Trent Kaese Podcast Interview
OldTimeHockeyUK Podcast
In this episode, Ken is joined by former Buffalo Sabres draft pick Trent Casey, a familiar name to UK fans from his time with the Peterborough Pirates, Milton Keynes Kings, and later Blackburn. Trent looks back to his early days growing up in Nanaimo, British Columbia, juggling soccer and hockey before committing fully to life on the ice. He recalls the build-up to the 1985 NHL Draft, being selected by Buffalo, and the surreal experience of attending NHL camp—highlighted by an unforgettable conversation with legendary coach Scotty Bowman. The conversation also covers one of hockey’s...
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Kenny Macdonald Podcast Interview
OldTimeHockeyUK Podcast
Ken is joined by Kenny Macdonald — one of British hockey’s most colourful 1980s characters and a true product of Scottish ice sports royalty. The son of former Scottish ice skating champion Jill Patterson, Kenny was on skates by the age of three, growing up in Aviemore’s winter-sports playground where skating, skiing, and mischief shaped a natural athlete. Kenny reflects on his early senior hockey with the Aviemore Blackhawks before making a bold move south in 1981 to join the Nottingham Panthers. He vividly recalls the culture shock of his Panthers debut — overnight train journeys,...
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Wayne Crawford Podcast Interview
OldTimeHockeyUK Podcast
Wayne Crawford, better known as “Reggie”, joins Ken Abbott to relive a 13-season UK career full of big characters, passionate fans, and unforgettable moments. From junior hockey at Maple Leaf Gardens, being drafted by the Detroit Red Wings (1980), and an agonising near-miss NHL debut, Wayne reflects on early highs and hard lessons—including a Team Canada stint and a surreal “almost high-five with a monkey” story in Russia. His UK journey begins at Peterborough Pirates, where he falls in love with the crowds, Animal Corner, and a famous 7–7 comeback vs Durham. After a turbulent...
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Shayne McCosh Podcast Interview
OldTimeHockeyUK Podcast
Former Bracknell Bees and Sheffield Steelers defenceman Shane McCosh joins the show to share remarkable behind-the-scenes stories from his career in UK hockey. From loaning a team owner £25,000 to help cover player wages, to needing 12 stitches on a road trip before even stepping off the team coach, Shane offers a brutally honest look at life as a pro. Growing up in a hockey-mad Canadian family, Shane’s early development was shaped on backyard ice rinks, eventually leading to AHL and ECHL opportunities before a surprise call from Bracknell Bees head coach Jim Fuyarchuk changed his path —...
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Chris Norton Podcast Interview
OldTimeHockeyUK Podcast
Canadian-born defenceman Chris Norton is the latest Old Time Hockey UK guest, sharing stories from a six-year UK hockey journey that began after an NHL-drafted career spent mainly in the AHL and IHL. A chance conversation in Phoenix — helped by family ties to Manchester — led to his first UK move with the Ayr Raiders in 1992. Chris’s UK career quickly became a lesson in survival as teams folded around him. Ayr Raiders collapsed weeks into the season, followed by a short stint with Billingham Bombers, before he found a longer home with the Durham Wasps. There, he experienced fierce...
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Gary Newbon Podcast Interview
OldTimeHockeyUK Podcast
In this episode, Ken Abbott is joined by Gary Newbon—legendary broadcaster, journalist, and former Solihull Barons owner, best known to viewers from Central TV and Sky Sports. Gary traces his broadcasting career from Westward TV to ATV, becoming a leading Midlands sports reporter before rising to Controller of Sport as ATV rebranded to Central TV in 1982. That same year, a chance encounter involving a broken washing machine led Gary to Solihull Barons—and into ice hockey ownership. With crowds of barely 50 and no imports, Gary took over a struggling Division Two club and sparked what...
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David Simms Podcast Interview Part 2
OldTimeHockeyUK Podcast
In Part 2 of our Series 5 interview, David Simms continues his incredible Sheffield Steelers story. A key figure in the club’s formation, David reflects on 30 years of dedication — still making the 180-mile round trip from Solihull to Sheffield Arena to this day. A born storyteller, David revisits one of the most infamous nights in British ice hockey history: Friday 9 February 2001, the Battle of Lower Parliament Street. With the Steelers on the brink of securing the SuperLeague title in Nottingham, chaos erupted in a game that has since become legendary. David also shares...
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David Simms Podcast Interview Part 1
OldTimeHockeyUK Podcast
In Part 1 of our Series 5 interview, David Simms recounts how a chance visit to an ice rink in the mid-1980s sparked a lifelong love affair with ice hockey. From discovering the sport at Solihull Barons, David rose from fan to committee member and team manager before finding himself at the heart of a defining moment in British hockey history — the birth of the Sheffield Steelers in 1991. David shares candid stories from his Barons days, including firing imports, the truth behind Brent Sapergia’s sudden departure, Jim Pennycook’s injury, the collapse of the Barons and even receiving...
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Jamie Crapper Podcast Interview
OldTimeHockeyUK Podcast
This episode features former Durham Wasps, Nottingham Panthers, Solihull Barons, Bracknell Bees and Great Britain goal-scoring star Jamie Crapper. Jamie charts an extraordinary UK hockey journey — from prolific import with the Durham Wasps, league and cup winner, to key roles at Nottingham, Solihull and Bracknell. He discusses becoming player-coach under pressure, guiding teams to promotion and survival, and balancing elite playing duties with off-ice roles as a manager and rink operator. After hanging up his skates, Jamie played a major part in developing hockey in Bristol, helping...
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Moray Hanson Podcast Interview
OldTimeHockeyUK Podcast
Today’s hockey hero is former Murrayfield Racers, Fife Flyers and Dumfries Border Vikings netminder Moray Hanson — one of British ice hockey’s true legends. Moray was Great Britain’s first-choice goalie at the 1994 World Cup Pool A Championships, before going on to achieve something no other Brit ever has: officiating at six consecutive World Championships. From backstopping the Racers to domestic silverware and unforgettable Wembley appearances, to a brief but headline-grabbing move to Fife Flyers, Moray’s playing career was packed with drama, rivalry and success. After hanging...
info_outlineIn this episode Ken chat with Jim Mollard, a hard-nosed Canadian forward from Stonewall, Manitoba, whose UK hockey career produced some of the most dramatic moments of the late 1980s and early ’90s.
Before arriving in Edinburgh, Jim had spent two seasons in the Edmonton Oilers farm system. Disillusioned with life in the minors, he accepted an offer from Murrayfield Racers after a recommendation from Tony Hand, whom he’d met at an Oilers training camp.
Joining the Racers for the 1989–90 season, Jim became part of one of the most talented British-based line-ups of the era. UK hockey proved very different from Canada — longer shifts, heavier minutes and a far more physical edge. Jim even played through a broken jaw after a fight in Solihull, missing six weeks before returning just in time for the Norwich Union Cup Final.
Fully fit, Jim played a key role in Murrayfield’s 10–4 Cup Final win over the Durham Wasps, contributing 1 goal and 2 assists and helping remove Wasps star Rick Brebant from the game. The Racers then embarked on another famous Wembley run, with Jim scoring the dramatic late winner against Nottingham Panthers in the semi-final.
The 1990 Wembley Playoff Final against Cardiff Devils became one of the greatest finals ever played. Jim scored twice as the Racers built an early lead, before a chaotic game, broken plexi-glass delay and marathon penalty shootout eventually handed Cardiff the title.
Jim returned for the 1990–91 season, but financial constraints and roster limitations hampered the Racers. Despite another Norwich Union Cup Final appearance and a Wembley semi-final, the season ended in disappointment. The Racers did, however, retain the Scottish Cup, with Jim again playing a starring role.
At the end of the season, Jim returned to Canada and retired from the game.