OldTimeHockeyUK Podcast

André Malo Podcast Interview – Episode S4E10 André Malo is today’s hockey hero from the past. He first arrived from Canada in the fall of 1986 when he spent a season with the Ayr Bruins. In total André had a career that spanned 15 seasons in the UK. He went on to ice for the...

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Today's hockey hero from the past is André Malo, one of the most respected defencemen of his era and a true servant of British ice hockey.

Arriving from Canada in 1986, André went on to enjoy a remarkable 15-season UK career, icing for the Ayr Bruins, Cleveland Bombers, Nottingham Panthers, Sheffield Steelers and Newcastle Vipers. After gaining his British passport in 1993, he proudly represented Great Britain, earning 32 senior international caps.

André's UK journey began in Ayr during a turbulent season marked by coaching changes and playoff disappointment. A late change of plans saw him move south to the Cleveland Bombers, a decision that would shape the rest of his career. With Cleveland he experienced promotion, relegation, and a dramatic reprieve, later stepping up as player-coach during a hugely successful 1989–90 campaign.

A move to the Nottingham Panthers followed in 1993, culminating in a memorable but painful Wembley Playoff semi-final defeat. André then returned "home" to Teesside before serious financial issues and a back injury temporarily forced him away from the game.

Fully recovered, André joined the Sheffield Steelers for the 1995–96 season, becoming part of one of the most dominant teams in UK hockey history. That year brought a Grand Slam, including a dramatic Wembley Playoff Final victory decided by penalty shots — with André scoring first against his former club.

In total, André spent five seasons with the Steelers, playing 286 games and winning six major trophies. He later returned briefly with the Newcastle Vipers before finally retiring from the game.

Now settled in Stockton-on-Tees, André works as a teacher and enjoys golf — but his legacy as one of the game's most reliable leaders remains firmly intact.

Thanks for the memories, André.

Today's Episode features former NHL forward and SuperLeague star Ed Courtenay, whose career took him from the bright lights of the NHL to some of the biggest stages in UK ice hockey.

Born in Montreal, Ed's NHL journey began in unusual fashion when the Minnesota North Stars discovered him by chance during a junior game. Although he never iced for Minnesota, strong seasons in the IHL eventually led to his NHL debut with the San Jose Sharks. Over two seasons in San Jose, Ed scored 7 goals and added 13 assists, including his first NHL goal against his hometown Montreal Canadiens.

After several more seasons in North America's minor leagues, Ed crossed the Atlantic in 1997 to join the Sheffield Steelers. Impressed by the Sheffield Arena and its fanbase, he spent three seasons with the club, finishing as SuperLeague Player of the Season in his final year after leading the league in goals and points. Despite consistent cup success, league glory narrowly eluded the Steelers during his time there.

Ed then moved north to the Ayr Scottish Eagles, reuniting with close friend Tony Hand. His second season in Ayr proved memorable as the Eagles finished league runners-up and stunned the Belfast Giants 5–0 on their own ice to lift the Challenge Cup.

After a brief return to North America, Ed returned to the UK as player-coach of the Belfast Giants. In his first season he led the club to an Elite League Championship, aided by the signing of NHL star Theo Fleury. Further spells followed with the Newcastle Vipers and Manchester Phoenix before Ed retired at the end of the 2009–10 season.

Today, Ed lives with his family in Charleston, South Carolina — his legacy firmly secured on both sides of the Atlantic.

Ed Courtenay Podcast Interview – Episode S4E09 Ed Courtenay, my guest for episode 9, is a former NHL goal scoring forward for the San Jose Sharks. In 1997 he iced for the SuperLeague’s  Sheffield Steelers, later moving to the Ayr Scottish Eagles. After returning home to North America for 3 seasons he began a new...

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Jim Mollard Podcast IntervIew – Episode S4E08 Jim Mollard hails from Stonewall, Manitoba in Canada. Before signing for the Murrayfield Racers he’d spent the previous 2 seasons in the Edmonton Oilers farm system. Racers British forward, Tony Hand, had met Jim whilst trying out at an Oilers training camp a few years earlier. So, when...

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In 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.

Dave Whistle Podcast IntervIew – Episode S4E07 Dave Whistle spent a total of 16 seasons playing and coaching in the UK. This included 7 seasons as a player and 9 seasons as head coach. Success followed as Dave lead both the Bracknell Bees and the Belfast Giants to SuperLeague League Championships. He also coached the...

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This Episode features one of the most successful coaches in UK ice hockey history — Dave Whistle. Over a 16-season UK career, Dave spent seven seasons as a player and nine as a head coach, leading both the Bracknell Bees and the Belfast Giants to SuperLeague League Championships, and guiding the Giants to a Playoff Championship as well.

A graduate of the University of Brandon in Manitoba, Dave arrived in the UK in 1991 to join the Billingham Bombers. Despite finishing as the team's top scorer with 48 goals and 62 assists in just 36 games, he was surprisingly released and went on to ice for Romford, Basingstoke and Telford, gaining valuable experience across both Division 1 and the Premier Division.

Dave's career took a defining turn when he joined the Bracknell Bees. Following the creation of the Ice Hockey SuperLeague, he stepped into coaching and, in 1998–99, became head coach. Just one season later, Dave led the Bees to a remarkable SuperLeague League Championship, finishing above the sport's wealthiest clubs.

In 2000, Dave accepted the challenge of becoming the first-ever head coach of the Belfast Giants — a brand new franchise with no arena, no roster and no fanbase. Against all odds, he built a competitive team and a passionate following, with the Giants selling out their first home game. The following season Belfast captured their first SuperLeague title after a 16-game unbeaten run, and in 2003 Dave added a SuperLeague Playoff Championship to his growing list of honours.

Following the collapse of the SuperLeague, Dave coached in Germany and later returned to the UK with Cardiff Devils and Sheffield Steelers before heading back to Canada. Now coaching with the Okanagan Hockey Academy, Dave remains one of the most influential figures in the modern history of UK ice hockey.

Barry Nieckar Podcast IntervIew – Episode S4E06 Barry Nieckar, former London Knights and Nottingham Panthers Enforcer is my guest on todays show. He spent the majority of his hockey career playing in North America, in the AHL, IHL and ECHL. Barry also had 8 games in the NHL, icing for the Hartford Whalers, Calgary Flames...

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Former London Knights and Nottingham Panthers enforcer Barry Nieckar joins the show to reflect on a career built on toughness, resilience and respect.

A veteran of the AHL, IHL and ECHL, Barry also earned eight NHL appearances with the Hartford Whalers, Calgary Flames and Anaheim Mighty Ducks. Now based in Edmonton, he explains how his role naturally evolved into that of an enforcer and why he believes the NHL remains the toughest league.

Barry's UK journey began with the London Knights in 1999, arriving late after months of contractual limbo and debuting on Boxing Day. Despite the disruption, the season ended in success as the Knights won the SuperLeague Playoffs, earning Barry his first UK silverware.

In 2000 he moved to the Nottingham Panthers during their first season at the National Ice Centre. While results disappointed, the year produced one of UK hockey's most infamous moments — the "Battle of Lower Parliament Street" against Sheffield on 9 February 2001. A bench-clearing brawl led to 471 penalty minutes, mass ejections and worldwide headlines.

Barry later shared a dressing room with former rival Scott Allison, proving that fierce rivalries can end in respect. After three seasons in Nottingham, he retired and returned to Canada, now working in the oil and gas industry.

Thanks for the memories, Barry.