News

Ice Age to return to Durham?

Tweet

The Manchester Phoenix have received the following and feel it would be of interest to Phoenix fans and members of Club Phoenix and FOMIH.

The County Durham Ice Foundation (CDIF) have launched a brand new website as their campaign to seek the re-establishment of an ice sports facility steps up a gear. The CDIF was established just over two years ago with the sole aim of resurrecting Ice Skating and Ice Hockey in the area following the closure of Durham's Riverside Rink in 1996. Established in the area during WW2, Ice Hockey once boomed in the cathedral city with British League side Durham Wasps regularly pulling capacity crowds and achieving notable success including the elusive Grand Slam of all domestic silverware in 1991.

Ice hockey was lost from the city when in 1995, the Wasps were purchased and relocated to Newcastle in a controversial move by former Newcastle United supremo Sir John Hall. Ice skating and hockey survived for a single successive season at the Riverside Rink before the building was forced to close.

The CDIF hopes to rekindle the former passion for skating and ice hockey in a new purpose-built facility and are working in partnership with local authorities to help realise their aim. The new website details the CDIF's fight for ice and even includes an online shop for merchandise including specially designed Durham Wasps replica shirts. Ice fans are also urged to sign up as a member of the Foundation to demonstrate their support. The site can be reached at www.cdif.org.uk