Raiders IHC is an ice hockey team based in Romford, participating in the National Division of the National Ice Hockey League (NIHL), the second tier of British ice hockey.

They were known as the Romford Raiders when they were based at the Romford Ice Arena in the London Borough of Havering. They were founder members of the English Premier Ice Hockey League but have competed in the NIHL since 2012. Their development team was the Romford Spitfires, which played in Division 2 of the NIHL before being succeeded in 2009/10 by the Romford Fury.

The team moved to Leyton, East London, in 2013, when it adopted the new name London Raiders. Its team colours are white, gold, and blue, and fans of the team are known as the Gold and Blue Army.[1] The team returned to Romford in 2018, keeping the Raiders name until 2024 when they reverted to Romford Raiders under former owner John Scott.

History

The club was founded in 1987 under the name Romford Raiders and coached by Gord Jeffrey, who went on to become a hero amongst the Romford fans.

Some of the best-known players to play for the Raiders include Rob Stewart,[2] Dave Whistle[3] and Mike Ellis,[4] all of whom went on to play and coach at the highest levels in the UK.

The Raiders' first-ever match was played on Sunday 13 September 1987, against the Oxford City Stars. Romford's first captain, Erskine Douglas, also scored the Raiders' first-ever goal.

On 28 November 2010, during an English National League game against the Bracknell Hornets, Danny Marshall scored his 1,232nd point as a Raider when he assisted on a short-handed goal by Frankie Harvey. With that point, Marshall became the club's all-time leading scorer, surpassing Gord Jeffrey's long-standing record.[5]

In 2013, the Romford Ice Arena was sold by Havering Council to investors. The team subsequently had to move to Lee Valley Ice Centre and became the London Raiders.[6]

On February 3, 2018, the Raiders played their first game at their new home back in Romford, the Sapphire Ice and Leisure Centre. Raiders would come back to win 5–2 against the Cardiff Fire in front of a sell-out crowd. Former Romford Junior Olegs Lascenko scored the team's first-ever goal at the new venue, however, it was Cardiff's Jackson Price who scored the first goal overall.[7] In 2024, the team came under new ownership and returned to using the name Romford Raiders.[8][9]

Season Records

The following list details the Raiders' finishes in the league and notes any playoff success.[10]

League

SEASONLEAGUEPWTLOTWOTLFAPtRANKPOSTSEASON
1987 - 1988Heineken League Division 2262510--37921351ChampionPromoted
1988 - 1989Heineken League Division 1246216--1452011411Relegated
1989 - 1990Heineken League Division 2241716--217152352Promoted
1990 - 1991Division 14023215--293245484Qualification loss
1991 - 1992Division 13615516--262256356Qualification
1992 - 1993Division 13212416--221239285-
1993 - 1994Division 1 South4427512--328235592
1994 - 1995Division 1 South-----------
1995 - 1996Division 2 South221606--17875323Final group South
1996 - 1997English League South222011--19246411Qualification South
1997 - 1998English League South201136--19588255Championship Round South
1998 - 1999English Premier League3212317--155168278Did not make playoffs
1999 - 2000English Premier League245217--78127125Did not make playoffs
2000 - 2001English Premier League322129--174106444Champion
2001 - 2002English Premier League281828--16979384Qualification
2002 - 2003English Premier League4219617--218199448Qualification
2003 - 2004English Premier League322129--198131443Qualification
2004 - 2005English Premier League3217213--144113364Semifinal loss
2005 - 2006English Premier League4824519--214204537Qualification
2006 - 2007English Premier League4414425-1175234339Did not make playoffs
2007 - 2008English Premier League4016-2013137176378Qualification
2008 - 2009English Premier League5422-2453197259576Quarterfinal loss
2009 - 2010English Premier League545-46121473701410Did not make playoffs
2010 - 2011English National League South Division 1402956--244101633Conference SF loss South 1
2011 - 2012English National League South Division 1363105--2359362ChampionConference Final loss South 1
2012 - 2013NIHL South Division 1322228--205115463Semifinal loss South
2013 - 2014NIHL South Division 13217312--142128374Quarterfinal loss South
2014 - 2015NIHL South Division 1369324--120191218Semifinal loss South
2015 - 2016NIHL South Division 13611223--135174248Quarterfinal loss South
2016 - 2017NIHL South Division 12811413--92105265Semifinal loss South
2017 - 2018NIHL South Division 13216--1321121106374Conference SF loss

Cups

SEASONLEAGUEPWTLOTWOTLFAPtRANKPOSTSEASON
1988 - 1989Autumn Trophy6213--436253Did not make playoffs South & East
1989 - 1990Autumn Trophy4103--333823Did not make playoffs South East
1990 - 1991Autumn Cup8107--457025Did not make playoffs Group C
1991 - 1992Autumn Cup8206--386645Did not make playoffs Group C
1992 - 1993B&H Cup6105--346324Did not make playoffs Group B

Club roster 2022-23

Source:[11]

(*) Denotes a Non-British Trained player (Import)

Netminders
No.Nat.!width=22%|PlayerCatchesDate of birthPlace of birthAcquiredContract
32Bradley WindebankL24 July 2002 (age 24)Harold Wood, England2018 from Chelmsford Mohawks22/23
35Ben ClementsL21 July 1987 (age 39)Chelmsford, England2022 from Invicta Dynamos22/23
39Ethan JamesL18 March 1999 (age 27)London, England2019 from Essa Stallions22/23
Defencemen
No.Nat.!width=22%|PlayerShootsDate of birthPlace of birthAcquiredContract
3Elliott DeweyR10 March 1997 (age 29)Basingstoke, England2022 from Basingstoke Bison22/23
11Tom Relf 'A'R24 February 1998 (age 28)Frimley, England2021 from Sheffield Steeldogs22/23
13Daniel Scott 'A'R30 April 1992 (age 34)Chatham, England2018 from Basingstoke Bison22/23
14Jack CooperR3 July 1996 (age 30)London, England2014 from Harringay Racers22/23
21Callum WellsR18 April 1998 (age 28)Harold Hill, England2017 from Chelmsford Chieftains22/23
43Ethan ReidR3 June 2002 (age 24)Scotland2022 from Chelmsford Chieftains22/23
55Sean BarryR20 March 1994 (age 32)Chelmsford, England2017 from Chelmsford Chieftains22/23
Marco PascaleR2003 (age 19)England2022 from Raiders IHC 2Two-Way
Forwards
No.Nat.!width=22%|PlayerShootsDate of birthPlace of birthAcquiredContract
10Brandon AyliffeR25 June 1998 (age 28)Harold Wood, England2017 from Chelmsford Chieftains22/23
12Mikey PowerR20 June 2000 (age 26)London, England2022 from MK Lightning22/23
19Harry GulliverR14 September 1999 (age 26)Essex, England2022 from Manchester Storm22/23
29Jake SylvesterL21 October 1997 (age 28)Chelmsford, England2017 from Chelmsford Chieftains22/23
51Erik Piatak*R6 March 1986 (age 40)Kežmarok, Czechoslovakia2019 from DEAC22/23
57Ashley JacksonL27 August 1987 (age 38)Tunbridge Wells, England2022 from Invicta Dynamos22/23
63Aaron Connolly 'C'L1 June 1993 (age 33)Northfleet, England2018 from Basingstoke Bison22/23
86Tommy HuggettR13 July 2002 (age 24)England2018 from Chelmsford Mohawks22/23
89Blaho NovakL21 March 1993 (age 33)Bratislava, Slovakia2022 from Unattached22/23
95Jacob RansonR9 August 1995 (age 31)Romford, England2019 from Streatham IHC22/23
98Tjay AndersonL30 November 2004 (age 21)England2021 from Raiders U18Two-Way
Adam LaishramR8 April 1997 (age 29)Ashburn, ON, Canada2022 from MK LightningCover
Harvey BriggsR19 June 2003 (age 23)England2021 from Streatham IHCTwo-Way
Adam ErskineR10 February 2005 (age 21)England2021 from Raiders U18Two-Way
Matthieu Gomercic*L21 July 1997 (age 29)Winnipeg, MB, Canada2022 from Atlanta Gladiators22/23
Team Staff
No.Nat.NamePositionAcquiredPlace of birthJoined from
Sean EastonHead Coach2017Chelmsford, EnglandChelmsford Chieftains, NIHL 1
35Ben ClementsPlayer-Assistant Coach2022Chelmsford, England
55Sean BarryPlayer-Assistant Coach2022Chelmsford, England
Erin RosePhysical Therapist2021England

[12]

2021/22 Outgoing

Outgoing
No.Nat.!width="22%" |PlayerShootsDate of birthPlace of birthLeaving For
15J.J. PitchleyR28 January 1994 (age 32)Romford, EnglandBees IHC, NIHL
17Rio Grinell ParkeL25 February 1999 (age 27)London, EnglandMK Lightning, NIHL
24Ollie BaldockR15 January 1998 (age 28)Chelmsford, EnglandChelmsford Chieftains, NIHL 1
36Callum BurnettR19 January 2001 (age 25)EnglandChelmsford Chieftains, NIHL 1
91Lukas SladkovskyL10 April 1996 (age 30)Prague, Czech RepublicPeterborough Phantoms, NIHL

References

  1. ^ "Gold and Blue Army (@Goldandbluearmy) | Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 2017-09-05.
  2. ^ "Rob Stewart". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  3. ^ "David Whistle Team Staff Profile". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  4. ^ "Mike Ellis hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  5. ^ "Elite Prospects - Players' All-Time Stats for London Raiders". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  6. ^ "NIHL News – Romford Raiders Find Salvation In Their Darkest Hour". Ice Nation UK. 21 June 2013. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  7. ^ "Romford Recorder - Lascenko leaves mark with first Raiders goal on new Romford Ice". Romford Recorder. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
  8. ^ "Romford Raiders Reach NIHL National Cup Final". The Havering Daily. 14 December 2024.
  9. ^ Harrison, Phil (15 February 2025). "How Leeds Knights hope to put NIHL National Cup record straight and enjoy home ice finale". The Yorkshire Post
  10. ^ "London Raiders Team History and Standings". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  11. ^ "Raiders IHC - Elite Prospects". www.eliteprospects.com
  12. ^ "Roster". Raiders Ice Hockey