BY NIGHT Oxford City Stars take to the surface at Oxford Ice Rink, tearing down all heavily-padded players standing in their way.

But by day, the 20-strong ice hockey team put their on-ice rivalries to one side and attempt to juggle full-time jobs and busy family lives.

Salesmen, architects, carpenters, electricians, pilots and window fitters unite every week for training sessions and games.

What’s more, none of them are paid for their sporting endeavours, which have seen them rise to the National Ice Hockey League Division 1.

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Player and head coach Darren Elliott has been playing ice hockey for more than 20 years after first stepping on to the rink at the age of 10.

The father-of-four from Chipping Norton spends his day as a self-employed plasterer before joining his team-mates.

The 34-year-old, who skates on ice with blades 10mm deep and 2mm thick, said: “It’s difficult, it’s busy.

“Some weeks we have a couple of guys missing. Especially on the weekend, it’s hard to get a full- strength squad together.

“It is a juggling act and we have to make the most of the time we have.

“But it is the best feeling in the world when you are playing with your friends. Although it’s really important to achieve, we see it as a social thing.

“We are more or less an Oxford born and bred team and we are a close-knit group of friends. We all bounce off each other and play for each other.”

For goaltender James Skaife, 27, juggling life on the ice with his job as a design engineer can be difficult, particularly after getting home from training at 1am and waking up for work at 6am.

But despite the unsociable hours, as well as having to don protective gear weighing up to 30kg, Mr Skaife said the love of the game spurs him on each time.

Mr Skaife, from Wantage, added: “It’s not the easiest thing but if you want to play hockey, you have to put up with it.

“It’s nice to get out there. We all like playing hockey and we all like playing it together.”

Captain James Clarke splits his time between his job as director of office supplier The Red Corner and fatherhood to four-year-old Bella.

Mr Clarke, from Cassington, said: “It’s a struggle because it’s time consuming. For me with a small child, it’s a juggling act because you have to make sure you are looking after her as much as you are looking after yourself.

“You have to put her down and asleep before you can think about disappearing. It’s tough but you have to work it out.”

Each week, fans flock in their hundreds to the Oxpens Road ice arena, which has been home to the team since it began competing in 1984.

Up to 300 people can turn up to cheer on the Oxford City Stars, but it’s a crowd often dictated by football fixtures, with a notable drop in numbers when a big match is on.

Poised for frosty encounters between players, as well as scuffles and brawls on the ice, visitors remain gripped to their seats throughout the 60 minutes.

But the fast-paced, adrenaline-fuelled sport, which sees hockey pucks flash across the ice at 80mph, has failed to reach a level playing field with the country’s love of football.

Mr Skaife, who spent two years playing hockey in Canada and America, said: “Ice hockey in Canada is like football over here.

“It’s their national sport so everything revolves around it, but over here not as many people know about it.

“It’s just not as big.”

ALL ABOUT THE SPORT

  • Ice hockey was first played in England in the 19th century.
  • London-born ice hockey player Major Bethune Minet Patton, known as Peter, is often credited with bringing the support to the country.
  • He was founder and the first president of the sport’s governing body, the British Ice Hockey Association.
  • The first game between Oxford and Cambridge was held on March 16, 1900, where Oxford won 7-6.
  • Great Britain have won a total of four medals while competing in the Winter Olympics, first winning a bronze medal in 1924.

ALL ABOUT THE STARS

  • Oxford City Stars won the Midlands Section of the British League Division 2 in 1984-1985.
  • They continued their success during the 1990-91 season, becoming English Division 1 Champions, and then again during the 1995-1996 season.
  • They were National Ice Hockey League Division 2 (South) champions during the 2012-2013 season.

‘I might just have picked up the ice hockey bug’

ANNABAL BAGDI goes to her first ice hockey match

Strolling into Oxford Ice Rink for the first time, I am not sure what was more shocking.
Maybe it was the fact I was actually about to sit through my first ice hockey match or just the sheer frostiness which completely overwhelmed my body.
And it seemed I was not the only one taken aback by the sub-zero temperatures, as many visitors told me the chill does cause a surprise.
Speaking to the crowds of families just before the action got under way, I was constantly told the high-speed chase would have me hooked by the end of the night and I would definitely leave wanting to come back for more.
Admittedly not much of a sports fan myself, I was not too convinced the game would have such an effect on me.
But strangely I was captivated by the drama created by the on-ice clashes and having to keep my eyes peeled so I did not lose sight of the zooming hockey puck.
Maybe I have fallen victim to that ice hockey bug all the avid fans said I would catch.

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