Swindon Wildcats are delighted to confirm the plans for the forthcoming season for the NIHL 2 Wildcats.
With the structure change in British Ice Hockey this summer, this is a perfect opportunity for the Wildcats 2 team to become a feeder team for the senior Wildcats team. In view of this, we are delighted to announce that Lee Richardson will be the head coach of our NIHL2 Wildcats for the 19/20 season.
Lee needs no introduction to Swindon fans and after spending half a season coaching the Oxford City Stars we believe he is the perfect man to head up our new NIHL 2 team. The team will generally consist of U23 players and details of our open trials will be announced in due course.
He will be assisted in finding the Wildcats of tomorrow by Robbie Pamphilon and Mark Perre who were both involved with the second team last year.
As the strength of the Junior Academy and Okanagan Hockey Academy has grown this team will now provide a pathway for graduating players to take their hockey careers to the next level – and connectivity between the Senior Wildcats the NIHL2 team and the Junior systems.
Lee will also work as an assistant coach to the Senior Wildcats team. He’ll work with Aaron Nell throughout the week at practices and when his schedule allows will join Robbie Pamphilon on the Wildcats bench as a coach as well.
Wildcats Head Coach Aaron Nell added:
‘We’re thrilled that Lee has agreed to come back into the Wildcats set up as our new NIHL2 Head Coach. We want that team to be where the Wildcats of tomorrow come from and he knows exactly what it takes to do that.
He’ll teach young players so much about the step into senior hockey. Whilst the team will be predominantly U23, there will be a couple of experienced players on the ice for him as well.
Not only this, but to have him helping me and Robbie in the first team will be massive as well. I cannot wait to get started working with him when the new season starts in September’
