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Ayr Scottish Eagles

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Ayr Scottish Eagles
CityAyr, Scotland
LeagueIce Hockey Superleague
Founded1996
OperatedIce Hockey Services Limited
Home arenaCentrum Arena
ColorsGreen and Orange    
Owner(s)Scotland Bill Barr
Head coachScotland Paul Heavey
AffiliateBarr Construction Ltd
Franchise history
1996-02Ayr Scottish Eagles
2002-03Scottish Eagles
Championships
Regular season titles1997-98
Autumn Cups1997-98
Challenge Cups1997-98, 2001-02
Playoff championships1997-98

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. Also in 1998 they achieved great success (for a British team), when they twice defeated Ak Bars Kazan in the European Hockey League.[1]

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.[2]

Bob Zeller, Belfast Giants founder was announced as managing director and the team changed their name to Scottish Eagles, dropping Ayr from their name.[3] Bob Zeller remained a shareholder in the Belfast Giants.[2] 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.[2]

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 British Ice Hockey Superleague.[4][5]

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.[6]

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.[7]

Braehead Clan

The Braehead Clan ice hockey club are now based at the Braehead Arena and play in the Elite Ice Hockey League. 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 Braehead's first season.[8]

Although the Scottish Eagles and Braehead Clan were both based at the Braehead Arena, this is where the link between the two Ice Hockey Clubs ends. The Scottish Eagles were operated by Ice Hockey Services Ltd [9] which underwent a Voluntary Members Liquidation and was wound up on 23 June 2005.[10] Braehead Clan is operated by Clan Entertainment Ltd [11] that was Incorporated on 3 February 2010.[12]

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.[13]

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.[2] The Centrum was still used as a training venue throughout this period.

Season-by-season record

Further information: List of ISL seasons

Rosters

The Ayr Scottish Eagles won all four major trophies in the 1997-98 season, known as the Grand Slam, the first team ever to do so during the existence of the Ice Hockey Superleague.

Rosters
2002/03[15]
2001/02[16]
2000/01[17]
1999/00[18]
1998/99[19]
1997/98[20]
1996/97[21]

The final game played by the Ayr Scottish Eagles was an exhibition match at the Centrum arena that consisted of an all-star team against a UK select all-star team. The match officials were referee Moray Hanson and linesmen Alan Craig and Rab Cowan.[22]

Franchise scoring leaders

These are the top-ten point-scorers, scoring leaders and assists in franchise history.

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game

Leaders

Coaching Staff
Number Player Position Dates Place of Birth
-- Scotland Paul Heavey Head Coach 2001-2003 Glasgow, Scotland
-- Canada Scott Rex Assistant Coach 2001-2002 Brantford, Ontario
-- Canada Jim Lynch Head Coach 1996-2001 Toronto, Ontario
-- Scotland Paul Heavey Assistant Coach 2000-2001 Glasgow, Scotland
-- Czech Republic Milan Figala Assistant Coach 1996-2000 Brno, South Moravian Region

NHL alumni

Many of Ayr's players were NHL draft picks and played in the NHL before signing for the Ayr Eagles.

Edmonton Oilers

  • Joaquin Gage (94–96 & 00-01)[23]
  • Ian Herbers (93-94)[24]
  • Jason Bowen (92-97)[25]

Pittsburg Penguins

  • Philippe DeRouville (95–97)[26]
  • Rob Dopson (93-94)[27]

St. Louis Blues

  • Geoff Sarjeant (94-95)[28]
  • Vincent Riendeau (88-92)[29]

San Jose Sharks

  • Geoff Sarjeant (95-96)[28]
  • Ed Courtenay (91-93)[30]
  • Dody Wood (92-93, 94-98)[31]

Vancouver Canucks

  • Frank Caprice (82-88)[32]

Montreal Canadiens

  • Vincent Riendeau (87-88)[29]

Detroit Redwings

  • Vincent Riendeau (92-94)[29]

Boston Bruins

  • Vincent Riendeau (94-95)[29]
  • Shayne Stevenson (90-92)[33]

Tampa Bay Lightning

  • Ian Herbers (99-00)[24]
  • Shayne Stevenson (92-93)[33]

New York Islanders

  • Ian Herbers (99-00)[24]
  • Shawn Byram (90-91)[34]

Philadelphia Flyers

  • Jason Bowen (92-97)[25]
  • Phil Crowe (95-96)[35]

Chicago Blackhawks

  • Shawn Byram (91-92)[34]

Los Angeles Kings

  • Phil Crowe (93-94)[35]

Ottawa Senators

  • Phil Crowe (96-99)[35]

International capped players

Several players were also selected to play for their national team in the Ice Hockey World Championships.

Canada Canada

  • Mark Cavallin (95–96)[36]
  • Joaquin Gage (99–00)[23]
  • Rob Dopson (98-99)[27]
  • Evan Marble (97-98)[37]
  • Dan Rutushny (88-92)[38]
  • Vince Boe (92-93)[39]
  • Trevor Burgess (94-95)[40]
  • Xavier Majic (96-97 & 99-00)[41]
  • Sean Selmer (96-98)[42]
  • Rhett Gordon (99-00)[43]
  • Cam Bristow (98-99)[44]
  • Yves Heroux (89-90)[45]
  • Jamie Steer (95-96)[46]
  • Eric Murano (89-90)[47]
  • David St Pierre (94-95)[48]
  • Corey Lyons (92-93)[49]
  • Darren Colbourne (89-90)[50]

Belarus Belarus

  • Yuri Krivokhiza (98-00)[51]

Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia

Austria Austria

  • Sean Selmer (05-06)[42]

Italy Italy

West Germany West Germany

  • Markus Berwanger (84-89 & 90-91 Germany)

Honours and awards

British Championship
1st place, gold medalist(s) 1997-98 Winners

Superleague Winners
1st place, gold medalist(s) 1997-98 Winners
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2001-02 Runners-up

Benson and Hedges Cup
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1996-97 Runners-up
1st place, gold medalist(s) 1997-98 Winners
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1998-99 Runners-up

Express Cup
1st place, gold medalist(s) 1997-98 Winners
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2000-01 Runners-up
1st place, gold medalist(s) 2001-02 Winners

Coach of the Year Trophy[56]

  • Jim Lynch - 1996-97
  • Jim Lynch - 1997-98

Player of the Year Trophy[57]

  • Rob Dopson - 1997-98

Sekonda Face to Watch

  • Tony Hand - December 1999-00
  • Tony Hand - November 2000-01

Ice Hockey Annual Trophy

  • Tony Hand - 1999-00
  • Tony Hand - 2000-01
  • Jonathan Weaver - 2001-02

All Star First Team[58]

  • Rob Dopson - 1997-98
  • Scott Young - 1997-98
  • Mark Montanari - 1997-98
  • Geoff Sarjeant - 1999-00
  • Tony Hand - 2000-01
  • Johan Silfwerplatz - 2001-02

All Star Second Team[58]

  • Sam Groleau - 1997-98
  • Joaquin Gage - 2001-02
  • Alan Schuler - 2001-02
  • Ed Courtenay - 2001-02

British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame[59]

Player of the Year Award

  • Vince Boe - 1999-00

Jerseys

  • The inaugural uniform (1996-97 season)
    The inaugural uniform (1996-97 season)
  • The uniform of the "grand slam" winning team (1997-98 season)
    The uniform of the "grand slam" winning team (1997-98 season)
  • The uniform of the Express Cup runners-up (2000-01 season)
    The uniform of the Express Cup runners-up (2000-01 season)
  • The uniform of the Express Cup winning team and Superleague Runners-up (2001-02 season)
    The uniform of the Express Cup winning team and Superleague Runners-up (2001-02 season)
  • The last uniform to be worn by an Eagles side, in the exhibition match held at the Centrum in 2003 (there was no away jersey of this design)
    The last uniform to be worn by an Eagles side, in the exhibition match held at the Centrum in 2003 (there was no away jersey of this design)

Notes

  1. ^ "European Hockey League Division D". Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d Hughes, Stuart (1 August 2002). "Eagles fly to Glasgow". BBC News. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  3. ^ "Scottish Eagles BISL". Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  4. ^ "Eagles forced out". BBC News. 14 November 2002. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  5. ^ Harlow, Phil (5 December 2002). "Fear over ice hockey league". BBC News. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  6. ^ Gordon, David. Raiders of the Lost Rink Ice Hockey In Ayr. Tempus Publishing Ltd, 2004, p. 251.
  7. ^ "Press Release from the Friends of Eagles Hockey". Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  8. ^ "Bonus for former Ayr Eagles fans". Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  9. ^ "ICE HOCKEY SERVICES LTD". ICE HOCKEY SERVICES LTD. Shop Kilmarnock. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  10. ^ "ICE HOCKEY SERVICES LIMITED". Company No. SC166914. Companies House. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  11. ^ "BRAEHEAD CLAN". Elite Ice Hockey League. Elite Ice Hockey League. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  12. ^ "Company No. 07144725". CLAN ENTERTAINMENT LTD. Companies House. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  13. ^ Gordon, David. Raiders of the Lost Rink Ice Hockey In Ayr. Tempus Publishing Ltd, 2004, p. 206.
  14. ^ "Standings for the Ayr Scottish Eagles of the BISL". Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  15. ^ "2002-03 Ayr Scottish Eagles roster and statistics". Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  16. ^ "2001-02 Ayr Scottish Eagles roster and statistics". Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  17. ^ "2000-01 Ayr Scottish Eagles roster and statistics". Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  18. ^ "1999-00 Ayr Scottish Eagles roster and statistics". Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  19. ^ "1998-99 Ayr Scottish Eagles roster and statistics". Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  20. ^ "1997-98 Ayr Scottish Eagles roster and statistics". Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  21. ^ "1996-97 Ayr Scottish Eagles roster and statistics". Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  22. ^ eaglemcphail. "The Big Match.m4v". Veoh. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  23. ^ a b "Joaquin Gage". Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  24. ^ a b c "Ian Herbers". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  25. ^ a b "Jason Bowen". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  26. ^ "Philippe DeRouville". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  27. ^ a b "Rob Dopson". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  28. ^ a b "Geoff Sarjeant". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  29. ^ a b c d "Vincent Reiendeau". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  30. ^ "Ed Courtenay". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  31. ^ "Dody Wood". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  32. ^ "Frank Caprice". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  33. ^ a b "Shayne Stevenson". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  34. ^ a b "Shawn Byram". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  35. ^ a b c "Phil Crowe". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  36. ^ "Mark Cavallin". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  37. ^ "Evan Marble". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  38. ^ "Dan Ratushny". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  39. ^ "Vince Boe". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  40. ^ "Trevor Burgess". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  41. ^ "Xavier Majic". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  42. ^ a b "Sean Selmser". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  43. ^ "Rhett Gordon". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  44. ^ "Cam Bristow". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  45. ^ "Yves Heroux". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  46. ^ "Jamie Steer". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  47. ^ "Eric Murano". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  48. ^ "David St. Pierre". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  49. ^ "Corey Lyons". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  50. ^ "Darren Colbourne". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  51. ^ a b "Eliteprospects.com - Yuri Krivokhiza". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014. Cite error: The named reference "Eliteprospects.com" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  52. ^ "Frantisek Prochazka". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  53. ^ "John Parco". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  54. ^ "2003 IIHF World Championship Div I,Group B". IIHF. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  55. ^ "Mark Cupolo". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  56. ^ "Coach of the Year". Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  57. ^ "Player of the Year". Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  58. ^ a b "All Star Team". Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  59. ^ "Hall of Fame - Jim Lynch 2001". Retrieved 17 October 2011.
Preceded by Superleague Champions
1997-98 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Playoff Champions
1997-98 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Autumn Cup Winners
1997-98 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Inaugural Champions
 Challenge Cup Winners
1997-98 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Challenge Cup Winners
2001-02 		Succeeded by
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