Season 1: 2013/14
In November 2013, the Nottingham Outlaws were born. Despite our fears about attracting players, our roster quickly grew to over 70 players and saw us train twice a week, as advanced and development squads.
Saturday 1st February 2014, the Outlaws took to the ice for our first ever game. A 4-0 win against the Nottingham University Mavericks, in which Luke Cutforth scored our first goal and Tristan Emerson recorded the first shutout
We threw ourselves straight into competition, competing in the inaugural ‘Ice Locker Cup’, finishing second in the ‘British Hockey Conference Group A’ and winning the ‘Attica Invitational Tournament’ in Peterborough. Not bad for a new team.
Season 2: 2014/15
We decided to try our hand at running our own tournament, and so the ‘Bunkers Hill Invitational’ was born, with thanks to our local pub and sponsor. The Outlaws finished runners-up in the single day, six team tournament. It’s not cool to win your own tournament, right?
Defending our title in the Peterborough tournament, we weren’t quite able to replicate the previous years success. This time finishing in a still respectable 2nd place.
The highlight of our second season, by far, was competing in the ‘Nottingham Rec Tournament’ (formally the Ice Locker Cup). Despite a tough group stage, that included two losses, we made it to the semi finals, emerging victorious against the Windsor Knights. In the final itself, the Outlaws pulled off a huge upset to defeat the Nottingham Phantoms, and lift the rather snazzy cup.
Season 3: 2015/16
The ‘Bunkers Hill Invitational’ returned with the Outlaws this time losing out in the semi finals to finish 3rd overall.
As we developed as a team, we began to play more checking hockey, resulting in us entering the ‘Linemate Apparel Challenge Cup’. Despite our inexperience with the rough stuff, we advanced to the playoff finals day at the Skydome in Coventry, ultimately losing out to the Peterborough Flyers in the final.
At the end of the season, original Outlaw and alternate captain Simon Machin, left the club to further his career in London.
Season 4: 2016/17
Our foray into the EIHA run tournaments. After four seasons, enough of our players had reached the ‘over 35s’ bracket, so into the EIHA Masters we went. With a team of very mixed ability, we had lots of fun on the way to finishing near the bottom of the pile, but not last!
Next up the EIHA RecFest tournament. The standard was always going to be high but a typically battling performance, saw us make the second tier, when the groups were reseeded for the second day, eventually finishing in 9th place overall.
This season marked the first time in Outlaws history, that we ended with a winning record, a notable milestone.
Club founder and manager Alex Stanhope stepped down from the running of the club, while remaining as a player. Treasurer and games coordinator assumed the managers role, forming a new committee along with Rachael Coad and Adam Biddulph.
Inaugural club captain, Stu Wilson, stepped down to be replaced Jay Binch and club legend Mancel Wood retired from ice hockey to concentrate on his university studies.
Season 5: 2017/18
Our second visit to the EIHA Masters could not have been more different to the first. This time finishing as runners-up to the perennial winners, the Cleveland Comets.
At RecFest Nottingham, even a substitute goalie couldn’t prevent us from qualifying for the top tier. This ultimately proved to be a double edged sword and we ended the tournament 5th overall.
RecFest Sheffield brought yet more silverware to the Outlaws Trophy cabinet. Being seeded in the second tier, Outlaws topped the group, courtesy of goals scored, when results went our way in the final round of games.
Season 6: 2018/19
After a two season hiatus, the Outlaws returned to cup competition in the ‘Bethany’s Legacy Ice Hockey Challenge cup’. With 2nd place in the group phase, we qualified for the playoff finals weekend. There we lost out to the eventual winners, the Nottingham North Stars, and finished the competition in 4th place.
It was back down to earth with a bump at the EIHA Masters and RecFest Sheffield tournaments, where a particularly high standard of competition, saw us finish 9th and 7th respectively.
RecFest Nottingham was slightly more successful, where after being seeded in the 3rd and final tier, the Outlaws used the opportunity to top the group and bring home another trophy.
Season 7: 2019/20
This season we will again be competing the ‘Bethany’s Legacy Ice Hockey Challenge cup’ and subject to entry, the EIHA RecFest and Masters tournaments.
Our goal as always is to play hard, have fun and bring home a trophy!
