The Bradford Bulldogs are an English ice hockey team that play in the NIHL North Two (Laidler) Division of the English National Ice Hockey League. They play their home games at the Bradford Ice Arena, Bradford, West Yorkshire. They were formed in 1978. Many of the team were born and taught to play ice hockey in and around the Bradford area.

Bradford Bulldogs
CityBradford, West Yorkshire
LeagueNIHL
ConferenceDivision Two North
Founded1978
Home arenaBradford Ice Arena
ColoursRed, Yellow, Black
     
General managerJoanne Gibson England
Head coachAndy Brown England
CaptainDean Boothroyd England
WebsiteBradford Bulldogs

The club also features a thriving junior system youth system which begins at under-10 level through to Under-18s, in terms of teams, but anyone from the age of six-years-old upwards is able to take part in beginners sessions which are held at Bradford Ice Arena every Wednesday, starting at 5.30pm and costing just £5.

After the 2020-21 season was cancelled because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Bulldogs returned to action in 2021-22 competing in the NIHL North Two (Laidler) Division. They also have teams at Under-18, Under-16, Under-14, Under-12 and Under-10 level. Over the years, the club has produced a number of players through its junior system who have gone on to play at senior level elsewhere in the UK. Several were signed to the Leeds Knights roster for the 2021-22 NIHL National campaign. These included forwards, Kieran Brown and Adam Barnes, as well as defenders Bobby Streetly, Lewis Baldwin and Jordan Griffin. Brown and Griffin both served 'apprenticeships' at Sheffield Steelers after being signed by former head coach Paul Thompson - Brown in 2017 and Griffin in 2018. Liam Kirk and Cole Shudra - the latter a Knights' team-mate of Brown and Griffin during 2021-22 - were two other players to be signed up on this innovative scheme.

Club roster 2022-23

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(*) Denotes a Non-British Trained player (Import)

Netminders
No. Nat. Player Catches Date of birth Place of birth Acquired Contract
25   Samantha Bolwell L (1993-02-01) 1 February 1993 (age 31) Eastbourne, England 2021 from Deeside Dragons 22/23
  Ryan Wardell L (2005-01-30) 30 January 2005 (age 19) Sunderland, England 2022 from Billingham Stars Two-Way
  Callum Preston 2006 (age 16) England 2022 from Bradford U18 22/23
Defencemen
No. Nat. Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Acquired Contract
4   David Williams R (1985-03-09) 9 March 1985 (age 39) Bury, England 2017 from Blackburn Eagles 22/23
9   Matthew Cross 2005 (age 17) England 2021 from Bradford U18 Two-Way
16   Benjamin Darbyshire R 1994 (age 28) Manchester, England 2021 from Blackburn Hawks 2 22/23
46   Alexander Mitchell 2002 (age 20) England 2018 from Bradford U18 22/23
96   Dean Boothroyd 'C' 1984 (age 38) Huddersfield, England 2004 from Bradford U19 22/23
  Kieran Clarkson 2002 (age 20) England 2022 from Altrincham Aces 22/23
  James Gledhill 2004 (age 18) England 2022 from Bradford U18 22/23
Forwards
No. Nat. Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Acquired Contract
6   Joshua Stockton (1990-02-06) 6 February 1990 (age 34) Liversedge, England 2017 22/23
8   Mark Higson 1989 (age 33) Radcliffe, England 2016 22/23
11   Lucas Vince 2004 (age 18) England 2021 from Bradford U18 Two-Way
26   Kacper Andrukianiec 2003 (age 19) Poland 2021 from Bradford U18 22/23
29   Tomas Mitrik* R (1988-06-29) 29 June 1988 (age 36) Humenne, Slovakia 2018 from Altrincham Aces 22/23
77   Jack Wooding 2004 (age 18) England 2021 from Bradford U18 22/23
98   Abigail Culshaw R (1998-03-05) 5 March 1998 (age 26) England 2019 from Blackburn Hawks 2 22/23
  Jason Devaney 1991 (age 31) England 2022 22/23
  Connor Medley (1993-03-30) 30 March 1993 (age 31) England 2017 from Bradford U16 22/23
   Malachi Budd L (2003-10-18) 18 October 2003 (age 21) Falkland Islands 2022 from Vernal Oilers Two-Way
  Archie Grayson 2004 (age 18) England 2022 from Sheffield U18 22/23
  Rhys Edwards L (2006-06-04) 4 June 2006 (age 18) England 2022 from Bradford U18 Two-Way
  Thomas Mardell 2006 (age 16) England 2022 from Bradford U18 22/23
Team Staff
No. Nat. Name Acquired Role Place of birth Joined From
  Andrew Brown 2014/15 Head Coach Bradford, England Bradford Bulldogs U18, England U18
  Joanne Gibson 2015/16 General Manager England

2021/22 Outgoing

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Outgoing
No. Nat. Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Leaving For
19   Joshua Richardson R 1998 (age 24) Chorley, England Deeside Dragons, NIHL 1
30   Philip Pearson L (1987-08-05) 5 August 1987 (age 37) Stockport, England Deeside Dragons, NIHL 1
43   Damarni James R 2005 (age 17) England Leeds Knights, NIHL National
73   Alexander Lutwyche 2003 (age 19) Whalley, England Blackburn Hawks, NIHL 1

References

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