The Bradford Bulldogs are an English ice hockey team that play in the NIHL North Two (Laidler) Division of the English National Ice Hockey League. They play their home games at the Bradford Ice Arena, Bradford, West Yorkshire.
They were formed in 1976. Many of the team were born and taught to play ice hockey in and around the Bradford area.
The club also features a junior youth system which has teams from under-10 to under-18 level, though anyone older than six is allowed to take part in beginner's sessions which are held at Bradford Ice Arena.
After the 2020-21 season was cancelled because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Bulldogs returned to action in 2021-22 competing in the NIHL North Two (Laidler) Division. They also have teams at Under-18, Under-16, Under-14, Under-12 and Under-10 level. Over the years, the club has produced a number of players through its junior system who have gone on to play at senior level elsewhere in the UK. Several were signed to the Leeds Knights roster for the 2021-22 NIHL National campaign.
These included forwards, Kieran Brown and Adam Barnes, as well as defenders Bobby Streetly, Lewis Baldwin and Jordan Griffin. Brown and Griffin both served 'apprenticeships' at Sheffield Steelers after being signed by former head coach Paul Thompson - Brown in 2017 and Griffin in 2018.
OLiam Kirk and Cole Shudra - the latter a Knights' team-mate of Brown and Griffin during 2021-22 - were two other players to be signed up on this innovative scheme.
Club roster 2022-23 (*) Denotes a Non-British Trained player (Import) NetmindersNo.Nat.PlayerCatchesDate of birthPlace of birthAcquired Contract25 Samantha Bolwell L Eastbourne, England 2021 from Deeside Dragons22/23 Ryan Wardell L Sunderland, England 2022 from Billingham StarsTwo-Way Callum Preston 2006 (age 16)England 2022 from Bradford U1822/23
DefencemenNo.Nat.PlayerShootsDate of birthPlace of birthAcquiredContract4 David Williams R Bury, England 2017 from Blackburn Eagles22/239 Matthew Cross 2005 (age 17)England 2021 from Bradford U18Two-Way16 Benjamin Darbyshire R 1994 (age 28)Manchester, England 2021 from Blackburn Hawks 222/2346 Alexander Mitchell 2002 (age 20)England 2018 from Bradford U1822/2396 Dean Boothroyd 'C' 1984 (age 38)Huddersfield, England 2004 from Bradford U1922/23 Kieran Clarkson 2002 (age 20)England 2022 from Altrincham Aces22/23 James Gledhill 2004 (age 18)England 2022 from Bradford U1822/23
ForwardsNo.Nat.PlayerShootsDate of birthPlace of birthAcquiredContract6 Joshua Stockton Liversedge, England 201722/238 Mark Higson 1989 (age 33)Radcliffe, England 201622/2311 Lucas Vince 2004 (age 18)England 2021 from Bradford U18Two-Way26 Kacper Andrukianiec 2003 (age 19)Poland 2021 from Bradford U1822/2329 Tomas Mitrik* R Humenne, Slovakia 2018 from Altrincham Aces22/2377 Jack Wooding 2004 (age 18)England 2021 from Bradford U1822/2398 Abigail Culshaw R England 2019 from Blackburn Hawks 222/23 Jason Devaney 1991 (age 31)England 202222/23 Connor Medley England 2017 from Bradford U1622/23 Malachi Budd L Falkland Islands 2022 from Vernal OilersTwo-Way Archie Grayson 2004 (age 18)England 2022 from Sheffield U1822/23 Rhys Edwards L England 2022 from Bradford U18Two-Way Thomas Mardell 2006 (age 16)England 2022 from Bradford U1822/23
Team StaffNo.Nat.NameAcquiredRolePlace of birthJoined From Andrew Brown 2014/15 Head coach Bradford, England Bradford Bulldogs U18, England U18 Joanne Gibson 2015/16 General Manager England
2021/22 Outgoing +OutgoingNo.Nat.PlayerShootsDate of birthPlace of birthLeaving For19 Joshua Richardson R 1998 (age 24) Chorley, England Deeside Dragons, NIHL 130 Philip Pearson L Stockport, England Deeside Dragons, NIHL 143 Damarni James R 2005 (age 17) England Leeds Knights, NIHL National73 Alexander Lutwyche 2003 (age 19) Whalley, England Blackburn Hawks, NIHL 1
References
Bradford Bulldogs website