Earls Court Rangers
Founded1935
Dissolved1953
LeagueEnglish National League
Based inLondon
ArenaEarls Court Arena
Colours
  • Orange and chocolate   
  • (1935–37)
  • Orange and black   
  • (1937–39 & 1948–51)
  • Gold, black and white    
  • (1951–53)
Head coachGeorge Redding (1937–39)

Earls Court Rangers were an early English ice hockey team that played in the English National League. They were formed in 1935 and disbanded in 1953. They played their home games at the Earls Court Arena in west London, England at Empress Hall; played only 9 seasons interrupted in 1939 by World War II.

Empress Hall

In September 1953, the British Ice Hockey association announced that in the upcoming season the Earls Court Rangers would not play. The club's directors chose not to play that season because its headquarters, Empress Hall in London, was undergoing structural alterations. The alterations were expected to take three months, but in fact the Empress Hall was never rebuilt and now Earls Court 2 and Lillie Road Bus and Tube Depot stand in its spot.[1]

The team was formed in 1935 and played in the league every year until 1940, then from 1948 to 1953. From 1940 to 1947, Empress Hall was under government requisition.[2]

1937 Fixtures

Earl Nicholson, of Harringay Greyhounds, and Howie Peterson, of Earl’s Court Rangers, were suspended on 31 December 1937 until 23 January 1938 for 26 days which was at the time the longest suspension awarded in British ice hockey[3] when both Canadian players "tried to take each other apart"[4] when Earls Court Rangers lost 4-2 against Harringay Greyhounds on 29 December 1937. On 6 November 1937 Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy when visiting London saw Earls Court Rangers play against Harringay Racers.[5]

Coaches

Frank Currie - player coach

Notable players

Name Nationality Position Timespan Ref
Les Anning Canadian Winger 1951–1953 [6]
Gerry Brown Canadian Winger 1937–1939
Keith Campbell Canadian Winger 1949–1953 [7]
Jack Forsey Canadian Winger 1936–1939 [8]
Art Green British Defenceman 1948–1950
Bill Jennings Canadian Winger 1938–1939 [9]
Gib Hutchinson Canadian-British Goaltender 1937–1939 [10]
Leo Lamoureux Canadian Defenceman 1938–1939 [11]
Bobby Lee Canadian Centre 1937–1939
George McNeil Canadian Defenceman/winger 1937–1938 [12]
Don Willson Canadian Centre 1935–1937
Robert Wyman British Defenceman 1937–1938 [13]

See also

References

  1. ^ West London Observer Newspaper - Friday 4 September 1953
  2. ^ West London Observer Newspaper - Friday 4 September 1953
  3. ^ Newspaper: Evening Telegraph - Friday 31 December 1937
  4. ^ Canadian Newspaper: Lewiston Evening Journal - 1 January 1938 'Ye Sports Sandwich by Sports Editor Norman S. Thompson'
  5. ^ The Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Monday 8 November 1937
  6. ^ "Les Anning profile". Eurohockey.com.
  7. ^ "Keith William Campbell profile". Eurohockey.com.
  8. ^ "Jack Forsey profile". Eurohockey.com.
  9. ^ "Bill Jennings Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com".
  10. ^ "Gordon Hutchinson profile". Eurohockey.com.
  11. ^ "Leo Lamoureux profile". Eurohockey.com.
  12. ^ "George McNeil profile". Eurohockey.com.
  13. ^ "Robert Wyman profile". Eurohockey.com.

External links

Ice hockey in the United Kingdom
Categories