Bristol Pitbulls

The Bristol Pitbulls are a professional ice hockey team based in Bristol, England, playing in the English National Ice Hockey League, division 2.
===History===
The Bristol Pitbulls were founded in June 2009. Bristol was without a Senior Ice Hockey team for 16 years until Bristol born Richie 'Gravy' Hargreaves established the Pitbulls.
Hargreaves entered the team into the English National Ice Hockey League South Division Two for the 2009/10 season, despite being offered the chance to jump straight into Division One. According to an interview explaining his decision, Hargreaves decided his team 'wasn't ready' and that 'building a strong franchise & fan-base' were the most important thing in the first year.
The Pitbulls are based at the John Nike Ice Rink in Frogmore Street, Bristol. In their first friendly of the 2009/10 season they played the Oxford City Stars from ENIHL South Division One. Both Richie Hargreaves and his Brother Mike 'Killer' Hargreaves, who is also the Captain for the Pitbulls in their first year, used to play for the Stars. The Pitbulls lost 7-4 on home ice, but won 6-4 in a return leg against the Stars in Oxford the following day.
===2009/2010 season===
After a successful pre-season and a heavy recruitment period, the Pitbulls took to the ice for their opening match of the season facing off in the ENHL Cup with a double-header against the Vectis Tigers on the weekend of 5 September 2009.
The Pitbulls finished that weekend with a 100% record after beating the Tigers 9-3 on home ice, and emerging victorious by 8-6 on the road.
On 19 September 2009 the Pitbulls competed in their first league match of their inaugural season against the Slough Harrier Hawks in which they achieved a 13-2 victory over the Hawks.
On 20 September 2009 the Pitbulls played the Cardiff Satans and achieved a 2-2 draw.
Most recently, the Pitbulls qualified for the semi-final of the ENHL Cup with three games to spare.
==Club Roster 09/10==
Goaltenders	Goaltenders	Goaltenders 	Goaltenders 	Goaltenders	Goaltenders 	
Number 	 	Player 	Owned & Loaned By	Acquired 	Date of Birth	Birthplace
35 	 	John Dibble 	Kate Donachie 	2009 	18/12/1987 	Salisbury, England
91 	 	Laurence Lawson	Perry Davies 	2009 	18/08/1991 	Bristol, England
Defencemen	Defencemen	Defencemen 	Defencemen 	Defencemen	Defencemen 	
Number 	 	Player 	Owned & Loaned By 	Acquired 	Date of Birth	Birthplace
6 	 	Ben Moody 	Jimmy Eyre 	2009 	 	Bristol, England
10 	 	Joe Lock 	Pesky Panda.co.uk 	2009 	26/08/1987 	Bristol, England
14 	 	Tom Evans 	Max Davies 	2009 	23/02/1991 	Cardiff, Wales
16 	 	Tom Egerton 	Anne-Marie Goodman	2009 	28/01/1992 	Bristol, England
18 	 	Matt Phelon 	Avonaccess.com 	2009 	27/03/1985 	Bristol, England
22 	 	Mike Hargreaves - C 	Max's Barber Shop 	2009 	02/12/1979 	Bristol, England
37 	 	Richie Hargreaves - A	Stuart Latham 	2009 	27/05/1978 	Bristol, England
Forwards	Forwards	Forwards 	Forwards 	Forwards	Forwards 	
Number 	 	Player 	Owned & Loaned By 	Acquired	Date of Birth	Birthplace
9 	 	Marcroy Smith 	Kia Tonkin 	2009 	06/05/1986 	Swindon, England
11 	 	Jamie Chilcott 	Advanced Scaffolding Ltd	2009 	11/03/1991 	Bristol, England
20 	 	Mike Smith - A 	Handmadestore.co.uk 	2009 	06/04/1977 	Bristol, England
26 	 	Paul Davies 	Manskating.com 	2009 	26/01/1987 	Telford, England
50 	 	Sam Hayman 	Flyfifer Photography 	2009 	30/10/1987 	Cardiff, Wales
81 	 	Luke Merrick 	M.Loveridge Decorating 	2009 	24/05/1987 	Bristol, England
83 	 	Steve Osman 	PictureLizard.com 	2009 	17/08/1987 	Swindon, England
84 	 	Adrian Esposito - A	J&R Drycleaners 	2009 	01/02/1985 	Eastwood, Australia
87 	 	Liam Williams 	Jimmy Eyre 	2009 	17/08/1992 	Bristol, England
==References==
==External links==
*Bristol Pitbulls Homepage
*Bristol Evening Post
*English Ice Hockey Home
Category:British ice hockey teams
Category:English National Ice Hockey League team
Category:Established in 2009