As we head another day closer to the Hargreaves vs Hargreaves testimonial, we can reveal a further six names who will be playing on May 28th.
Starting with the three additions to Team Richie, he welcomes Steve Moria, Joe Ciccarello and Josh Galea. While Team Mike is strengthened by the additions of Wayne Fiddes, Alan Armour and Joe Llewellyn.
Steve Moria is an icon of British hockey and needs very little introduction, the Canadian born forward moved to the UK in the late 80s, playing for the Fife Flyers and Cardiff Devils in the BHL, a couple of seasons in Blackburn followed before he scored 221 points in 43 games for the Swindon Wildcats in 94-95. Moria then spent the rest of the decade in Cardiff in the BISL, representing GB during that time also. Moria then had spells with Nottingham, Basingstoke, the London Racers (where he played with Rich during the NHL lockout season), Milton Keynes and Slough before finishing his career in Basingstoke in his 50s where he was a player-coach. Moria was added to the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 2016.
Joe Ciccarello was another Canadian born skater who moved to the UK after a spell in Italy and a year in the ECHL in North America, playing for Bracknell, Basingstoke and Sheffield Steelers before playing with Richie in the NHL lockout season with the Racers. Ciccarello then moved to Slough for four years before playing his final year with Basingstoke. Ciccarello’s most recent involvement in hockey was with Slough as an assistant coach.
Josh Galea is Bristol born and has spent most of his career at the Pitbulls with the brothers. Coming through the youth setup in Cardiff, Basingstoke and Bristol, where he featured 3 times for the Pitbulls in 10-11. Josh had another year at youth level, played in Slough for two years before returning to Bristol in 2014 where he’s remained since. He was an alternate captain for three of the last five seasons on the road with the Pitbulls.
Wayne Fiddes spent nearly his entire career at Swindon in their various forms from the early 90s until 2010. He featured frequently for GB at youth level while playing for the Wildcats and then the Chill. Fiddes was named captain of the Cats in 2005-06 for two seasons and remained there until the end of the decade, finishing his career with the Oxford City Stars (with a short stint at the Wildcats ENL team). He was twice an EPIHL champion in Swindon.
Alan Armour is a name that needs no introduction to early Pitbulls fans. Born in Truro, Alan broke through in Swindon around the same time as Fiddes, playing for the Cats in the early 90s. Spells with Bracknell, Oxford and the Wightlink Raiders followed until Alan settled back in at Swindon until the late 00s. Seasons in Oxford and Cardiff followed before Armour had four seasons in Bristol (separated by a year in Cardiff), Armour was part of the 2014-15 double winning side before heading back to Cardiff where he spent a further four years where he won a further two NIHL2 South West titles before retiring in 2019.
Joe Llewellyn quickly became a fan favourite in Bristol in his first season in Pitbull colours. Llewellyn spent time at the Okanagan Hockey Academy as a junior, where he was named captain in his final year while splitting time with the two Swindon Wildcats teams. Joe was signed to play in Sweden in 2020-21 but only featured 5 times before signing in Bristol for the season just gone where he played 33 games.
Team Mike: Paul Farmer (coach), Robbie Morris, Russ Cowley, Ross Bowers, Mason Lipsey, Wayne Fiddes, Alan Armour & Joe Llewellyn.
Team Richie: Les Millie (coach), Steve Couzens, Mike Smith, Adam Brittle, Sam Smith, Steve Moria, Joe Ciccarello & Josh Galea.
Tickets for the game remain on sale HERE, doors open at 6:15 on Saturday May 28th for a 6:45 face-off, with the bar staying open until midnight following the game.
