OldTimeHockeyUK Podcast

Tim Cranston Podcast Interview Episode S4E05 Welcome back to Part Two – The Sheffield Years. It was the summer of 1993 when Team GB and Sheffield head coach Coach Alex Dampier invited Tim to join his Sheffield Steelers team.   If you haven’t already listened to Part One, The Tim Cranston Interview – The Early Years,...

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Tim Cranston — Part Two

Part Two picks up Tim Cranston's story at the very top of UK ice hockey. In 1993, Alex Dampier invited Tim to join the Sheffield Steelers, beginning a five-season spell that helped redefine the British game. Balancing hockey with a law degree at York University, Tim became a cornerstone of a Steelers team on the rise.

After the pain of a 12–1 Wembley Playoff Final defeat to Cardiff in his first season, Sheffield responded in style—winning a League and Playoff double, clinching the league title on Nottingham Panthers' ice and gaining Wembley revenge over the Devils.

The following season delivered a Grand Slam: Benson & Hedges Cup, League Championship and a dramatic penalty-shot Playoff Final win, with Tim uniquely named Man of the Match in three consecutive Wembley Finals.

The launch of the SuperLeague (1996–97) brought more success as Sheffield finished runners-up before again beating Nottingham in the Playoff Final. Tim's final Steelers season ended without silverware, but off the ice he qualified as a lawyer, retiring at 36.

In total, Tim recorded 297 games, 208 goals, 205 assists for Sheffield, plus 32 GB caps. A delayed Canadian law licence led to a short final UK spell with the Edinburgh Capitals, where he fittingly signed off in Scotland with 10 goals and 9 assists in 17 games.

Tim Cranston Podcast Interview – Episode S4E04 – The Early Years. Tim Cranston, former Fife Flyers, Cleveland Bombers, Durham Wasps, Sheffield Steelers, Edinburgh Capitals forward is my guest for today’s show. He also played 39 times for Great Britain as a duel national. Also available, read: The Tim Cranston Blog Post Our interview begins with Tim’s...

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The Early Years

Episode S4E04 explores the early hockey journey of Tim Cranston—former Fife Flyers, Cleveland Bombers, Durham Wasps, Sheffield Steelers and Edinburgh Capitals forward, and a 39-cap Great Britain international.

Tim reflects on his development in Canada before choosing the European route, signing for GIJS Groningen at 21 and spending five seasons across Central Europe in the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland and Germany.

His UK story began unexpectedly in December 1988 with a short-term move to Fife Flyers, producing an immediate impact—19 goals and 15 assists in just seven games. Although released when Fife's injured import returned, his performances turned heads.

In 1989, Tim returned to the UK with the Cleveland Bombers, combining hockey with studies at Durham University. Over two seasons he helped the Bombers win promotion before suffering relegation the following year.

Now holding a British passport, Tim caught the attention of GB coach Alex Dampier. Despite a late registration scare, he represented Great Britain at the 1993 Pool B World Championships, where GB won all eight games, earned promotion to Pool A, and Tim scored three game-winning goals, including a decisive late winner against host nation Holland.

Doug Smail Podcast Interview – Episode S4E03 Doug Smail, former player of the Winnipeg Jets NHL team , Fife Flyers and Cardiff Devils is my guest for the third episode of series 4. NHL Doug had 3 successful seasons at the University of North Dakota. Having found himself not included in the 1980 NHL draft,...

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Former Winnipeg Jets forward Doug Smail joins the show to reflect on a remarkable career that spanned 13 NHL seasons before an unexpected and memorable move to UK ice hockey.

Undrafted in 1980 after three seasons at the University of North Dakota, Doug signed as a free agent with Winnipeg and went on to play 867 NHL regular-season and playoff games, scoring 219 goals. He helped the Jets reach the playoffs eight times, twice making the Smythe Division Finals, and still shares the NHL record for the fastest goal from the opening face-off—just five seconds into a game.

In 1993, Doug stunned the hockey world by moving directly from the NHL to the UK, signing for Fife Flyers. Inspired by his Scottish roots, he helped Fife to their best season in nine years—finishing Heineken League runners-up, reaching the Wembley Playoff Finals, and earning Premier League Player of the Year honours.

After briefly retiring, Doug returned for short spells with Cardiff Devils and Fife Flyers, enjoying European competition and derby victories. A final season with Cardiff in 1996 capped off an extraordinary career before he finally hung up his skates.

S4E02 Greg Hadden Podcast Interview In the second episode of series 4, I talk with former Nottingham Panthers legend and goal scoring forward Greg Hadden. Greg played 7 seasons with the Panthers, icing a total of 377 games and scoring 167 goals along the way. Before delving into Greg’s career we talk about his recent...

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Episode two of Series 4 features Nottingham Panthers legend Greg Hadden, one of the club's most prolific goal scorers. Greg spent seven seasons in Nottingham, playing 377 games and scoring 167 goals, cementing his place in Panthers history.

Greg opens with an update on recent shoulder surgery, before reflecting on his hockey journey from street hockey in Vancouver to junior, college hockey, and a lifelong friendship with Steve Carpenter.

Arriving in Nottingham in 1996 at the dawn of the SuperLeague era, Greg quickly became a fan favourite. His Panthers career included iconic moments such as the 115-minute Playoff semi-final vs Ayr Scottish Eagles—the longest game in UK history—and involvement in the infamous "Battle of Lower Parliament Street" against Sheffield in 2001.

On the ice, Greg was a multiple award winner, SuperLeague top goal scorer (1998–99), holds the league record for most goals in a single game, and scored several landmark goals for the Panthers.

Injuries forced his retirement in 2003, but the club honoured him by retiring his number 11 jersey. Today, Greg lives in British Columbia, working as a firefighter and enjoying family life.

Peter “Jonker” Johnson – Episode S4E01 Welcome to the first episode of Series 4. In today’s show I interview an absolute legend of British Ice Hockey. Peter or Jonker, as most hockey folk know him, enjoyed a career spanning five decades. Durham Wasps When he was 10 years old, Jonker was taken to his first...

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Series 4 opens with a true giant of British ice hockey, Peter "Jonker" Johnson—player, coach, mentor and innovator whose influence spanned five decades.

Introduced to the game at Durham Ice Rink aged 10, Jonker rose through the junior ranks and debuted for the Durham Wasps at just 16. He reflects on the realities of hockey in the 1960s and '70s—no helmets, heavy kit, fierce rivalries and the unique culture of Durham.

A key figure in the Wasps' glory years, Jonker later became head coach, leading Durham to the 1985–86 League Championship and earning Coach of the Year honours. One of his proudest moments saw three generations share the scoresheet: "Goal by Johnson, assisted by Johnson and Johnson."

Inducted into the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame (1989), Jonker went on to transform the Humberside Seahawks, guiding them to Division One titles, promotion, Wembley appearances and sustained top-level success. He later focused on junior development, winning multiple youth championships, and served with Great Britain as a senior and junior international coach.

In 2015, Jonker was fittingly named "Coaches Coach of the Century", a perfect reflection of his lasting legacy in British ice hockey.