In this episode, Ken is joined by former Buffalo Sabres draft pick Trent Kaese, a name fondly remembered by UK fans from his time with the Peterborough Pirates, Milton Keynes Kings, and later Blackburn Hawks. Trent takes us back to his roots in Nanaimo, British Columbia, growing up just a ferry ride from Vancouver. He reflects on juggling soccer and hockey as a youngster before choosing the rink for good—partly because skating beat running any day of the week. The conversation moves to the...

Ken is joined by Kenny Macdonald — one of British hockey’s most colourful 1980s characters and a true product of Scottish ice sports royalty. The son of former Scottish ice skating champion Jill Patterson, Kenny was on skates by the age of three, growing up in Aviemore’s winter-sports playground where skating, skiing, and mischief shaped a natural athlete. Kenny reflects on his early senior hockey with the Aviemore Blackhawks before making a bold move south in 1981 to join the Nottingham Pan...

Wayne Crawford Podcast Interview – Episode S5E06 Today my guest is Canadian forward Wayne Crawford. Wayne was originally drafted by the Detroit Redwings in 1980. He then spent most of his time in the AHL and IHL until a friend suggested he try the UK. That friend was former OHL Toronto Marlboros and Washington Capitals NHL forward Todd Bidner. Todd, now playing in Peterborough, persuaded Wayne to cross the Atlantic and sign for the Pirates

Canadian-born defenceman Chris Norton is the latest Old Time Hockey UK guest, sharing stories from a six-year UK hockey journey that began after an NHL-drafted career spent mainly in the AHL and IHL. A chance conversation in Phoenix — helped by family ties to Manchester — led to his first UK move with the Ayr Raiders in 1992. Chris’s UK career quickly became a lesson in survival as teams folded around him. Ayr Raiders collapsed weeks into the season, followed by a short stint with Billingham ...

This episode features former Durham Wasps, Nottingham Panthers, Solihull Barons, Bracknell Bees and Great Britain goal-scoring star Jamie Crapper. Jamie charts an extraordinary UK hockey journey — from prolific import with the Durham Wasps, league and cup winner, to key roles at Nottingham, Solihull and Bracknell. He discusses becoming player-coach under pressure, guiding teams to promotion and survival, and balancing elite playing duties with off-ice roles as a manager and rink operator. ...

Today’s hockey hero is former Murrayfield Racers, Fife Flyers and Dumfries Border Vikings netminder Moray Hanson — one of British ice hockey’s true legends. Moray was Great Britain’s first-choice goalie at the 1994 World Cup Pool A Championships, before going on to achieve something no other Brit ever has: officiating at six consecutive World Championships. From backstopping the Racers to domestic silverware and unforgettable Wembley appearances, to a brief but headline-grabbing move to Fi...

Today’s hockey hero from the past is André Malo, one of the most respected defencemen of his era and a true servant of British ice hockey. Arriving from Canada in 1986, André went on to enjoy a remarkable 15-season UK career, icing for the Ayr Bruins, Cleveland Bombers, Nottingham Panthers, Sheffield Steelers and Newcastle Vipers. After gaining his British passport in 1993, he proudly represented Great Britain, earning 32 senior international caps. André’s UK journey began in Ayr during a ...

In this episode Ken chat with Jim Mollard, a hard-nosed Canadian forward from Stonewall, Manitoba, whose UK hockey career produced some of the most dramatic moments of the late 1980s and early ’90s. Before arriving in Edinburgh, Jim had spent two seasons in the Edmonton Oilers farm system. Disillusioned with life in the minors, he accepted an offer from Murrayfield Racers after a recommendation from Tony Hand, whom he’d met at an Oilers training camp. Joining the Racers for the 1989–90 sea...

This Episode features one of the most successful coaches in UK ice hockey history — Dave Whistle. Over a 16-season UK career, Dave spent seven seasons as a player and nine as a head coach, leading both the Bracknell Bees and the Belfast Giants to SuperLeague League Championships, and guiding the Giants to a Playoff Championship as well. A graduate of the University of Brandon in Manitoba, Dave arrived in the UK in 1991 to join the Billingham Bombers. Despite finishing as the team’s top scorer...

Tim Cranston — Part Two Part Two picks up Tim Cranston’s story at the very top of UK ice hockey. In 1993, Alex Dampier invited Tim to join the Sheffield Steelers, beginning a five-season spell that helped redefine the British game. Balancing hockey with a law degree at York University, Tim became a cornerstone of a Steelers team on the rise. After the pain of a 12–1 Wembley Playoff Final defeat to Cardiff in his first season, Sheffield responded in style—winning a League and Playoff double...

The Early Years Episode S4E04 explores the early hockey journey of Tim Cranston—former Fife Flyers, Cleveland Bombers, Durham Wasps, Sheffield Steelers and Edinburgh Capitals forward, and a 39-cap Great Britain international. Tim reflects on his development in Canada before choosing the European route, signing for GIJS Groningen at 21 and spending five seasons across Central Europe in the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland and Germany. His UK story began unexpectedly in December 1988 wit...

Former Winnipeg Jets forward Doug Smail joins the show to reflect on a remarkable career that spanned 13 NHL seasons before an unexpected and memorable move to UK ice hockey. Undrafted in 1980 after three seasons at the University of North Dakota, Doug signed as a free agent with Winnipeg and went on to play 867 NHL regular-season and playoff games, scoring 219 goals. He helped the Jets reach the playoffs eight times, twice making the Smythe Division Finals, and still shares the NHL record fo...

Series 4 opens with a true giant of British ice hockey, Peter “Jonker” Johnson—player, coach, mentor and innovator whose influence spanned five decades. Introduced to the game at Durham Ice Rink aged 10, Jonker rose through the junior ranks and debuted for the Durham Wasps at just 16. He reflects on the realities of hockey in the 1960s and ’70s—no helmets, heavy kit, fierce rivalries and the unique culture of Durham. A key figure in the Wasps’ glory years, Jonker later became head coach, l...

Episode 50 is a landmark moment for Old Time Hockey UK, and the guest could only be Tony Hand—widely regarded as the greatest British-born player of all time. Tony spent 14 seasons with the Murrayfield Racers before making history in 1985 as the first UK-born player drafted to the NHL, selected by the Edmonton Oilers. After the Racers folded in 1995, he joined a star-studded Sheffield Steelers side that completed a famous Grand Slam—League, Benson & Hedges Cup and Wembley Playoffs. He late...