Oxford City Stars

The Oxford City Stars are an ice hockey team based in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England.The team was founded in 1984. They currently play in the NIHL South Division 1 at Oxford Ice Rink, Oxford

Oxford City Stars
CityOxford, Oxfordshire
LeagueNIHL South Division 1
ConferenceDivision One South
Founded1984
Home arenaOxford Ice Rink
Capacity: 1,025
ColorsYellow, Blue & Black
     
General managerJo Mundy England
Head coachShannon Taylor England
CaptainDax Hedges England
AffiliatesBristol Pitbulls, NIHL National

Basingstoke Buffalo, NIHL 2
Oxford Rising Stars, NIHL 2

Oxford Midnight Stars, WNIHL 2
WebsiteOxford City Stars
Franchise history
1984–1997Oxford City Stars
1997–1998Oxford Chill
1998–2000Oxford Blades
2000–presentOxford City Stars

History

The British Hockey League (1984–1996)

The Oxford City Stars made their debut in 1984 and had an instant impact winning the BHL Division 2 (Midlands) as well as the post season playoffs and moved into the BHL Division 1 where they were unable to repeat their success, succumbing to a 9th placed finish in their first season. The following season would see them finish 15th and return back to the BHL Division 2. They would however endure more success in the 1990–91 and 1995-96 seasons as they claimed First Place, but nothing in the post season.

The Turbulent Years (1996–2000)

After the formation of the National Ice Hockey League in 1996, the Oxford City Stars were placed in the Division One South where the finished 6th and failed to qualify for the Playoffs. The following season due to issues with the Ice Rink, they moved to Swindon under the guise of Swindon Chill. The 1998-99 season saw the Stars return under the name of Oxford Blades, losing all 32 games in a dismal season with only worse to come as they folded midway during the 1999-2000 season.

ENHL Years (2001–2012)

The City Stars returned to the ENHL for the 2000-2001 season and would endure mid range results over the coming years, finishing in highs of 2nd and lows of 9th with one quarter final playoff appearance as the highlight of the performances.

NIHL Years (2012–present)

The Oxford City Stars found traction in the newly formed National Ice Hockey League where they won the Southern Division 2 Title back to back in 2012-13 and 2013-14 with no Playoffs being played. The Stars struggled the following season in Division 1 garnering just 7 wins from 36 games on their way to a 9th place finish. They picked up the following year finishing 4th and losing in the Quarter Finals of the Playoffs. The Stars would then return to Division 2 for the next 3 seasons, picking up One League Title in the 2017-18 season.

Covid Pandemic in Ice Hockey (2019–2021)

In late 2019/early 2020 the World was rocked by the emergence of a respiratory disease across the world eventually dubbed the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected the world in a major way as governments struggled to control the outbreak. The Stars were due to play the Invicta Dynamos but the visiting team cancelled due to a positive test amongst the team. Shortly after this the Government announced that measures would be taken to contain the outbreak including the cancellation of all sporting events as well as other measures. Thus the 2019 Season was incomplete and halted and the post-season was cancelled as well. The outbreak would go on to claim the 2020-21 season too.

Returning to Hockey (2021–present)

After the culmination of Covid19, the League announced the 2021 season would go ahead as planned. The Stars had moved back into the NIHL South Division 1 at this point and the season would commence with 9 teams due to the closure of the John Nike Leisure Complex, home of the Bracknell Hornets who since folded. The Stars struggled in their return to action, finishing 8th of 9 with just 18 points and an elimination in the Quarter Finals of the Playoffs

Club roster 2024–25

(*) Denotes a non-British trained player (Import)

Netminders
No.Nat.PlayerCatchesDate of birthPlace of birthAcquiredContract
31 Ross MillerL (1995-07-25) 25 July 1995 (age 28)Cardiff, Wales2019 from Bristol Pitbulls24/25
Defencemen
No.Nat.PlayerShootsDate of birthPlace of birthAcquiredContract
9 Christopher CookeR (1994-11-13) 13 November 1994 (age 29)Guildford, England202124/25
Forwards
No.Nat.PlayerShootsDate of birthPlace of birthAcquiredContract
51 Jack PeacockR (2002-08-20) 20 August 2002 (age 21)England2024 from Solent Devils24/25
Team Staff
No.Nat.NameAcquiredRolePlace of birthJoined From
Mark Saunders2024Head coachKingston-Upon-Thames, EnglandStreatham Blackhawks
Darren Elliott2012/13Assistant coachOxford, England
Jo Mundy2018/19General ManagerEngland

Honours

  • British Division 2 (South) Champions – 1984/85, 1990/91, 1995/96
  • British Division 2 Playoff Champions – 1984/85
  • National Ice Hockey League, Division 2 (South) Champions – 2012/13, 2017–18
  • English National League Runners-up – 2003/04, 2004/05
  • English National League Cup Runners-up – 2003/04

National Championship Trophy 2017/18

Retired jersey numbers

  • 11 - Paul Linton
  • 16 - Alan Green

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; PTS = Points; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against

'*Stars folded midway through the campaign and all of their results were expunged.

'# Oxford Chill were forced to relocate to Swindon just prior to the start of the league campaign due to a major ice plant failure at the rink. After this happened, they were renamed the Swindon Chill.

- Post-season cancelled due to the 2019 Covid Pandemic—2020-21 Season cancelled due to the ongoing Covid Pandemic

    • 1 Tie awarded after no Ice at Milton Keynes

Season-by-season record (reserve teams)

Over the seasons the Stars have periodically iced teams in division as a reserve teams and a season by season list is below:

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; PTS = Points; GF = Goals For; GA = Goals Against

All time records

All Time Appearances
No.Nat.NameGames playedPeriodYears
1 Darren Elliot4141996–202420
2 Andy Cox3232001–202217
3 Joe Edwards3182007–202316
4 Josh Oliver3142009–202414
5 Paul Donohoe +2931987–200714
6 Dax Hedges2712006–present17
7 Trevor Joseph2361985–200512
8 Josh Florey2392009–202211
9 Darryl Morvan2231985–199912
10 Scott Gough2171985–200611

[1]

Top Goalscorers
No.Nat.NameGames playedGoalsPeriodYears
1 Dan Prachar1944031989–20068
2 Scott Gough2173101985–200611
3 Darren Elliot4142591996–202420
4 Alan Green2092162004–201711
5 Derek Flint1781901991–20059
6 Josh Oliver3141772009–202414
7 Joe Edwards3181702007–202315
8 Rick Smith251501998–19991
9 Paul Donohoe +2931451987–200714
10 John Gravelle611341991–19932

[2]

Top Assists
No.Nat.NameGames PlayedAssistsPeriodYears
1 Dan Prachar1943341989–20068
2 Darren Elliot4143041996–202420
3 Scott Gough2172611985–200611
4 Derek Flint1782191991–20059
5 Paul Simpson1052051985–19894
6 Paul Donohoe +2931901987–200714
7 Joe Edwards3181792007–202315
8 Alan Green2091752004–201711
9 Andy Cox3231552001–202217
10 Don Jamieson521511989–19912

[3]

Most Penalty Minutes
No.Nat.NameGames PlayedPIMsPeriodYears
1 Darren Elliot4088241996–202420
2 Andy Cox3238232001–202217
3 Dax Hedges2676662006–present16
4 Alan Green2095672004–201711
5 Trevor Joseph2635591985–200512
6 Darryl Morvan2235211985–199912
7 Josh Florey2394612009–202211
8 Grant Bailey1393801996–20116
9 Joe Edwards3183712007–202315
10 Dan Prachar1943531989–20068

[4]

+ Some Data Missing

Other associated teams

The Oxford City ice hockey club also have junior and women's teams as follows:-

  • Under 9s (English League South)
  • Under 11s (English League South Division 3)
  • Under 13s (English League South Division 3)
  • Under 15s (English League South Division 3)
  • Under 18s (English League South Division 3)
  • Under 20s
  • Oxford Midnight Stars (Women's League Division 1 South)
  • Oxford Rising Stars (NIHL South Division 2)

References