Sheffield Bears
Encyclopedia
The Sheffield Bears are a university ice hockey club from Sheffield, England who have teams in BUIHA divisions 1, 2 and 3. They were formed in 2004 and play their home games at iceSheffield
. The teams leading sponsor is Walkabout
Sheffield. The club are also sponsored by Aston Hotels. The Bears are currently Division 2 Southern Conference Play-Off Champions and National Play-Off Runner Ups, and Division 1 National Champions.
The Bears, like several other member clubs of the BUIHA, are made up of players, 1st year alumni and staff from more than one higher education establishment. Most of the players are affiliated with either The University of Sheffield
or Sheffield Hallam University
, although current and previous Bears teams have included players from Lincoln University
and Barnsley College
, amongst others. Once a year, a Varsity Game
is played as the showpiece game of the inter-university Winter Varsity cup between the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University.
The clubs website is http://www.sheffieldbears.com
series between the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University. The Match is traditionally the finale of the Winter Varsity series, taking place in February alongside Skiing and Snowboarding.
In previous years this has been held at IceSheffield but in 2010 this match was played at the Hallam FM Arena
in front of a crowd of 4000 spectators. This made the 2010 the largest varsity sport event ever hosted by the Sheffield universities, and second only to that of the Nottingham Mavericks in terms of numbers.
Sheffield Hallam University are the current Ice Hockey Varsity champions, as well as Winter Varsity champions overall for the first time having won the 2010 varsity match 7-4.
The Sheffield Bears C Team were also crowned as BUIHA Division 3 Northern Champions after an unbeaten run in their division. The C team traveled to Cardiff, who won the Division 3 Southern Championship, in the Division 3 'Cup Competition' Final. However the Bears were comprehensively beaten 10-4, after being 9-1 down after 2 periods, the Bears began a comeback where they clawed the game back to 9-4 within the first 10 minutes, however they eventually lost the game.
The B team finished behind the Manchester Metros
in their regular season, and had high hopes of making the playoffs, however, somewhat controversially, they missed out on going through as the highest points scoring runners up to Cardiff. The controversy arose because of the perceived underhand manner in which the Bears had been forced to forfeit a game away to the Huddersfield Ice Hawks. According to the Bears Executive Committee, advanced notice had been given to the Ice Hawks that the proposed fixture date was unsuitable as it was the date of the hotly contested Winter Varsity showpiece game. A subsequent assertion from the Hawks that an alternative date would be found was made but not acted upon, causing the Bears to ultimately miss out and the Hawks register their sole win of the season. The B team fared relatively well at the National Championships, progressing from the group stages before being defeated 2-1 by the Imperial College Devils against the run of play.
The A team had a quiet season, suffering from low attendance and despite being regarded as the most deep and talented tier 1 side the Bears had ever produced, failed to make any real impression at the National Championships, not even progressing from the group stages.
The C team finished just behind the much-fancied Nottingham Mavericks C team. The post season National Championship run started well but ended in the semi-final against Nottingham, being beaten by a last minute goal.
The B team again finished second to Manchester, but level on points, with only 4 goals separating the two teams, in Manchester's favour. Finishing second, due to a restructuring of the playoff format in tier 2, enabled the B-team to progress into the playoff rounds drawing the previous year's antagonists the Imperial College Devils. However, due to the inability of the Devils to ice a team, the B's advanced to the Southern Conference Playoff Final unchallenged. The Nottingham Mavericks were the opponents in this game, the Bears, with a home-ice advantage produced a masterful display to beat the Mavs 4-0. Inevitably, the opponents in the final were the Manchester Metros A team. After a less than impressive first two periods the Bears trailed 2-0 going into the third, and despite a much better display, the team tasted second place yet again, finishing 2-1 to the Metros.
The A team placed behind the Newcastle Wildcats
rounded up a somewhat inconsistent season with their own playoff run. However, unlike the B team they fell at the first hurdle, away to a determined and well organised Nottingham A team. This only spurred the team on, with them going on to win the 2010 Tier 1 national Championships, defeating Nottingham in the final.
The club competed in the annual Winter Varsity competition, with players splitting into their respective University teams for one day only. Ice Hockey offered 1 point to whichever University could win the game towards their Varsity total. The night before at the Sheffield Ski Village, the Universities contested in Skiing and Snowboarding, and the event was tied at 2-2, meaning the Ice Hockey would be the deciding event. In its short history, the Sheffield University had never lost the Winter Varsity competition, but Sheffield Hallam had never lost the Ice Hockey, so something would have to give. Sheffield Hallam ran out eventual 7-4 winners in a memorable day with the game being held at the 8500 capacity Sheffield Arena in front of a crowd of 4000.
The club also hosted its premier Old Bears Vs. Newbies game, which was played between a Sheffield Bears Alumni select squad and current club members. Both teams were composed of players of various levels of skill, and the current Bears team emerged victorious in a high scoring contest. The game was played after the club's annual dinner and awards night.
IceSheffield
IceSheffield is an ice arena in the Lower Don Valley, Sheffield, England. It was completed in May 2003 at a cost of £15 million. It consists of two Olympic-size ice rinks with seating for 1,500 people...
. The teams leading sponsor is Walkabout
Walkabout
The walkabout is a purported Australian aboriginal ritual of manhood.Walkabout may also refer to:- Art :*Walkabout , a 1959 book written by James Vance Marshall, set in the Australian outback...
Sheffield. The club are also sponsored by Aston Hotels. The Bears are currently Division 2 Southern Conference Play-Off Champions and National Play-Off Runner Ups, and Division 1 National Champions.
The Bears, like several other member clubs of the BUIHA, are made up of players, 1st year alumni and staff from more than one higher education establishment. Most of the players are affiliated with either The University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
or Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam University is a higher education institution in South Yorkshire, England, based on two sites in Sheffield. City Campus is located in the city centre, close to Sheffield railway station, and Collegiate Crescent Campus is about two miles away, adjacent to Ecclesall Road in...
, although current and previous Bears teams have included players from Lincoln University
University of Lincoln
The University of Lincoln is an English university founded in 1992, with origins tracing back to the foundation and association with the Hull School of Art 1861....
and Barnsley College
Barnsley College
Barnsley College is a further education college just outside the town centre of Barnsley, England. It has several campuses: Eastgate House, the Falcon Centre, the SciTech Centre, Old Mill Lane Site, Construction Centre Site, Bell Vue and the Honeywell Centre...
, amongst others. Once a year, a Varsity Game
Varsity match
A varsity match is a sporting fixture between two university rivals; in its original and most common form, it is used to describe meetings between Oxford University and Cambridge University.-Popular British and Irish Varsity matches:*University of Oxford v...
is played as the showpiece game of the inter-university Winter Varsity cup between the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University.
The clubs website is http://www.sheffieldbears.com
Winter Varsity
Ice Hockey is one of the 30 sports contested in the VarsityVarsity match
A varsity match is a sporting fixture between two university rivals; in its original and most common form, it is used to describe meetings between Oxford University and Cambridge University.-Popular British and Irish Varsity matches:*University of Oxford v...
series between the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University. The Match is traditionally the finale of the Winter Varsity series, taking place in February alongside Skiing and Snowboarding.
In previous years this has been held at IceSheffield but in 2010 this match was played at the Hallam FM Arena
Hallam FM Arena
Motorpoint Arena Sheffield is an arena in Sheffield, England. It is situated near Rotherham, Sheffield City Centre, Attercliffe, Meadowhall and the Centertainment and is the premier concert venue for Yorkshire.The arena opened as Sheffield Arena and was renamed Hallam FM Arena, but returned to its...
in front of a crowd of 4000 spectators. This made the 2010 the largest varsity sport event ever hosted by the Sheffield universities, and second only to that of the Nottingham Mavericks in terms of numbers.
Sheffield Hallam University are the current Ice Hockey Varsity champions, as well as Winter Varsity champions overall for the first time having won the 2010 varsity match 7-4.
2008/2009
During the 2008/09 season the Sheffield Bears fell just short of all three National Play-Offs, finishing as runners up in all divisions.The Sheffield Bears C Team were also crowned as BUIHA Division 3 Northern Champions after an unbeaten run in their division. The C team traveled to Cardiff, who won the Division 3 Southern Championship, in the Division 3 'Cup Competition' Final. However the Bears were comprehensively beaten 10-4, after being 9-1 down after 2 periods, the Bears began a comeback where they clawed the game back to 9-4 within the first 10 minutes, however they eventually lost the game.
The B team finished behind the Manchester Metros
Manchester Metros
The Manchester Metros are the ice and inline hockey teams for Manchester Universities, including the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University....
in their regular season, and had high hopes of making the playoffs, however, somewhat controversially, they missed out on going through as the highest points scoring runners up to Cardiff. The controversy arose because of the perceived underhand manner in which the Bears had been forced to forfeit a game away to the Huddersfield Ice Hawks. According to the Bears Executive Committee, advanced notice had been given to the Ice Hawks that the proposed fixture date was unsuitable as it was the date of the hotly contested Winter Varsity showpiece game. A subsequent assertion from the Hawks that an alternative date would be found was made but not acted upon, causing the Bears to ultimately miss out and the Hawks register their sole win of the season. The B team fared relatively well at the National Championships, progressing from the group stages before being defeated 2-1 by the Imperial College Devils against the run of play.
The A team had a quiet season, suffering from low attendance and despite being regarded as the most deep and talented tier 1 side the Bears had ever produced, failed to make any real impression at the National Championships, not even progressing from the group stages.
2009/2010
The 2009/2010 season was again widely successful for all three Bears squads, who each finished in second place in their respective tables.The C team finished just behind the much-fancied Nottingham Mavericks C team. The post season National Championship run started well but ended in the semi-final against Nottingham, being beaten by a last minute goal.
The B team again finished second to Manchester, but level on points, with only 4 goals separating the two teams, in Manchester's favour. Finishing second, due to a restructuring of the playoff format in tier 2, enabled the B-team to progress into the playoff rounds drawing the previous year's antagonists the Imperial College Devils. However, due to the inability of the Devils to ice a team, the B's advanced to the Southern Conference Playoff Final unchallenged. The Nottingham Mavericks were the opponents in this game, the Bears, with a home-ice advantage produced a masterful display to beat the Mavs 4-0. Inevitably, the opponents in the final were the Manchester Metros A team. After a less than impressive first two periods the Bears trailed 2-0 going into the third, and despite a much better display, the team tasted second place yet again, finishing 2-1 to the Metros.
The A team placed behind the Newcastle Wildcats
Newcastle Wildcats
The Newcastle Wildcats are a university ice hockey team representing Newcastle University in the United Kingdom. The Wildcats are a member club of the British Universities Ice Hockey Association and ice three teams across all three tiers of UK university competition...
rounded up a somewhat inconsistent season with their own playoff run. However, unlike the B team they fell at the first hurdle, away to a determined and well organised Nottingham A team. This only spurred the team on, with them going on to win the 2010 Tier 1 national Championships, defeating Nottingham in the final.
The club competed in the annual Winter Varsity competition, with players splitting into their respective University teams for one day only. Ice Hockey offered 1 point to whichever University could win the game towards their Varsity total. The night before at the Sheffield Ski Village, the Universities contested in Skiing and Snowboarding, and the event was tied at 2-2, meaning the Ice Hockey would be the deciding event. In its short history, the Sheffield University had never lost the Winter Varsity competition, but Sheffield Hallam had never lost the Ice Hockey, so something would have to give. Sheffield Hallam ran out eventual 7-4 winners in a memorable day with the game being held at the 8500 capacity Sheffield Arena in front of a crowd of 4000.
The club also hosted its premier Old Bears Vs. Newbies game, which was played between a Sheffield Bears Alumni select squad and current club members. Both teams were composed of players of various levels of skill, and the current Bears team emerged victorious in a high scoring contest. The game was played after the club's annual dinner and awards night.