Episodes

In this episode, Ken is joined by former Buffalo Sabres draft pick Trent Casey, 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 build...

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 Panther...

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

Former Bracknell Bees and Sheffield Steelers defenceman Shane McCosh joins the show to share remarkable behind-the-scenes stories from his career in UK hockey. From loaning a team owner £25,000 to help cover player wages, to needing 12 stitches on a road trip before even stepping off the team coach, Shane offers a brutally honest look at life as a pro. Growing up in a hockey-mad Canadian family, Shane’s early development was shaped on backyard ice rinks, eventually leading to AHL and ECHL opport...

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 Bom...

In this episode, Ken Abbott is joined by Gary Newbon—legendary broadcaster, journalist, and former Solihull Barons owner, best known to viewers from Central TV and Sky Sports. Gary traces his broadcasting career from Westward TV to ATV, becoming a leading Midlands sports reporter before rising to Controller of Sport as ATV rebranded to Central TV in 1982. That same year, a chance encounter involving a broken washing machine led Gary to Solihull Barons—and into ice hockey ownership. With crowds o...

In Part 2 of our Series 5 interview, David Simms continues his incredible Sheffield Steelers story. A key figure in the club’s formation, David reflects on 30 years of dedication — still making the 180-mile round trip from Solihull to Sheffield Arena to this day. A born storyteller, David revisits one of the most infamous nights in British ice hockey history: Friday 9 February 2001, the Battle of Lower Parliament Street . With the Steelers on the brink of securing the SuperLeague title in Nottin...

In Part 1 of our Series 5 interview, David Simms recounts how a chance visit to an ice rink in the mid-1980s sparked a lifelong love affair with ice hockey. From discovering the sport at Solihull Barons, David rose from fan to committee member and team manager before finding himself at the heart of a defining moment in British hockey history — the birth of the Sheffield Steelers in 1991. David shares candid stories from his Barons days, including firing imports, the truth behind Brent Sapergia’s...

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. After ...

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 Fife Fly...

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 turbul...

Today's Episode features former NHL forward and SuperLeague star Ed Courtenay, whose career took him from the bright lights of the NHL to some of the biggest stages in UK ice hockey. Born in Montreal, Ed’s NHL journey began in unusual fashion when the Minnesota North Stars discovered him by chance during a junior game. Although he never iced for Minnesota, strong seasons in the IHL eventually led to his NHL debut with the San Jose Sharks. Over two seasons in San Jose, Ed scored 7 goals and added...

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 season, J...

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 wi...

Former London Knights and Nottingham Panthers enforcer Barry Nieckar joins the show to reflect on a career built on toughness, resilience and respect. A veteran of the AHL, IHL and ECHL, Barry also earned eight NHL appearances with the Hartford Whalers, Calgary Flames and Anaheim Mighty Ducks. Now based in Edmonton, he explains how his role naturally evolved into that of an enforcer and why he believes the NHL remains the toughest league. Barry’s UK journey began with the London Knights in 1999,...

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, clin...

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 with a short...

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 for t...

Episode two of Series 4 features Nottingham Panthers legend Greg Hadden, one of the club’s most prolific goal scorers. Greg spent seven seasons in Nottingham, playing 377 games and scoring 167 goals, cementing his place in Panthers history. Greg opens with an update on recent shoulder surgery, before reflecting on his hockey journey from street hockey in Vancouver to junior, college hockey, and a lifelong friendship with Steve Carpenter. Arriving in Nottingham in 1996 at the dawn of the SuperLea...

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, leading...

The Midnight Sheep Incident A late-night pit stop somewhere in the middle of nowhere turned legendary when a teammate spotted a sheep and admitted he’d never seen one up close. Moments later, a player somehow found himself in a dark field, catching a sheep and carrying it back to the team bus—to hysterical laughter. Realising they probably shouldn’t be touring the countryside with livestock, the team stopped again and safely returned the sheep to the field, none the worse for wear. The trip cont...

Former Ayr Bruins, Peterborough Pirates and Paisley Pirates forward John Kidd joins the show to reflect on a career defined by passion, perseverance and British hockey’s changing landscape. John began on Ayr’s tiny Limekiln Road curling rink, rising through the Academy and making his senior debut at just 17 in 1980–81. He recalls the excitement of Glen Henderson’s takeover, the arrival of Don Edwards, and playing under Rocky Saganiuk, whom he rates among the very best to come to the UK. The stan...

The Stories Hockey Players Don’t Tell — Bonus Episode (Danny Meyers) In this bonus episode, Danny Meyers offers a rare and honest look behind the curtain of professional ice hockey — the stories players don’t usually share while they’re still playing. Danny explains why modern interviews are tightly controlled, and why the most revealing conversations only happen once players step away from the game. He reflects on how hockey has changed since joining Basingstoke Bison at 16 — improved professio...

Part Two follows the later career of Stephen Cooper, widely regarded as one of the greatest British defencemen, covering spells with Manchester Storm, Newcastle Riverkings, Nottingham Panthers, Hull Thunder and Coventry Blaze. Stephen joined Manchester Storm in 1997 after talks with Cardiff stalled, enjoying two strong seasons and a league runners-up finish before a contract collapse forced a move back north with Newcastle Riverkings, where the season proved challenging. A move to Nottingham Pan...