December 8, 2022

On Saturday December 10th, it will have been one thousand days since the last game was played on Deeside ice.

Since March 2020, the Aspray Chester Deeside Dragons have missed two seasons of play in the NIHL North Divisions, and now, after starting the season with 7 away games, they are preparing to make their home debut this weekend against the Nottingham Lions. The Dragons, GM Shaun Bebbington, and a host of volunteers have been working every day for six months to rebuild their team.

“I can’t describe how excited we are to have hockey back in Deeside. On behalf of everyone at the club we would like to thank our sponsors and supporters for their patience. It’s hard to believe Saturday will be exactly one thousand days since we were all together in The Den. The game Saturday is going to be one massive celebration. It’s time to kick on and rebuild this club to the best it’s ever been!” said GM Shaun Bebbington.

Almost every player from that final March 2020 game left Deeside to find ice time elsewhere. But now the core players have returned, along with some new and exciting players originally from Deeside like Andy McKinney and Ross Kennedy, as well as an import player in Czech-born Petr Valusiak. The Clancy brothers are also returning to Deeside where they started their careers, serving as head coach and goalie coach.

There are still plenty of familiar faces though, like Deeside-born Captain James Parsons, Alternate Captain Matt Wainwright, and Player-Coach Marc Lovell, who have all missed the Den and its fans as much as the fans have missed them.

Head Coach Mike Clancy commented, “I think it’s amazing what we’ve achieved so far. I think so much work has gone into getting this team off the ground. So far this year we’ve had a lot of heartbreak and delays in the rink, it’s time to get back to home ice. It’s a thousand days since we played here last, this coming Saturday, and it’s a huge landmark for us.”

The Aspray Chester Deeside Dragons will be taking the ice at 3pm on Saturday. Tickets can be bought in advance on the rink website.

The Dragons would like to thank old fans for their patience and support, and can’t wait to welcome new fans to Deeside hockey.