The Ayr Scottish Eagles were a professional Scottish ice hockey club, from Ayr, Scotland. They were formed in 1996 and played their home games at the Centrum Arena. The team competed in the Ice Hockey Superleague and the club's main (title) sponsor was Barr Construction. The club folded during the 2002–03 season after a move to Braehead Arena.
History The Ayr Scottish Eagles were founded in 1996 and played in the Ice Hockey Superleague. The team quickly rose to become one of the top teams in the United Kingdom, due in part to achieving the grand slam in their second season (1997–98) winning all four major UK ice hockey trophies, these were the British Championship, Superleague, the Autumn Cup and Express Cup, the first team ever to do so during the existence of the Ice Hockey Superleague. Also in 1998 they achieved great success (for a British team), when they twice defeated Ak Bars Kazan in the European Hockey League.
2002–03 In August 2002, it was announced by owner Bill Barr that the team were to permanently relocate to the Braehead Arena in Renfrewshire, outside Glasgow.
Bob Zeller, Belfast Giants' founder was announced as managing director and the team changed their name to Scottish Eagles, dropping Ayr from their name. Bob Zeller remained a shareholder in the Belfast Giants. The reason given for the relocation was due to the Braehead Arena having a larger seating capacity and a larger catchment area, expected to increase the fanbase of the club.
The club (with the new name) folded on 14 November 2002, after just six home games, in what was to become the final season of the Ice Hockey Superleague. They were the second team in the league to fold that season; the first being Manchester Storm.
Post demise Friends of Eagles Hockey, organised an exhibition match at the Centrum Arena on 4 February 2003 as a fund raising event to raise funds for players and officials who had been left in financial difficulty due to the bankruptcy of Ice hockey Services Ltd, the Eagles operating company.Gordon, David. Raiders of the Lost Rink Ice Hockey In Ayr. Tempus Publishing Ltd, 2004, p. 251. The Eagles side was an all-star team that played against a UK select all-star team. The match officials were referee Moray Hanson and linesmen Alan Craig and Rab Cowan.
Eagles Roster Number Player 1 Ali Cree 2 Alan Campbell 3 Angelo Catenaro 4 Scott Young 5 Alan Schuler 9 Tony Hand 10 Todd Dutiaume 13 Dody Wood 14 Jonathan Weaver 16 David St. Pierre 20 Dan Ratushny 21 Karry Biette 22 Jan Mikel 27 Sam Groleau 30 31 Stephen Murphy 43 Paddy Ward
UK All-stars Roster Number Player 2 Stuart McCaig 4 Brent Pope 5 Rob Wilson 6 David Beatson 8 David Smith 9 John Downes 10 John Haig 11 Frank Evans 14 Adrain Saul 15 Paul Howes 16 Steven Kaye 17 Mark Morrison 22 Ivan Matulik 26 Mike Ware 30 Stevie Lyle 31 David Kennedy 44 Paul Ferone 47 Kurt Walsh
Friends of Eagles Hockey, campaigned for the return of ice hockey to the Centrum Arena after the Eagles's demise. Ice rink operators Planet Ice showed an interest in running the Centrum as an ice arena; however the arena was demolished in 2009 and the site is now home to a new supermarket.
Glasgow Clan The Glasgow Clan ice hockey club are now based at the Braehead Arena and play in the Elite Ice Hockey They were originally called 'Braehead Clan'. In their first season, there was an effort to recruit former Ayr Scottish Eagles fans to the Clan support. Ayr Scottish Eagles fans who held a season ticket at Braehead in the 2002–03 season that was cut short due to the team folding were offered a season ticket in Glasgow's first season.
Although the Scottish Eagles and Braehead Clan were both based at the Braehead Arena, this is where the commonalities between the two ice hockey clubs end. The Scottish Eagles were operated by Ice Hockey Services Ltd which underwent a Voluntary Members Liquidation and was wound up on 23 June 2005. Braehead Clan is operated by Clan Entertainment Ltd that was Incorporated on 3 February 2010.
Home arenas The original home of the Eagles was the Centrum Arena. It was officially opened on 25 August 1996 and was run by Barr Leisure Limited, a subsidiary of Barr Holdings Ltd. The Eagles played their first home game there on 1 September 1996.Gordon, David. Raiders of the Lost Rink Ice Hockey In Ayr. Tempus Publishing Ltd, 2004, p. 206.
After an announcement by Bill Barr, the Eagles moved to the Braehead Arena for the 2002–03 season, where they played just six home games before folding. The Centrum was still used as a training venue throughout this period.
Rosters
Goaltenders NumberPlayerCatchesAcquiredPlace of Birth32 Mark CavallinL2002 Mississauga, Ontario1 Eoin McInerney L2002 London, Ontario DefencemenNumberPlayerShootsAcquiredPlace of Birth3 Evan Marble R2002 Eston, Saskatchewan17 Bob Quinnell L2002 Coquitlam, British Columbia20 Dan Ratushny R2002 Nepean, Ontario33 Stefan Bergkvist L2002 Leksand, Sweden9 Scott Campbell L2002 Glasgow, Scotland Forwards NumberPlayerShootsPositionAcquiredPlace of Birth10 Xavier MajicLC2002 Fernie, British Columbia14 Jonathan WeaverLLW2000 Sunderland, England29 Sean Selmser - CLLW2002 Calgary, Alberta18 Johan AstromLLW2002 Boden, Sweden16 Jeff Williams LLW2002 Pointe-Claire, Quebec28 Jason Bowen LLW2002 Port Alice, British Columbia12 Jeff JohnstoneRRW2002 Niagara Falls, Ontario7 Jason RustonRRW2002 Victoria, British Columbia 21 Jonni Vauhkonen LRW2002 Suonenjoki, Finland19 Mike HardingRRW2000 Edmonton, Alberta16 John Downs 2002
Goaltenders NumberPlayerCatchesAcquiredPlace of Birth8 Colin RyderL2000 Stirling, Scotland41 Joaquin GageL2001 London, Vancouver Columbia DefencemenNumberPlayerShootsAcquiredPlace of Birth5 Alan Schuler - CR2001 100 Mile House, British Columbia21 Ian HerbersL2001 Jasper, Alberta3 Ryan Risidore R2001 Hamilton, Ontario43 Paddy Ward R2002 Kirkcaldy, Scotland28 Anders HillströmL2000 Sweden 41 Johan SilfwerplatzL2000 Sweden Forwards NumberPlayerShootsPositionAcquiredPlace of Birth17 Ed CourtenayRRW2000 Verdun, Quebec14 Jonathan WeaverLLW2000 Sunderland, England13 Dody Wood LLW2001 Chetwynd, British Columbia30 Dino BaubaRLW2002 Kaunasc, Lithuania16 Shawn ByramLLW1997 Neepawa, Manitoba27 Rhett GordonRRW2000 Regina, Saskatchewan12 Mike JicklingRC2001 Edmonton, Alberta19 Mike HardingRRW2000 Edmonton, Alberta11 Cam BristowRRW2000 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Erik NorbackRC2001 Stockholm, Sweden Johan Molin RRW2001 Nacka, Sweden Phil CroweRRW2001 Nanton, Alberta
Goaltenders NumberPlayerCatchesAcquiredPlace of Birth Philippe DeRouville L2000 Victoriaville, Quebec8 Colin Ryder L2000 Stirling, Scotland DefencemenNumberPlayerShootsAcquiredPlace of Birth Travor DoyleR2000 Ottawa, Ontario29 Derek Eberle - AL2000 Regina, Saskatchewan21 Jan MikelL2000 Brno, Czech Republic28 Anders Hillstrom L2000 Sweden41 Johan SilfwerplatzL2000 Sweden Forwards NumberPlayerShootsPositionAcquiredPlace of Birth Debb Carpenter RRW2000 Edmonton, Alberta11 Cam Bristow RRW1999 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Rhett GordonRRW2000 Regina, Saskatchewan Mike HardingRRW2000 Edmonton, Alberta Ed CourtenayRRW2000 Verdun, Quebec7 Tony HandRC1999 Edinburgh, Scotland16 Shawn Byram - CLLW1997 Neepawa, Manitoba Jonathan Weaver LLW2000 Sunderland, England Teeder WynneLF2000 Calgary, Alberta30 Dino Bauba RF1997 Kaunasc, Lithuania10 Mark Montanari LF1997 Toronto, Ontario
Goaltenders NumberPlayerCatchesAcquiredPlace of Birth31 Geoff Sarjeant R1999 Orilla, Ontario33 Stephen Foster L1999 Durham, England 35 David TrofimenkoffR1999 Calgary, Alberta DefencemenNumberPlayerShootsAcquiredPlace of Birth44 Kevin PozzoR1999 Calgary, Alberta24 Ryan Kummu L1996 Kitchener, Ontario29 Jim Mathieson L1999 Kindersley, Saskatchewan6 Vince Boe L1996 Calgary, Alberta4 Scott YoungL1996 Oakville, Ontario44 Mike BishopL1999 Sarnia, Ontario5 Yuri KrivokhijaL1999 Minsk, Belarus 22 Jan MikelL1999 Brno, Czech Republic Forwards NumberPlayerShootsPositionAcquiredPlace of Birth46 Rob Trumbley RRW1999 Regina, Saskatchewan11 Cam Bristow RRW1999 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan23 Yves HerouxRRW1999 Terrebonne, Quebec 14 John Varga RLW1999 Chicago, Illinois27 Patric LochiRC1999 Silandro, Italy7 Tony HandRC1999 Edinburgh, Scotland16 Shawn Byram - CLLW1997 Neepawa, Manitoba15 Louis Dumont RC1999 Calgary, Alberta19 Shayne StevensonRC1999 Aurora, Ontario 30 Dino Bauba RF1997 Kaunasc, Lithuania9 Jamie Steer RF1996 Winnipeg, Manitoba10 Mark Montanari LF1997 Toronto, Ontario21 Eric Murano RC1999 Calgary, Alberta
Goaltenders NumberPlayerCatchesAcquiredPlace of Birth Frank Caprice R1998 Hamilton, Ontario Sean BasilioL1998 Stoney Creek, Ontario Vincent RiendeauL1998 St. Hyacinthe, Quebec DefencemenNumberPlayerShootsAcquiredPlace of Birth3 Angelo Catenaro - C L1996 Toronto, Ontario24 Ryan Kummu L1996 Kitchener, Ontario5 Alan Schuler R1996 100 Mile House, British Columbia6 Vince Boe L1996 Calgary, Alberta4 Scott YoungL1996 Oakville, Ontario Trevor Burgess R1996 Carleton Place, Ontario Forwards NumberPlayerShootsPositionAcquiredPlace of Birth17 David St. Pierre RC1996 Montreal, Quebec23 Jeff Hoad RC1997 Brandon, Manitoba23 Karry Biette RC1997 Estevan, Saskatchewan12 Matt Hoffman RC1996 Saginaw, Michigan7 John Parco - A LC1997 Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario27 Samuel GroleauRC1996 Longueuil, Quebec16 Shawn ByramLLW1997 Neepawa, Manitoba19 Dennis Purdie RRW1997 Amherstburg, Ontario8 Mark Woolf - A RRW1996 Brandon, Manitoba30 Dino Bauba RF1997 Kaunasc, Lithuania9 Jamie Steer RF1996 Winnipeg, Manitoba10 Mark Montanari LF1997 Toronto, Ontario Corey Lyons LRW1997 Calgary, Alberta
Goaltenders NumberPlayerCatchesAcquiredPlace of Birth32 Rob Dopson L1997 Smiths Falls, Ontario34 Colum Cavilla L1996 Lethbridge, Alberta
DefencemenNumberPlayerShootsAcquiredPlace of Birth44 Joey Mittelsteadt L1997 Scarborough, Ontario3 Angelo Catenaro - C L1996 Toronto, Ontario24 Ryan Kummu L1996 Kitchener, Ontario5 Alan Schuler R1996 100 Mile House, British Columbia6 Vince Boe L1996 Calgary, Alberta4 Scott YoungL1996 Oakville, Ontario Forwards NumberPlayerShootsPositionAcquiredPlace of Birth17 David St. Pierre RC1996 Montreal, Quebec23 Jeff Hoad RC1997 Brandon, Manitoba23 Karry Biette RC1997 Estevan, Saskatchewan12 Matt Hoffman RC1996 Saginaw, Michigan7 John Parco - A LC1997 Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario27 Samuel GroleauRC1996 Longueuil, Quebec16 Shawn ByramLLW1997 Neepawa, Manitoba25 Darren Colbourne LRW1997 Cornerbrook, Newfoundland Labrador19 Dennis Purdie RRW1997 Amherstburg, Ontario8 Mark Woolf - A RRW1996 Brandon, Manitoba30 Dino Bauba RF1997 Kaunasc, Lithuania9 Jamie Steer RF1996 Winnipeg, Manitoba10 Mark Montanari LF1997 Toronto, Ontario
Goaltenders NumberPlayerCatchesAcquiredPlace of Birth40 Sven Rampf R1996 Pfronten, Germany24 Colum Cavilla L1996 Lethbridge, Alberta DefencemenNumberPlayerShootsAcquiredPlace of Birth7 Colin McHaffieR1996 Ayr, Scotland3 Angelo Catenaro - C L1996 Toronto, Ontario24 Ryan Kummu L1996 Kitchener, Ontario5 Alan Schuler R1996 100 Mile House, British Columbia44 Frantisek ProchazkaL1996 Brno, Czech Republic4 Scott YoungL1996 Oakville, Ontario6 Vince BoeL1996 Calgary, Alberta Forwards NumberPlayerShootsPositionAcquiredPlace of Birth17 David St. Pierre RC1996 Montreal, Quebec15 Brendan Flynn LC1996 Boston, Massachusetts23 Jiri LalaLF1996 Tabor, Czech Republic12 Matt Hoffman RC1996 Saginaw, Michigan21 Markus Berwanger LF1996 Rosenheim, Germany 27 Samuel GroleauRC1996 Longueuil, Quebec Steven LynchRF1996 Kirkcaldy, Scotland Mark CupoloLLW1996 Niagara Falls, Ontario 19 Scott Morrison RRW1996 Hamilton, Ontario8 Mark Woolf RRW1996 Brandon, Manitoba9 Jamie Steer RF1996 Winnipeg, Manitoba
Coaching StaffNumberPlayerPositionDatesPlace of Birth--Paul HeaveyHead coach2001-2003Glasgow, Scotland--Scott RexAssistant coach2001-2002Brantford, Ontario--Jim LynchHead coach1996-2001Toronto, Ontario--Paul HeaveyAssistant coach2000-2001Glasgow, Scotland--Milan FigalaAssistant coach1996-2000Brno, South Moravian Region
Club record
Season-by-season record