Ice Hockey/Durham Wasps/Billingham



I used to follow the wasps. All a bit of a vague memory from what must be 30 years ago, but can remember finals at murrayfield racers up in scotland and wembley.
 
DH9 said:
I used to follow the wasps. All a bit of a vague memory from what must be 30 years ago, but can remember finals at murrayfield racers up in scotland and wembley.
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Yeah good times. I stopped going once Durham folded (what seems around 1995ish?). Went to a testimonial game at Newcastle for a Durham All Star team but that's been it for the last 27 year or so. Decided to give it another go, so going to watch Billingham on Sunday night, been fancying it for a while. See how it is, can't do any harm. Do miss going to Durham though
 
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We went to Durham every Sunday night after wherever we had played on the Saturday. Loved it. My first hockey hero was John Ciotti, only 1 season at Durham (85/6) but what a nutcase :lol: Went to Billingham and Whitley for the 'derbies, they got quite excitable at times.

Obviously Durham was fooked over by that twat Hall and his geordie nashun shyte. :evil: Miss the SAFC / Wasps weekends.
 
For some odd reason my sisters (who couldn’t give a shote about sport) got really into following Durham wasps for a few years in the late 80’s/ early 90’s so we used to go. Can’t remember too much other than the crowd was friendly, the rink was a shit hole and took ages to get out the car park.

Once saw Rick Brebant in the White Hart on the A19. Got very excited when we saw his personalised Ford Escort in the car park.

I’ve recently started taking my kids to see Leeds Knights and they love it, great atmosphere for kids and they’ve got used to the fighting
 
Been to a couple of games at Billingham. It's OK, but it's not the Wasps for lots of reasons. First, you don't get the crowds and most of the seating is a level up above the ice so it doesn't feel as intense. Plus, I'm not 12 anymore, being allowed out on my own isn't the life-changing experience it once was, and I've watched hockey at two Winter Olympics and at least 10 World Championships, so it's not quite the same novelty. Getting old sucks.

The other big difference from the Heineken League is the way the game is played. You'll remember going to the Wasps, seeing nothing that resembled defending, expecting 10+ goals in a game. Which was fun, but not exactly tactically sophisticated. If you ever saw the Wasps playing European opposition, you'll notice how they got badly beaten by teams that had a structure that went anywhere beyond 'give it to the import and let him score 10 points a night'. Now, even at Billingham's level (essentially semi-pro), teams are a lot better drilled so scoring is harder and players are less inclined to take cheap penalties. That doesn't make it a better or worse experience, just a slightly different one and you probably won't see a team rack up 15-20 goals, or a game finish 11-8.

If memory serves, you can watch games from ice level at the Forum but you'll have to stand behind the goal next to the canteen. If you want a rink that feels (and smells!) a bit more like Durham, Whitley is a better bet (ie, it's falling down, badly lit and uncomfortable!).

For all that, though, it's still a decent night out. I actually prefer it to the Elite League, which seems to me to be overpriced and dominated by mediocre imports. The NIHL is a bit more grassroots, and the people behind the clubs are hugely committed. A previous poster mentioned Leeds, and I've heard good things but not yet had a chance to visit.

If anyone fancies a bit of hockey later in the year, Nottingham is hosting World Championship Division IA, with Great Britain trying to win promotion back to the top division. It's April 29 to May 5, IIRC. Six team tournament, top two get promoted, GB up against Italy, Korea, Poland, Romania and Lithuania. We should be competitive in that group, and the GB Supporters Club are a good bunch of hockey nutters.
 
Loved the Wasps, went to the home games and took in the odd away day in FIfe, Murrayfield etc.
So "sad" I'm in my forties and on the XBox X/S we've recreated the Durham Wasps on the last few versions of NHL and we play as a CHEL club online. (I play as Anthony Johnson #12 and another lad plays as Johnny Weaver #14)

Had a brief flirtation with the N*wcas*le Vipers, even went to the Nottingham weekend when they won the Championships but it never felt the same.
Cannot being myself to go and watch Whitley, they're the enemy ffs. ;)
 
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I used to love going to watch the Wasps. Great entertainment.

Mike Blaisdell, Rick Brebant, Mike O'Connor, Paul Dixon, the Cooper brothers Steven and Ian (although they switched to Cardiff), Michael Tasker, Paul Smith (did he have a brother who played for the Wasps too?), Mark Pallister (Gary's cousin) was a bit of a thug, Ivor Bennett, Jonathan Weaver.

You've got me wracking my nogging for more players names now!
 
pride of the north said:
Been to a couple of games at Billingham. It's OK, but it's not the Wasps for lots of reasons. First, you don't get the crowds and most of the seating is a level up above the ice so it doesn't feel as intense. Plus, I'm not 12 anymore, being allowed out on my own isn't the life-changing experience it once was, and I've watched hockey at two Winter Olympics and at least 10 World Championships, so it's not quite the same novelty. Getting old sucks.

The other big difference from the Heineken League is the way the game is played. You'll remember going to the Wasps, seeing nothing that resembled defending, expecting 10+ goals in a game. Which was fun, but not exactly tactically sophisticated. If you ever saw the Wasps playing European opposition, you'll notice how they got badly beaten by teams that had a structure that went anywhere beyond 'give it to the import and let him score 10 points a night'. Now, even at Billingham's level (essentially semi-pro), teams are a lot better drilled so scoring is harder and players are less inclined to take cheap penalties. That doesn't make it a better or worse experience, just a slightly different one and you probably won't see a team rack up 15-20 goals, or a game finish 11-8.

If memory serves, you can watch games from ice level at the Forum but you'll have to stand behind the goal next to the canteen. If you want a rink that feels (and smells!) a bit more like Durham, Whitley is a better bet (ie, it's falling down, badly lit and uncomfortable!).

For all that, though, it's still a decent night out. I actually prefer it to the Elite League, which seems to me to be overpriced and dominated by mediocre imports. The NIHL is a bit more grassroots, and the people behind the clubs are hugely committed. A previous poster mentioned Leeds, and I've heard good things but not yet had a chance to visit.

If anyone fancies a bit of hockey later in the year, Nottingham is hosting World Championship Division IA, with Great Britain trying to win promotion back to the top division. It's April 29 to May 5, IIRC. Six team tournament, top two get promoted, GB up against Italy, Korea, Poland, Romania and Lithuania. We should be competitive in that group, and the GB Supporters Club are a good bunch of hockey nutters.
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Been going to Capitals games and it’s an OK/cheap night out. It seems to be a sport supported and attended by arseholes though. So much bother at games.

Will never understand just wearing a random NHL jersey to games if you’re over 10 mind. Turbononce behaviour.
 

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