OVER THE BENCH SPORTS
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BASINGSTOKE BISON.
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Basingstoke Team
Overview.
After a two-year hiatus, the Basingstoke Bison have made a triumphant return to the ice. Originally founded in 1988 as the Basingstoke Beavers, the team adopted its current name in 1995 and has since built a proud hockey tradition. The Bison are now led by head coach Jeff Flanagan, bringing fresh vision and drive to the bench. Under the new ownership of Steve Nell and Rob Firmin, the team is looking forward to an exciting new chapter—rekindling the passion of their loyal fans and reclaiming their place in the heart of the British ice hockey community.
Over the decades, the Basingstoke Bison have carved out a remarkable legacy on the ice, accumulating an impressive array of honours that reflect both sustained excellence and memorable sporting triumphs. Their rise began with a breakthrough in the 1989/90 season, capturing the English Division 1 Promotion Play-off title—a signal of things to come. The early 1990s saw the Bison establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with, taking home the Southern Cup in 1991/92 before adding the Heineken Division One title and another Promotion Play-off championship in 1992/93. That same year, they finished as runners-up in the Southern Cup, a feat they would repeat in consecutive years through the mid-1990s.
As British ice hockey evolved, the Bison remained a perennial contender, reaching the finals of the British National Ice Hockey League and Christmas Cup in 1998/99 and continuing their cup runs into the new millennium. The 1999/00 and 2000/01 seasons brought back-to-back B & H Plate victories, along with several runner-up finishes across the Christmas Cup, BNL Play-off Championships, and the Findus British National Ice Hockey League.
Individual talent has also shone through, with Curtis Cruickshank earning a spot on the EIHL First Team All Star roster in 2003/04. In the modern era, the Bison further cemented their status: they finished as runners-up in the English Premier Ice Hockey League in 2012/13 and again in 2013/14, but sweetened the latter campaign with a League Cup victory and a Play-off Championship title. Their crowning moment came in 2015/16, when they were crowned English Premier Ice Hockey League Champions—a testament to their enduring spirit.
Recent seasons have seen the Bison dominating the NIHL Britton League, sweeping the Division 1 title, Play-Offs, and the National Final Four in 2017/18. Collectively, these achievements embody the heart and determination that have defined the Basingstoke Bison across generations, inspiring both players and supporters as they look forward to new chapters ahead.
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