Rhys McWilliams
Encyclopedia
Rhys McWilliams is an English
professional ice hockey
player, currently playing with the Coventry Blaze
organisation at ENIHL level. In the year 2000 he began his professional career, making his debut for the Solihull Barons
as a young forward having also featured for their U-19 team, the Solihull Knights. Whilst playing for the Knights, McWilliams managed the astounding total of 55 points in just 17 games. He went on to become much more of a regular for the Barons in the following season and showed enough promise to play for the England U-18 team. McWilliams remained in Solihull through the name and league changes, icing 32 times for the Solihull MK Kings.
During the 2002/03 season, McWilliams also played for another local team, the Birmingham Rockets for just six games, but totalled seven points in this brief spell. McWilliams also made two more appearances for the England U-18 squad.
The 2003/04 season proved to be a season of change for McWilliams. He began the year playing for the Peterborough Phantoms
, but after 27 games was spotted by the EIHL club, the Nottingham Panthers
. This was a big step up for McWilliams, and he played only twice during the rest of the season. The 2004/05 season was again split between the Solihull Kings in the EPL
and the Panthers. During his second spell in Nottingham, McWilliams played in 14 games and managed to grab his first EIHL goal.
McWilliams would continue to split seasons between teams in the EPL and the EIHL - whilst mainly icing for the Solihull Barons, he would also spend time again in Nottingham during 2005/06 and playing for the league-winning Coventry Blaze
in 2006/07.
Seeking consistency, McWilliams moved away from the Midlands area and moved further north to sign for the Manchester Phoenix
, yet another EIHL team. Whist at the Phoenix, McWilliams was re-united with his former Barons team-mate, Nick Whyatt
. In his time at the Altrincham Ice Dome, McWilliams was mainly used as an energy player on the third line. Despite playing in over 40 games for the Phoenix, McWilliams was released from his Manchester contract by head coach Tony Hand in February 2008.
After being released, McWilliams would return to Coventry, and in the summer of 2008 would once again play for the Coventry Blaze organisation, although this time at ENIHL level.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player, currently playing with the Coventry Blaze
Coventry Blaze
Coventry Blaze are an ice hockey team based in Coventry, England. They currently compete in the British Elite Ice Hockey League .-Club history:...
organisation at ENIHL level. In the year 2000 he began his professional career, making his debut for the Solihull Barons
Solihull Barons
Solihull Barons are an English ice hockey team from the town of Solihull who play at Solihull Ice Rink on Hobbs Moat Road. They were formed in 2005, although they are named after the team of the same name who played at the same ice rink between 1972 and 1996...
as a young forward having also featured for their U-19 team, the Solihull Knights. Whilst playing for the Knights, McWilliams managed the astounding total of 55 points in just 17 games. He went on to become much more of a regular for the Barons in the following season and showed enough promise to play for the England U-18 team. McWilliams remained in Solihull through the name and league changes, icing 32 times for the Solihull MK Kings.
During the 2002/03 season, McWilliams also played for another local team, the Birmingham Rockets for just six games, but totalled seven points in this brief spell. McWilliams also made two more appearances for the England U-18 squad.
The 2003/04 season proved to be a season of change for McWilliams. He began the year playing for the Peterborough Phantoms
Peterborough Phantoms
The Peterborough Phantoms are a British ice hockey team.The Peterborough Phantoms ice hockey club was founded in 2002. It replaced the former city based team, the Peterborough Pirates, and plays in the same Ice Arena...
, but after 27 games was spotted by the EIHL club, the Nottingham Panthers
Nottingham Panthers
The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League...
. This was a big step up for McWilliams, and he played only twice during the rest of the season. The 2004/05 season was again split between the Solihull Kings in the EPL
English Premier Ice Hockey League
The English Premier Ice Hockey League commonly abbreviated to EPIHL, or simply EPL, is a senior ice hockey league in England, and is run and administered by the English Ice Hockey Association...
and the Panthers. During his second spell in Nottingham, McWilliams played in 14 games and managed to grab his first EIHL goal.
McWilliams would continue to split seasons between teams in the EPL and the EIHL - whilst mainly icing for the Solihull Barons, he would also spend time again in Nottingham during 2005/06 and playing for the league-winning Coventry Blaze
Coventry Blaze
Coventry Blaze are an ice hockey team based in Coventry, England. They currently compete in the British Elite Ice Hockey League .-Club history:...
in 2006/07.
Seeking consistency, McWilliams moved away from the Midlands area and moved further north to sign for the Manchester Phoenix
Manchester Phoenix
Manchester Phoenix are a professional ice hockey team from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England. The club was formed in 2003 as a result of the efforts of supporters group Friends of Manchester Ice Hockey to bring top-level ice hockey back to Manchester after Manchester Storm folded in...
, yet another EIHL team. Whist at the Phoenix, McWilliams was re-united with his former Barons team-mate, Nick Whyatt
Nick Whyatt
Nick Whyatt is an English professional ice hockey player, currently playing for the ENIHL team of the Coventry Blaze organisation. In 2002 he began his career, lining up for his local team, the Nottingham Lions, playing 25 times at ENIL level...
. In his time at the Altrincham Ice Dome, McWilliams was mainly used as an energy player on the third line. Despite playing in over 40 games for the Phoenix, McWilliams was released from his Manchester contract by head coach Tony Hand in February 2008.
After being released, McWilliams would return to Coventry, and in the summer of 2008 would once again play for the Coventry Blaze organisation, although this time at ENIHL level.
External links
- Phoenix Release McWilliams, Manchester Phoenix Official Website.