Bradford Bulldogs Explained

The Bradford Bulldogs are an English ice hockey team that play in the NIHL North Two (Laidler) Division of the English National Ice Hockey League. They play their home games at the Bradford Ice Arena, Bradford, West Yorkshire. They were formed in 1978. Many of the team were born and taught to play ice hockey in and around the Bradford area. The club also features a thriving junior system youth system which begins at under-10 level through to Under-18s, in terms of teams, but anyone from the age of six-years-old upwards is able to take part in beginners sessions which are held at Bradford Ice Arena every Wednesday, starting at 5.30pm and costing just £5.

After the 2020-21 season was cancelled because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Bulldogs returned to action in 2021-22 competing in the NIHL North Two (Laidler) Division.They also have teams at Under-18, Under-16, Under-14, Under-12 and Under-10 level.Over the years, the club has produced a number of players through its junior system who have gone on to play at senior level elsewhere in the UK. Several were signed to the Leeds Knights roster for the 2021-22 NIHL National campaign. These included forwards, Kieran Brown and Adam Barnes, as well as defenders Bobby Streetly, Lewis Baldwin and Jordan Griffin. Brown and Griffin both served 'apprenticeships' at Sheffield Steelers after being signed by former head coach Paul Thompson - Brown in 2017 and Griffin in 2018. Liam Kirk and Cole Shudra - the latter a Knights' team-mate of Brown and Griffin during 2021-22 - were two other players to be signed up on this innovative scheme.

Club roster 2022-23

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

Netminders
width=5%No.width=5%Nat.width=22%Playerwidth=7%Catcheswidth=16%Date of birthwidth=20%Place of birthwidth=24%Acquired Contract
25Samantha BolwellL1 February 1993Eastbourne, England2021 from Deeside Dragons22/23
Ryan WardellL30 January 2005Sunderland, England2022 from Billingham StarsTwo-Way
Callum Preston2006 (age 16)England2022 from Bradford U1822/23
Defencemen
width=5%No.width=5%Nat.width=22%Playerwidth=7%Shootswidth=16%Date of birthwidth=20%Place of birthwidth=24%AcquiredContract
4David WilliamsR9 March 1985Bury, England2017 from Blackburn Eagles22/23
9Matthew Cross2005 (age 17)England2021 from Bradford U18Two-Way
16Benjamin DarbyshireR1994 (age 28)Manchester, England2021 from Blackburn Hawks 222/23
46Alexander Mitchell2002 (age 20)England2018 from Bradford U1822/23
96Dean Boothroyd 'C'1984 (age 38)Huddersfield, England2004 from Bradford U1922/23
Kieran Clarkson2002 (age 20)England2022 from Altrincham Aces22/23
James Gledhill2004 (age 18)England2022 from Bradford U1822/23
Forwards
width=5%No.width=5%Nat.width=22%Playerwidth=7%Shootswidth=16%Date of birthwidth=20%Place of birthwidth=24%AcquiredContract
6Joshua Stockton6 February 1990Liversedge, England201722/23
8Mark Higson1989 (age 33)Radcliffe, England201622/23
11Lucas Vince2004 (age 18)England2021 from Bradford U18Two-Way
26Kacper Andrukianiec2003 (age 19)Poland2021 from Bradford U1822/23
29Tomas Mitrik*R29 June 1988Humenne, Slovakia2018 from Altrincham Aces22/23
77Jack Wooding2004 (age 18)England2021 from Bradford U1822/23
98Abigail CulshawR5 March 1998England2019 from Blackburn Hawks 222/23
Jason Devaney1991 (age 31)England202222/23
Connor Medley30 March 1993England2017 from Bradford U1622/23
Malachi BuddL18 October 2003Falkland Islands2022 from Vernal OilersTwo-Way
Archie Grayson 2004 (age 18)England2022 from Sheffield U1822/23
Rhys EdwardsL4 June 2006England2022 from Bradford U18Two-Way
Thomas Mardell2006 (age 16)England2022 from Bradford U1822/23
Team Staff
width=5%No.width=5%Nat.width=22%Namewidth=7%Acquiredwidth=16%Rolewidth=20%Place of birthwidth=24%Joined From
Andrew Brown2014/15Head CoachBradford, EnglandBradford Bulldogs U18, England U18
Joanne Gibson2015/16General ManagerEngland

2021/22 Outgoing

Outgoing
No.Nat.PlayerShootsDate of birthPlace of birthLeaving For
19Joshua RichardsonR1998 (age 24)Chorley, EnglandDeeside Dragons, NIHL 1
30Philip PearsonL5 August 1987Stockport, EnglandDeeside Dragons, NIHL 1
43Damarni JamesR2005 (age 17)EnglandLeeds Knights, NIHL National
73Alexander Lutwyche2003 (age 19)Whalley, EnglandBlackburn Hawks, NIHL 1

References