Guildford Spectrum

Guildford Flames 3-2 Coventry Blaze

24th September 2022

Although Guildford Flames have been around since 1992, they are relatively recent additions to the Elite Ice Hockey League, having joined the big lads as relatively recently as 2017.

The club, it has to be said have acquitted themselves admirably since, enjoying a selection of mid-table finishes, in addition to a losing Challenge Cup Final appearance, before Bastard COVID stepped in to spoil the party.

The Flames first post-COVID season (2012/22) proved to be an equally fun one for their support, as the club followed up on a fifth place league finish with a 5-4 aggregate quarter-final play-off win over Nottingham Panthers to earn their first ever invite to the end-of-season play-offs shindig.  Here a narrow 3-2 loss to eventual champions Cardiff, then a victory over Dundee Stars earned Guildford a very creditable third place finish.

Really not bad for a club playing only their third full season at the top (UK) level.

At the time of my visit (September 2022) Guildford were actually sitting top of the league (I think).  Although, to be fair, we were only a few weeks into the new season.  This particular match would have no bearing upon the club's league position though, as it was Challenge Cup group tie.  

For the record Guildford won the match 3-2 with one of those sudden death overtime goals, scored by Bradley Lalonde, one of club's many Canadian imports.

 

The Guildford Spectrum 

The ice rink holds 1,923 apparently (excluding standees).

Coventry's Finnish netminder Paavo Hölsä

Alex Yuill - another of Guildford's Canadian contingent.

The Guildford Spectrum ice rink has a very busy roof.
Loads of "stuff" up there.

Guildford Flames v Coventry Blaze (September 2022)

I can understand why an expensive big screen is protected from wayward
pucks by wire netting.  But it did not make for clear viewing.

A fair few pennants here.

This corridor ran behind one of the stands.

Flames' Number 28 John Eriksson greets a young fan.
I have noticed ice hockey players will always go out of their way to interact.
Good on them.

Behind the nets is never a good place to watch from.

The Guildford Spectrum