Our Legacy |
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Did you ever think where did it all begin? Why did Ice Hockey vanish to and how has the game evolved. Well! During the war……..
Ice Hockey in the Royal Air Force is not as new a sport as you may think; it actually has its roots around World War 2 times. The RAF team of old was primarily established by Airman and Officers from Canada who were fighting for the Allies in the RAF. Ice Hockey obviously had its attractions and before long the numbers soon swelled to include British members. |
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Backing the cause of an established RAF squad at the time was Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding, an extremely keen follower of the sport and a champion to their cause. Once the team had been selected, comprising of 15 out field players and a goal keeper, Lord Dowding aided the team as much as possible to become a professional team of reckoning on the ice.
The team’s home rink at the time was Wembley Arena which long ago closed as an ice rink. The squad of players were permitted four months of the year together to train and play in a gruelling set of high profile games. A first hand account of one of the team’s players still alive and playing today would say this was no easy time. The player was expected to be on the ice from 8am until 4pm, the same as a normal working day. |
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1st RAF Ice Hockey Team |
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All of the team’s kit and strips was supplied for them by the RAF with a compliment of steward attached to the team to ensure the team was always presentable and organised over the four monthly period of training. Each member of the team was given a free access all areas rail and tube pass to negotiate London which was seen as a massive incentive to play. For long distance flights and overseas fixture the team were given use of a Dakota aircraft to ensure they arrived fresh and in the best of form for their games.
With a range of success the RAF team is know to have played against the national teams of France and Italy but with almost no references remaining its hard to track their actual sucsess accurately. It is known that Lord Dowding was himself present at the French’s defeat at the hands of the RAF, Dowding is said to have fallen from his seat in excitement as the winning goal was scored at Wembley.
Due to the decline in troops in the years after World War II the team seems to have dissipated. It was not until late 2001 that Ice Hockey started to re emerge in earnest in the much changed RAF of today.
Under the watchful eyes of Sgts Andy Harris & Scott Deuchars the fledgling RAF Lossiemouth Jets were born in 2001. Many taking to the ice for the first time with no experience, in only a pair rink skates and issue gloves the seeds for RAF Ice Hockey’s return were sown. The teams quickly germinated and with the inevitable postings Ice Hockey spread though out the RAF. |
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Sgt Deuchars has gone on to assist in the establishment and running the RAF Leuchars Knights team. With both these teams in Scotland a Northern Cup has been played for annually for 3 years now.
Both teams have pushed the boundaries of hockey with players from the Lossiemouth Jets and the Leuchars Knights setting up the RAF Benson & RAF Brize Norton Bluewings and the yet to be named RAF Cosford team headed up by the Knights own Al Childs.
It would seem that the Ice Hockey bug has not only bitten in the north but the south too. RAF Odiham has now established a team known as Stomp. With five full teams in existence it should only be a matter of time before Ice Hockey retakes its place once held in the RAF broad spectrum of sports. |
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Andy Harris and the Lossiemouth Jets |
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Many changes have taken place in the 50 years since Ice Hockey first made its appearance. Firstly the advances in kit make the game safer and faster than ever before. The players of old had little to no body protection and helmets were unheard of for not only the outfield players but the goalies too. Mandatory rulings in place set minimum standards of protective equipment with all player being registered through either the Scottish Ice Hockey Association or its English counterpart.
Advances in technology now see players equip with lighter, harder and more ergonomic body protection, the constant reductions in weight and improvements to mobility allow for a far broader range of plays and greater acceleration, speeds and mobility afforded to all in the game. New composite metals and blade types afford as much as 30% reduction in hockey payers skate weight and 30% increase in the turn and power transmitted to the ice in skating.
None of the advancements in technology are enough on their own to make a good ice hockey player. The commitment maintained by members of all 5 teams, and the dedication they bring to practice and the positive portrayal of their sport on & off the ice is essential. May of today’s players train with teams out with their station teams. Taking ice time at every opportunity spending upwards of £1000 a year to replenish kit, pay for insurance and pay for training sessions all from personal contribution. |
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With such an illustrious history behind Ice Hockey in the RAF we can only hope that it will soon be elevated to an RAF recognised sport status. With backing essential kitting could be purchased to encourage the next generation of hockey players. Training for team coaches & players alike on UK and overseas camps would increase the skill sets and broaden the scope of RAF Ice Hockey. |
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From the past you can see that Ice Hockey has a history in the RAF. There is precedence to the game we all play and enjoy so much, so with the determination and spirit that is being seen today, hopefully Ice Hockey will not fade away again for 50 years and be forgotten. It is after all our game; it is up to us to keep up the fight and keeps the Ice Hockey revolution moving forward. We have inherited the legacy, its up to us to continue the story......... |
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RAF Bluewings Training Session |
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