OUR HISTORY
1992
MAY
BEGINNING
When Richie Hargreaves was taken to the old Bristol Ice Rink by his neighbour to watch him play for the old Bristol Bulldogs in 1992, he had no idea that his life was about to change forever. That night, Hargreaves decided to become an ice hockey player. But, the Bulldogs folded at the end of that season and so it was a career that would see him play for London, Isle of Wight Basingstoke and Swindon among others.
2008
MARCH
A TRIAL GAME
In 2008, he decided that it was time that Bristol had a senior ice hockey team, again. A trial game against Wightlink Tigers that December was seen as a big success to commit entering the league for the 2009-10 season.
2009/10
MARCH
ADVENTURE AHEAD
And so, in May 2009, the Pitbulls held their first ever try-out session looking to fill their roster for the adventure ahead.
SEP
THE FIRST SEASON
The first season went better than anyone’s wildest expectations, both on and off the ice. Despite the Frogmore Street ice rink not providing the most comfortable of surroundings, sell-out crowds were regularly coming to see a Bristol side holding it’s own in the top half of the table.
OCT
FOUR-WAY CUP
The campaign came down to a four-way fight between Bristol, Swindon, Solent & Gosport and Invicta. But, as the season went on, all were brushed aside by an improving Bristol. By the end, Bristol had only lost once in the league and dropped two more points, including one in a firecracker of a game against Invicta, in which the Pitbulls had to equalise twice in the game’s dying minutes.
NOV
LEAGUE / CUP DOUBLE
The team were to be denied a league/cup double, but the league title was enough to see the young team promoted at the end of their first season.
2010/11
MARCH
BAPTISM BY FIRE
Predictably, being promoted so quickly meant the following season was a real baptism by fire. The team finished second bottom of Division 1 and their new, second-team propped up Division 2. Between them they only managed 10 wins out of 64 games. But, they had achieved their target. They had survived. They had given themselves a foundation to build on.
2011/12
MARCH
THE PITBULLS WERE HOMELESS
The following year, they finished sixth and gave Wightlink a huge fright in the playoffs. Playoffs that would be the last games held in Bristol for nine years. For 2012 also produced the biggest blow that any ice hockey team can receive. The rink was to be demolished and replaced by student flats. Come the end of the season, the Pitbulls were homeless.
2012/13
MARCH
WHIRLWIND
The next season was a whirlwind. In Bristol, there was campaigning and a brief hope that the rink may get a stay of execution. Away from Bristol, the Pitbulls were playing their home games in Basingstoke, Oxford, Swindon and Solihull. The team finished fourth, denied a title as their backlog of games mixed with fatigue of playing on the road eventually caught up with them.
2013/14
MARCH
THIRD IN THE LEAGUE
The following year, Oxford Ice Rink offered a more permanent, temporary home. The stability immediately paid benefits. Third in the league, only three points behind winners Oxford and a cup final defeat to the same team.
2014/15
MARCH
SLOW SEASON
Despite now having some stability in Oxford, the 2014-15 season started slowly. A win against Basingstoke in September would be their last of the year as the team went on a disastrous streak of seven games without a win.
APR
strengthened
But Bristol strengthened over the Christmas break and would go unbeaten in the second half of the season. The run would see them win the Western Conference in their last game of the season against Wightlink. Peterborough were dispatched with ease in the playoffs semi-final to set up a final against Slough, winners of the other conference.
MAY
first ever double
A 4-0 shut-out in their home leg, played in Swindon, gave Bristol control of the series and their first ever double after winning the second leg 5-4. From seven games without a win straight into what is still a club record; twenty games without defeat.
SEP
a new rink
That summer, The Mall at Cribbs Causeway announced their plans to build a new rink. Has there ever been a greater reward for winning a title?
2015/16
SEP
collapse of the epl
League restructuring due to the collapse of the EPL meant that Bristol never achieved those heights again. Forced to play against teams who had been playing in the league above, season goals became qualification for playoffs rather than titles.
OCT
THE ROAD HOME
In the grand scheme of things, that was irrelevant. Bristol’s success was now off-ice. Planning permission for the rink was finally approved and construction of the team’s new home began. The road home was being built.
2020/21
MAR
PANDEMIC
The pandemic denied Bristol a grand farewell to the Oxford Ice Rink. But the importance of that building and the generosity of those in the rink and in Oxford City Stars will never be underestimated by this team. Bristol ice hockey will forever be indebted to them.
2021/22
SEP
FINALY HOME
But, it’s now time to look forward. A new rink where we can meet old friends once again and make new ones. The Pitbulls have finally come home.