A Weekend on The Road With Swindon Wildcats

WITH the EPIHL ice hockey league now well underway, it was only a matter of time before Swindon Wildcats were faced with their first weekend of back-to-back away fixtures.

The weekend of October 3-4 saw the Swindon outfit travel to Hull to face Pirates on the Saturday, followed by a trip to Peterborough on the Sunday, before arriving back in SN5.

With such mileage, the team would stay overnight in Doncaster, before journeying down through Nottinghamshire for Sunday’s clash.

Total Sport had the privilege of travelling alongside the Wildcats, joining them every step of the way for their away weekend. Here’s how events unfolded…

Saturday

10.25 am 

We arrive at the Link Centre on a bitter Saturday morning, the kind of day where every word is given a momentary visual body in a mist of hot, condensed breath.

The team coach is already here waiting, and the club’s kit man Bert is busy packing a mass of equipment into its storage hold. Pads, boots, blades, kit, spare kit, helmets, sticks, tape, drinks – there is an awful lot that goes into an away weekend of ice hockey, and all must be carefully remembered and accounted for.

As the team coach reaches full capacity, we set off for Hull. Head coach Stevie Lyle sits up top with Wildcats general manager Steve Nell.

The coach is spacious and comfortable, ensuring all aboard are able to relax in the build up to the day’s game.

As we hit the open road, the players notice the television screen at the head of the vehicle, and shout for the selection of DVDs to be brought out and debated. Following conflicting opinions, Lyle makes the call of ‘Casino’ for the journey’s viewing, a 1995 American crime drama directed by Martin Scorsese.

A film of risk and high stakes seems quite apt. Prior to the weekend, Wildcats had been subject to two successive defeats, to Guildford Flames and MK Lightning. If there was ever a time for taking a risk in order to gain maximum rewards, it was now.

12.45 pm

We arrive at Tamworth service station, a stop off point to break up the road miles. The DVD is paused as some players wake from their mid-journey snooze. A 45 minute break is the designated stop-off time, as the players disembark and file into the service station in small groups.

With a choice of fast food, Marks & Spencer organic section or caffeine to choose from, the team splinters accordingly. It is clear to identify who prefers what for their pre-match consumption rituals.

A popular stop off is Costa Coffee, as an orderly queue of red tracksuit clad Wildcats soon forms.

Lee Richardson and Floyd Taylor front the queue, soon followed by Corey McEwen – a self-proclaimed fan of the coffee chain.

“I always come here before a match, if I get chance,” McEwen says, waiting in line.

The wait is tedious, as is commonplace with most motorways services, but several spiced cinnamon lattes, hot chocolates and flat whites later, the Wildcats are boarding the coach once more. Onwards to Hull.

3.45 pm

The team coach arrives on Humberside, to a grey and overcast welcome.

After dropping off the kit and equipment in the changing room, the team return to the car park to play a game of keep-up with a football. The majority of the team that is, bar D-man Callum Buglass, who takes the option of getting in some early warm-up sprints rink side.

 

4.45 pm

The rink has been iced and the teams take to the arena for the first time to get in a solid warm up. Jordan Hedley glides onto the ice first, leading his side out – the first indication fans get that the young netminder will be first choice for the day’s clash.

The Ice Arena turns into a cacophony of noise, as pucks relentlessly rocket off the boards behind the goal.

As every ear shattering thud sends out reverberations, the rink-side DJ tests his sinbin play-list – ‘another one bites the dust’ appearing to be his personal favourite. The seats soon fill, as home fans arrive donning the neon green club colours of Hull Pirates.

6.30 pm

The game is about to enter the third period. Wildcats lead 2-1 but the game is tight. Pirates, who haven’t won all season, look like they could take something from the match. Despite being rather disorganised at the back, their netminder Jon Baston is having the game of his life.

The home crowd are whipped into high spirits and are extremely vocal. As Stevie Lyle left for the final interval, his addressing of the referee to air grievances was greeted with contempt by the home faithful. A middle aged gentleman bellows from the stands for Lyle to, in no uncertain terms, remove himself from the arena… with an expletive or ten added in for good measure.

Alcohol is also flowing. A five-strong party of women take pleasure in screaming every time Pirates win the puck. In their hands, white wine in plastic cups appears to refilling itself as though by magic, and it’s difficult to tell whether they’re here for the hockey or a hen do. Either way, it certainly ramps up the atmosphere.

7.15 pm

The game is finally won and Wildcats are victorious, but they made hard work of it. A late tactical move by Pirates, to hook their netminder late in the third period, saw a last gasp equaliser and the need for overtime.

Wildcats dug in and Tomasz Malasinski notched a winner deep into the added period. As the Swindon side leave the ice, the home crowd remain as vocal as ever.

The team coach seems like a welcome refuge right now.

9.00 pm

After being back on the coach for about an hour, the team arrives at their Doncaster overnight stop off point – the Campanile roadside hotel.

Following the swift exit from Hull, food is desperately needed. The team throw their possessions into the dorms before heading out into the night, in search of a nearby cluster of eateries.

The team drifts into two groups, the vast majority opting for chicken joint Nandos, while Stevie Lyle, bench coach Kenton Smith and kit man Bert decide on a cosy table for three in Pizza Express.

9.30 pm 

Over in Nandos, the food has arrived. Wildcats dominate a table of 15 in the centre of the restaurant, and wasted no time in relieving the chef of his entire stock of butterfly chicken breast.

Ice hockey is a fast-paced, physically exerting game and a replenishment of protein supplies was clearly needed by all – so no apologies made here.

The team tuck in and make easy work of demolishing the meals in front of them.

“I’ve never been to Nandos before, this is my first time,” admits D-man Neil Liddiard, much to the bewilderment of Matt Selby.

 

10.30 pm

Adequately fed, the team retreat in unison in order to get back to the Hotel in time for Match of The Day.

The team dorms back at the Camponile are each split into doubles, with players pairing off in twos for the nightcap.

A good sleep is needed as Sunday brings last season’s play-off champions Peterborough Phantoms, certainly not the easiest of opponents.

Lights go out at midnight … mostly.

 

Sunday

12.00 midday

The team board the coach once more, day two of Wildcats’ away weekend.

Staying in Doncaster afforded the welcome opportunity of a lie-in before breakfast, hopefully advantageous for the match to come.

As we hit the motorway once more, Stevie Whitfield takes over DVD duties, this time opting for ‘The Departed’, much to the approval of Czech international Jan Kostal. Another action packed Scorsese film, perhaps a good call for raising adrenaline levels ahead of the looming Peterborough tie.

1.30 pm

We arrive in Peterborough after a seamless journey.

The team quickly drop off their equipment at Peterborough’s Ice Arena. This is the first glimpse we get of the old place. It’s not a patch on the Link Centre, but it will do.

With plenty of time to kill and hunger pangs kicking in once more, Wildcats jump back on the coach and head for a local Harvester eatery.

2.15 pm

Just as all model athletes ‘must’… the team hit the salad bar on arrival, however the kit men approach tentatively as though greeting an alien object.

With food pre-ordered, the large party of hockey players are served quickly with minimal fuss. Plates upon plates of chicken and pasta make their way from the kitchen to the tables of the Wildcats. Another protein hit with plenty of carbs, perfect for pre-match preparation.

With clean plates and plenty of time on their hands, another coffee run is on the cards. The face-off now stands approximately three hours away.

3.00 pm

The team arrive back at the Ice Arena and the warm up is about to get underway.

It is soon all too apparent just how cold the Peterborough venue is. Ice rinks are expected to be cold, of course, but Peterborough’s comes close to industrial freezer levels.The warm up is going to have to be an extensive one…

The players begin warming up rink side, each opting for their own individual routines.

Netminder Jordan Hedley begins with stretches, while Matt Selby goes with much more intense stomach crunches, absorbed in his headphones throughout.

Away from the crowd, fans favourite Aaron Nell warms up alone. Intermittent light jogs and sprints down the side of the rink form his preparation.

Reaching the halfway point of the rink, Nell touches the plastic covering each time before turning back on himself. Whether it’s a pre-match ritual or not isn’t clear, but either way it’s consistent.

5.45 pm

Warm-ups are complete and the national anthem is playing over the arena speakers. Phantoms have a strong home crowd, and the stands are laced with drums. This is going to be a loud one.

6.20 pm

The game is into the second period, and all is pretty tight. Phantoms are in the ascendancy, but Wildcats are sticking to their game plan well, pressing high and trapping in the neutral zone.

A collision between Jan Kostal and the Phantoms back line leads to a flaring of tensions. The drums begin to boom out from the crowd.

6.50 pm

Wildcats have just finished the third period. The game is over and, following two strong periods, Stevie Lyle’s side fell apart.

The game plan went out of the window, and so with it did the contest. Beaten 6-1, Lyle’s side leave the ice looking rather deflated.

As soon as post-match interviews are over, it’s time to board the coach. The journey back to Swindon is going to be a long one.

10.00 pm

The coach crawls through the darkness to make a final stop at motorway services. Food is again needed, hopefully to raise spirits following the disappointing loss.

Two choices of food venue this time, half of the team plumping for Mexican food while the other saunter over to KFC. This seems to confirm that chicken is a staple part of an ice hockey player’s diet.

The mood has picked up since the full-time buzzer in Peterborough. The team are still clearly smarting at the loss, but the season is still very much in its infancy. Change will come, and the addition of a new import player is imminent.

Finishing up the food, Wildcats board the coach for the final time.

11.40 pm

It is pitch black at the Link Centre as the team arrive.

The kit is decanted from the storage of the coach in the dim light of nearby street lights.

A weary Aaron Nell steps off the coach clutching a pillow. It has been a weekend of highs and lows for the Wildcats. Maximum points have eluded them once more, but it’s been a great couple of days on the road all the same.

Next up, Sheffield Steeldogs. But first, a good night’s sleep is due.