McGeorge 8 Karl Rogers 9 Dave Greenland 10 Rick Smith 11 Tony Cimelli 14 Mike Whitelaw 15 Mark Norfolk 16 Adam Anderson 17 Mick Keen 18 Phil Donovan 19 Karl Goebel 20 Jason Forster 30 Terry Bagley.

 

WILDCATS - 7 Bryan Larkin 8 Craig McWilliam 9 Gary Dickie 10 Steve Nell 13 Tim Tisdale 14 Daryl Lipsey 17 Ian Richards 20 Alan Bishop 21 Colin McHaffie 22 Neil Browne 27 Colin Hamilton 44 Alan Armour 77 Andy McGurk, Lee Braithwaite, Gareth Endicott, Neil Liddiard, Grant Bailey.

 

SWINDON WILDCATS 10 WAVETECH CHIEFTAINS 6

November 1993

 

MEDIA VIEW

Struggling Chieftains suffered another disappointing weekend with a double defeat - on Saturday they were beaten 10-6 at Swindon and the following night went down 4-3 to Solihull Barons, writes John Castle.

 

"We just turned up at Swindon. We never gave ourselves a chance. We were 5-1 down at the end of the first period and could never make up that bad start," said player-coach Karl Goebel.

 

"But were deserved a draw at Solihull, it was probably our best team effort of the season and it unfortunate that Barons got a really lucky break at the end."

 

Chieftains remain a point above bottom club Lee Valley Lions with two games in hand in the Southern Conference section.

 

Chieftains face another tough match on Sunday when they entertain Slough Jets, the current Southern Conference leaders who have only lost one match this season.

 

Chieftains this weekend signed Romford D-man Shaun McFadyen. He trained with the club on Tuesday and will go straight into the squad on Sunday.

 

WAVETECH CHIEFTAINS 10 SWINDON WILDCATS 11

January 30 1994

 

PREVIEW

Tonight we welcome the Swindon Wildcats, a team of great ELD1 experience who yet again are looking forward to a play-off spot, writes Mick Jordan.

 

Wildcats success can be largely attributed to two areas. Firstly they boast a strong import quartet led by defenceman and coach Bryan Larkin, now in his third year in Swindon.

 

He is once again joined by Daryl Lipsey, an explosive re-classified forward. New to the country this season are Dave Stephens, a replacement for Tim Tisdale, and the impressive high scoring Gary Dickie.

 

Wildcat's strength in depth can be seen by their large British.squad including top netminder Colin Hamilton, a product of Fife's junior development, Neil Browne, a vastly experienced forward who has played in Streatham, Slough and Cardiff.

 

Now in his second year in Swindon, Browne is currently second in the British scoring charts.

 

Stephen Nell is another experienced forward, a product of Sunderland, he has also iced for Solihull and Basingstoke but is now in his third spell for the Wildcats.

 

Swindon have also acquired two young players from the former Ayr Raiders youth programme in Colin McHaffie and GB defenceman Craig McWilliam.

 

Swindon also boasts a great youth development programme to which Daryl Lipsey must take a great deal of credit.

 

Lipsey controls the Junior programme which has produced several excellent young Wildcats including Ian Richards and GB U-16 quartet Gareth Endicott, Lee Braithwaite, Neil Lidiard and netminder Jamie Thompson.

 

MATCH REPORT

Wildcats edged this 21 goal thriller by a single marker and will feel justifiably relieved to have taken the points from a rejuvenated Chelmsford team, writes Mick Jordan.

 

Chieftains led the game 10-8 up until the forty-eighth minute, but eventually Wildcats front-line proved too strong with Gary Dickie netting the game winner at 52.59.

 

Now with eight consecutive defeats, Chelmsford not only kept pace with Wildcats through to the forty minute mark, but set that pace, leading three times in the opening period only for the Wildcats to pull level on each occasion.

 

Chelmsford's goals coming from Mickey Keen, Rick Smith and Lloyd McKinney - Dickie, Neil Browne and Daryl Lipsey replying for the visitors.

 

Chelmsford showed their fighting spirit in a superb middle period that saw Swindon forge an 8-5 lead only for their hosts to pull level by the interval . . . Lipsey (2), Dickie (2) and Dave Stevens finding the net for Swindon. Chieftains replies coming from Smith (2), Keen, Karl Goebel and Jamie Randall.

 

McKinney put Chelmsford into the lead at 41.57 and the impressive Smith scored his fourth of the night at 42.52 to make it 10-6, but Wildcats forced their way back into the game with a goal from Lipsey at 47.44.

 

Stevens levelled the scoring at 52.20 and then came the killer blow for Chieftains as Dickie notched his fourth goal to clinch victory.

 

CHIEFTAINS - 1 James Grindlay 4 Drew Chapman 5 Gary McLoughlin 7 Gary McGeorge 8 Karl Rogers 9 Brett Shepherd 10 Rick Smith 11 Tony Cimelli 14 Jamie Deamer 15 Mark Norfolk 16 Lloyd McKinney 17 Mickey Keen 18 Phil Donovan 19 Karl Goebel 20 Jamie Randall 30 Andy Humphrey.

 

WILDCATS - 4 Neil Liddiard 6 Lee Braithwaite 7 Bryan Larkin 8 Craig McWilliam 9 Gary Dickie 10 Steve Nell 13 Dave Stevens 14 Daryl Lipsey 17 Ian Richards 19 Gareth Endicott 20 Alan Bishop 21 Colin McHaffie 22 Neil Browne 27 Colin Hamilton 28 Wayne Fiddes 29 Grant Bailey 61 Jamie Thompson.

 

SWINDON WILDCATS 11 WAVETECH CHIEFTAINS 11

March 12 1994

 

Wildcats opened the scoring at 1.36 and won first period 5-3.

Second period the teams shared the spoils 4-4 but Swindon looking on top.

 

Third period Swindon scored 10th goals to give them a 10-7 lead.

Chieftains fought back with four straight goals between 43.16 and 57.19 leaving the score at 11.10.

 

Swindon pulled net-minder for final two minutes and Lipsey scored GTG at 59.28.

 

CHIEFTAINS - Drew Chapman 1+1, Barrie Aisbitt 0+1, Karl Rogers 2+0, Rick Smith 0+3 Robbie Morris 2+0 Lloyd McKinney 0+2, Mickey Keen 5+0, Karl Goebel 1+0.

 

 

WAVETECH CHIEFTAINS 6 SWINDON WILDCATS 7

September 11 1994

 

PREVIEW

Tonight we welcome Swindon Wildcats to Riverside, writes Mick Jordan.

 

Wildcats are almost certain to be one of the strongest sides in Division One season after strengthening their squad this summer.

 

They will have been disappointed to finish fourth in last season's Southern Conference and therefore miss out on the play-offs, but will be determined to go one better this season.

 

Coach Daryl Lipsey has returned to the Link Centre for yet another campaign and re-joining him will be All-Star forward Gary Dickie.

 

New to Swindon this season are Kyle Galloway, a 25-year-old defenceman from Winnipeg and the prolific Steve Moria who has moved from Blackburn to join Wildcats.

 

Much of the strong British squad that Lipsey has assembled Swindon remains, including high scoring forwards Neil Browne and Stephen Nell.

 

Bryan Larkin will once again be patrolling the blue-line and Swindon's strong youth policy has produced a talented young line-up that includes Lee Braithwaite, Neil Liddiard and Gareth Endicott.

Another Wildcats summer scoop has seen Jeff Smith, ex-Cardiff Devil netminder, return to hockey, a signing which is certain to strengthen the Swindon line-up still further.

 

MATCH REPORT

Chieftains suffered at the hands of Steve Moria as the former Cardiff and Blackburn import led his new team to victory, writes Mick Jordan.

Moria scored four of the goals, but proved a genuine threat throughout a hard and occasionally niggly game.

 

Wildcats took the lead through Moria at just 1.36 on the powerplay and doubled their lead four minutes later through Ian Richards.

 

Chelmsford, who have suffered from disastrous starts in every game so far this season, gave the Riverside crowd little to cheer about until the eleventh minute when Wildcats' netminder Jamie Thompson did not even sniff an incredible Dave Flanagan slap-shot.

 

Just a minute later Moria restored his team's two goal advantage, scoring at the second attempt after breaking clear of Chieftains defence.

 

Wildcats stretched their lead to 5-1 by the halfway mark of the game with two goals from Neil Browne but a Tony Cimelli strike at 32.23 gave Chieftains a glimmer of hope.

 

That glimmer seemed to be erased however just 14 seconds later through that man Moria who completed his hat-trick with a smart, near post wrist shot.

 

Karl Goebel struck Chieftains' third within a minute and Flanagan's shot again found the corner of the net at 35.44 to leave his side trailing by just two goals.

 

Swindon's Kyle Galloway and Chieftains' Grayden Reid traded goals before Gary McEwan's shot gave Chieftains real hope with just a minute left of the period to leave the score 7-6.

 

CHIEFTAINS - 1 Jamie Grindlay 4 Kevin MacNaught 5 Grayden Reid 6 Ben Pitchley 7 Gary McEwan 8 Karl Rogers 9 Gary Dowd 10 Brad Gratton 1 Tony Cimelli 12 Dave Flanagan 14 Richard Whiting 15 Mark Norfolk 16 Jamie Deamer 17 Jamie Randall 18 Phil Donovan 19 Karl Goebel 30 Terry Bagley 31 Mo Kadhim Coach Jim Fuyarchuk Trainer Richard Coe Ast Trnr Mick Evans.

 

WILDCATS - 4 Neil Liddiard 6 Lee Braithwaite 7 Bryan Larkin 8 Gareth Endicott 9 Gary Dickie 10 Steve Nell 14 Daryl Lipsey 15 Jeff Smith 17 Ian Richards 19 Steve Moria 20 Alan Bishop 22 Neil Browne 25 Kyle Galloway 27 Lee Elliott 28 Wayne Fiddes 29 Grant Bailey 44 Alan Armour 61 Jamie Thompson. Coach Richard Howe.

 

SWINDON WILDCATS 5 WAVETECH CHIEFTAINS 11

October 29 1994

 

Despite battling hard for two periods Chieftains were overcome by the League leading Wildcats, writes Mick Jordan.

 

The architect of Swindon's victory was the brilliant Steve Moria who influenced so much of the play, scoring six times and improving his position as the League's top scorer.

 

Chieftains, icing with Dave Flanagan still holding stitches in his elbow, kept Swindon's attack at bay until the eleventh minute when Gary Dickie finally beat Marc Dowd.

 

Moria scored his first of the night just over a minute later but Dowd restricted the score to just 2-0 by the end of the period.

 

Moria extended Wildcats' lead in the opening minute of the second period but Jamie Randall scored his and Chieftains' first of the night at 23.34.

 

Steve Nell made it 4-1 to Swindon with a powerplay goal mid-way through was immediately cancelled out by a Karl Rogers unassisted strike.

 

Marc Dowd was forced to leave the game late in the period, breaking a finger whilst making a save from Kyle Galloway.

 

Mo Kadhim proved equally tough to beat and the Wildcats had to wait until 38.15 before extending their lead through Bryan Larkin.

 

Chieftains kept in touch with their hosts early in the third period, Dean Birrell scoring his first Chieftains goal with a short from the blue-line at 42.39.

 

Moria's smart finish made it 6-3 to Swindon before Jamie Randall scored his second at 44.36 but Moria and Wildcats picked up a gear with the Canadian proving unstoppable, adding two further goals.

 

Rogers pulled another back for Chelmsford at 54.33 but the pace of the game eventually began to tell as Moria netted his sixth followed by late goals from Nell and Galloway as victory became a formality for Wildcats.

 

WAVETECH CHIEFTAINS 10 SWINDON WILDCATS 15

March 5 1995

 

PREVIEW

Tonight we welcome the players, officials and supporters of Swindon Wildcats who can ill afford to drop league points, writes Mick Jordan.

 

Chieftains have yet to defeat Wildcats this term, but will be hoping to put that right tonight, and if Swindon's last visit to Riverside is anything to go by, this should be a tremendous game.

 

Wildcats, currently living in that vital fourth play-off position, will be hoping to hold off the challenge of Trafford Metros and are thus entering the most important part of their season.

 

Swindon will be looking to the prolific scoring of Steve Moria and Gary Dickie to continue. Moria looks certain to take the Division One scoring title whilst Dickie and Daryl Lipsey will not be far behind the former Cardiff Devil.

 

All three are sitting high in the scoring charts with Lipsey recently becoming the first player to score 1000 Division One points.

 

Defensively Wildcats are led by Kyle Galloway, enjoying a successful first season in British hockey, and the ever present Bryan Larkin, again having a fine season at the Link Centre.

Wildcats' netminding duties have been mainly taken up by another ex-Cardiff Devil, Jeff Smith, who has added still further to his team's strength.

 

One of Swindon's success stories has been the performance of their smartly assembled British squad, with forwards Neil Browne and Stephen Nell both significantly contributing to Wildcats high scoring offence.

 

Swindon's strong youth policy can be clearly seen in the line-up with the constant and impressive improvement in the likes of Lee Braithwaite, Neil Liddiard and Gareth Endicott.

 

Wildcats' netminding duties have been mainly taken up by another ex-Cardiff Devil, Jeff Smith, who has added still further to his team's strength.

 

MATCH REPORT

This was certainty not a game for the hockey purist, more of an old fashioned shoot-out with Wildcats' big-guns eventually out-firing Chieftains in a game they simply couldn't afford to lose, writes Mick Jordan.

 

The opening period gave a good indication that this was to be no defensive battle as both sides rattled home five goals with Chieftains often looking the more fluent in attack, especially Dave Flanagan who had already notched an impressive hat-trick by the break.

 

The second period continued in much the same vein with the teams continuing to trade goals. In the closing minutes of the period the Wildcats edged ahead with Daryl Lipsey scoring a hat-trick within five minutes, including a vital short-handed goal at 37.58 which led to a 10-8 Wildcats lead by the close of the period.

 

Steve Moria (3+7) and Gary Dickie (3+2) continued to haunt Chieftain defence, as Wildcats stretched away from their hosts, their overall strength in depth proving too great, with second line men Bishop and Nell both scoring braces.

 

Kevin MacNaught netted a hat-trick for the Chieftains and Flanagan finished with 4+1.

 

CHIEFTAINS - 4 Kevin MacNaught 5 Grayden Reid 6 Ben Pitchley 7 Gary McEwan 9 Robert Brown 10 Marcus Cast 11 Tony Cimelli 12 Dave Flanagan (I) 14 Richard Whiting 15 Mark Norfolk 16 Alexei Kuznetzov 17 Dean Birrell 18 Phil Donovan 19 Karl Goebel (I) 20 Darren Fitzpatrick 30 Marc Dowd, David Greenland. Coach Jim Fuyarchuk.

 

WILDCATS - 4 Neil Liddiard 6 Lee Braithwaite 7 Bryan Larkin 8 Gareth Endicott 9 Gary Dickie 10 Steve Nell 14 Daryl Lipsey 15 Jeff Smith 17 Ian Richards 19 Steve Moria 20 Alan Bishop 22 Neil Browne 25 Kyle Galloway 27 Lee Elliott 28 Wayne Fiddes 29 Grant Bailey 44 Alan Armour 61 Jamie Thompson Coach Richard Howe.

 

 

WAVETECH CHIEFTAINS 6 SWINDON WILDCATS 9

September 3 1995

 

This was the season's opening British League Division One match which saw Wildcats fast and physical style overcome Chieftains in a dogged battle, writes Mick Jordan.

 

Chieftains tremendous start to the season faltered as Swindon's experience squad won a game that was played in the head as much as with sticks.

 

Two early Gary Dickie strikes stunned Chieftains into action and after D'arcy Cahill had scored his sides first it looked as if the game was about to explode into life.

 

At 11.55 minutes into the game that is exactly what happened as a fracas between Cahill and Garry Dowd resulted in both players being ejected.

 

Wildcats would certainly have been the happier team at this trade off and took full advantage as Chieftains attempted to regroup minus their top scorer and most influential forward.

 

At the break Wildcats had moved into a comfortable 6 -2 lead with further goals from Brad Rubachuk, Ian Richards, Dickie and Neil Browne. Rick Smith pulling a short-handed effort back for Chieftains.

 

The second period saw Chieftains, spurred on by a large Riverside crowd, battle their way back into the game, tightening their defence and starting to click offensively.

 

Two goals from Alexei Kuznetzov halved the Swindon lead as minor penalties continued to spoil the flow of the game.

 

Before the second break the teams traded further goals through Smith for Chelmsford and Browne for Swindon, to make it 7 - 5.

 

Excellent goalminding from Jamie Grindlay and Marc Dowd helped to keep the scoring at a minimum as Chelmsford attempted to get back on level terms with Wildcats, whose own counter attacking style often looked like extending the lead.

 

The contest was effectively decided by the 50 minute mark as two Wildcat strikes in just over a minute through Dickie and Steve Nell made it 9-5.

 

Smith did pull a goal back for Chieftains, completing his hat-trick, but the Wildcats held on for the victory as Chieftains' frustrations began to show and their penalty box began to fill.

 

Wildcats looked like a team ready to play, possibly a result of their tough Benson and Hedges (SMOKING STINKS) programme, while Chieftains, although hard hit in the first period, battled back well and will not be so hospitable in the future.

 

WAVETECH CHIEFTAINS 6 SWINDON WILDCATS 9

November 12 1995

 

PREVIEW

Tonight we welcome the players, officials and supporters of Swindon Wildcats to Riverside, writes Mick Jordan.

 

So far this season Wildcats have endured a tough Benson and Hedges Cup (SMOKING IS PATHETIC) campaign and regrouped for what has largely been a successful start to their league schedule.

 

Injuries and suspensions have not helped Swindon's recent results, but that will make tonight's visitors all the more determined to catch the league leaders.

 

Wildcats strength lies in two areas, quality imports and support from a largely experienced and talented squad.

 

Gary Dickie is once more leading from the front with points galore and is joined by Brad Rubachuk, another high scoring forward who has moved into the Division One's top ten scorers alongside Dickie.

 

Both players are power forwards with explosive shots and are ably supported by impressive British forwards Steve Nell, Ian Richards and ex Cardiff Devil Neil Browne.

 

Wildcats blue line is patrolled by two intimidating, no-nonsense Canadians in the shape of Bryan Larkin, now a firm fixture in Swindon, and former Telford Tiger Wayne Crawford, two players with great experience in British hockey.

 

Swindon's goaltending duties are shared between Jamie Thompson, a highly rated young player, and a man who needs little introduction, ex-Chieftain favourite Marc Dowd.

 

The Wiltshire outfit also boasts a number of ever improving young players developed through Swindon's successful youth set-up such as Lee Braithwaite and Wayne Fiddes.

 

MATCH REPORT

Inspired by a virtuoso performance from Brad Rubachuk, Wildcats proved too strong for a battling Chieftains side who threatened to turn the form book on it's head until the final period, writes Mick Jordan.

 

For forty minutes Chieftains matched Swindon despite their recently reduced line-up.

 

A frantic opening saw Rubachuk and Chieftain's Marshall Spence trade goals in just over a minute of the start.

 

Chieftains' defence, and Tony Melia in particular, dealt with Swindon's slick attacking play until the sixth minute when minor penalty trouble cost the hosts as they conceded consecutive powerplay goals from Robin Davison and Rubachuk.

 

The scoreline did not alter until the 19th minute when Tony Cimelli's snapshot from the blue line travelled through traffic and past Swindon's Marc Dowd.

 

Chieftains tied the score early in the second period through Andy Hannah and were presented with the lead when Rick Smith scored i close range powerplay effort.

 

Rubachuk and Spence traded goals in the 29th minute as both sides picked up the tempo of the game, producing some excellent hockey. Another powerplay goal, converted by Karl Rogers, stretched Chieftain's lead to 6-4 before Rubachuk produced an unstoppable shot just before the break.

 

Wildcats totally dominated the final period, turning this game around with professional ease.

 

Jamie Thompson, having replaced Dowd in the Swindon net, was largely redundant as constant pressure caused Chieftains to run into penalty trouble, the resulting powerplays producing goals from Wayne Crawford and Gary Dickie.

 

Robin Davison stretched Wildcats lead to 8-6 in the 51st minute and the scoring was completed, quite fittingly, by Rubachuk who notched his fifth of the night in the final minute.

 

CHIEFTAINS - 1 Jamie Grindlay (net) 4 Carl Greenhous (I) 5 Dean Birrell 7 Andy Hannah 8 Karl Rogers 9 Gary Dodds 11 Tony Cimelli 12 Mike Cahill 14 Tari Suwari 16 Matt McCoy (I) 17 Alex Godfrey 19 Karl Goebel (I) 20 Danny Edery 21 Darcy Cahill (I) 22 Glen Campbell 23 Marshall Spence 24 Rick Smith 25 Richard Whiting 31 Brian Biddulph 35 Tony Melia (I) net 47 Alexei Kuznetzov. Coach Steve James Trainer Richard Coe.

 

WILDCATS - 1 Jamie Thompson 6 Lee Braithwaite 7 Bryan Larkin 8 Gareth Endicott 9 Gary Dickie 10 Steve Nell 13 Garry Dowd 15 Wayne Fiddes 16 Brad Rubachuk 17 Ian Richards 18 Robin Davison 20 Alan Bishop 22 Neil Browne 28 Wayne Crawford 29 Grant Bailey 30 Marc Dowd (net) Coach Wayne Crawford.

 

 

SWINDON WILDCATS 6 WAVETECH CHIEFTAINS 4

November 30 1995

 

Chieftains threatened to upset Swindon's recent excellent run which had included wins against Manchester, Bracknell and Telford in the last couple of weeks.

 

Swindon took an early lead but it was short lived as Victor Somfalaneu, playing his first for Chieftains, made it one apiece at 3.06, the goal coming on a powerplay as Wayne Crawford sat 2 minutes for slashing.

 

Chieftains then took the lead with a neatly taken effort from Michael Cahill. Swindon soon replied through Gary Dickie to finish the period 2-2.

 

As the period came to a close Andy Hannah and Swindon's Crawford exchanged blows - Crawford's biggest mistake of the night and he soon felt he had done a few rounds with Tyson.

 

After a couple of minutes he was rescued by ref Ken Taggart and Hannah was given a lot of space for the rest of the game.

 

Chieftains Karl Rogers had done an excellent job of shutting down wildcats "big gun" Brad Rubachuk but found himself "binned" at 27.27 with Rubachuk immediately took the initiative scoring at 27.38.

 

Michael Cahill scored his second at 3-3 but the impressive Rubachuk who had now had a taste of the net scored his second which was soon followed by a Steve Nell effort. The period finished 5-3.

 

Chieftains started the 3rd period on the powerplay and soon capitalised through Matt McCoy who fired home to make it 5-4.

Chieftains stayed in touch and the game looked like it could have gone either way.

 

Unfortunately Wildcats sealed their victory in 57.24 making it a hat trick for Rubachuk and a 6-4 win to Swindon.

 

Done