Head Coach: Dave Whistle. Replaced the hugely popular Jim Fuyarchuk during the summer, after the latter left to coach new-comers London Knights. He was assistant coach last season and was in charge of several games, to mixed results, but including our one and only win over Ayr last season. However, following Firetruck will not be easy, and once again Bracknell are everyone's favourites for the bottom. Despite this, he has assembled a competitive and able squad, and once again the Bees could well provide some surprises.
Home Form: Last season was Bracknell's best ever, finishing fifth in the league and losing out by only one goal in the Express Cup Final. Whis will be hoping to build on last season's good form, particularly with the core of last year's team returning, and, as last year, it is at home we will be most dangerous.
Players to watch: Of the returning players, watch out for Colin Ward up front. Despite joining late last season, he still scored a respectable number of goals last season, and was in no small part responsible for Bracknell's good form in the Express Cup and the second half of the league. Many Bees fans will be very happy with the news that he will now be returning. The Chief is a well-known and well-respected player around the league, and he led the team last year with 27 goals. He is highly versatile and can play either left wing or in defence. In defence, we have God (or Matt Cote, as he known to those not affiliated to the Church of Matt). Bracknell’s only GB rep for years (excluding Jason Reilly’s cameo for the B team) and the one consistently brilliant player in the team. Matt has been with us now for 10 years (showing he is a man of much patience as well as talent!) and has stayed loyal all that time, despite offers from other clubs last year when we were demoted. Does not go forward often (although when he does, he does so to good effect) but is always there to make the last ditch challenge. Often seen throwing himself at the puck, when all else has failed. Joining Matty in defence is possibly the best player on the team, Shayne McCosh. Accomplished, constantly unflustered (although he does bite his tongue too much) and excellent at going forward, Shayne is easily the classiest player on the team, and I'm sure if he played for a more fashionable team he might well be considered the best defender in the league. Certainly up there alongside the Kip Nobles of this world, anyway. And finally, as the last line of defence, we have Mark Bernard in goal. Brilliant, frustrating, mad - all these words can describe Berny during a match. He seems to live entirely off emotion, and can pull off literally breath-taking saves. He has the agility of a cat, and the wrath of an enraged maternalistic gorrilla. Certainly not the most consistent keeper in the league, but easily the most entertaining.
Kit: For years Bracknell's kit alternated 0 either it was a carbon copy of Boston, or a carbon copy of Pittsburgh. However, last season the Bees took a drastic step in a new direction, and created something original. Unfortunately, the kit defies adaqaute discription, but I shall endeaver to try. The shirt consists of a mass of jagged black and white or gold (home or away) hoops, creating a bold and unmistakable pattern (should be no problem of passing to the wrong team, at least!). At the bottom, there is a black pyramid shape on the front and the back, tapering to the lowest point at either side. As I said, very hard to describe. See the gallery for a pictue. Obviously, with such a strong pattern, opinions are varied, but I personally have grown to like it.
Play at: The ‘Hive
Capacity: 2,300 (?)
Where?: John Nike LeisureSport Complex, John Nike Way (egotistical or what?), Bracknell, Berks, RG12 8TN.
Call: 01344 860033
Here we go, here we go!
By train: Bracknell is on the London Waterloo-Reading line. The rink is about a mile or so from the rink. Taxis can be found outside the Station, and a bus depot is just across the road, although last time I tried (admittedly a couple of years ago now) buses didn't run past the rink during the evenings.
By car: From the M4 J10 (Wokingham/Bracknell/Reading East) take the A329M. Come off at J1, and left (it should be well signposted anyway). You will come to a mini round-about (next to the big Copid Beaches Hotel), where you should turn right onto John Nike Way. The rink is at the bottom of the hill. From the M3 J3 take the A322 towards Bracknell. You should go, through the first set of lights, straight on at the wierd junction for Windosr, straight on at the first roundabout, and straight through the second roundabout (you'll see what I mean...). Again, at the next roundabout it's straight on, and at the 4th roundabout, you should take the second exit (which should be sgn-posted the rink). You'll come to another roundabout at the bottom of the hill, where you should get into the 2nd or 3rd lane, and take the second exit (marked M4). Carry on over the small round-about, and you should join the A329M. Shortly after, you should come to J1, where you should come off and turn right. From their, the instructions are the same as above.
Parking: 800. Can get quite cramped on match-nights, but there is an overflow nearby.
Nice gaff?: How dare you even ask? It is the home of the Mighty Bracknell Bees! Well actually, it’s starting to look old now, particularly in the advent of the new arenas. There are rumours circulating that Mr Nike is trying to get permission for a new 8-12,000 seater (stride on!), but so far nothing has been confirmed.
How much?: £6.50 for bench seats (downstairs) and £8.50 nasty, hard-backed seats (upstairs).
Programme: £1.30. Has always been complete junk, with very little new material, and practically nothing about the Bees themselves. However, I am told that the rink is going to sort it’s act out and produce a proper programme. Don't expect anything to soon, though (like, during your lifetime, even!).
They all hate: Why, Basingstoke of course. Also Slough and Guildford (who have been quite offensive in recent games).
This article was written with the use of some information from the “Ice Hockey News Review” publication.