By Rhys Jones
The Deeside Dragons ice hockey club is arguably one of sports’ hidden gems in North Wales, one of the most historic sporting clubs in Flintshire, and a club that was once put on hold but came back even stronger. For a population with very little interest in ice hockey, the Deeside Dragons represent one of their proudest achievements, and their story is one of the best comebacks, which everyone deserves to hear.
In Wales, especially in the North, the culture of football and rugby has overpowered the sporting world for years, but the Deeside Dragons bring something different for sports fans here. After the team lost its rink in 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, one of Flintshire’s most unique and hardcore fanbases lost their team. The rink was converted into a vaccination centre, but almost 1,000 days after their last game, the Dragons faithful saw their team hit the ice once again in 2022. Since then, the team has taken a massive leap to the top of the ice hockey ladder.
American imports
Whether it is the boom in young players joining the junior Dragons or the team bringing in fan-favourite American imports like Jake Witkowski and Colin Cromie, what looked like a horrendous disaster in 2020 may have led the team to take a massive leap in the right direction.
Deeside Dragons feature video by Rhys Jones
Both their NIHL division one and two teams are thriving, both reaching playoff finals this year, and their youth setups all the way from under-12s to under-19s have seen a massive increase in players. Their loyal and raucous fanbase fills the den every week, even seeing up to a thousand people in attendance across the playoff period.
Whether it is the rapid increase in their youth hockey programmes, their increase in sponsorships, or even just the return of the team full stop, the Dragons are a massive part of the community in Deeside and across Flintshire and North Wales.
Junior Dragons boost
Perhaps most significantly, the return of the Dragons has been met with a massive increase in membership of players joining the junior Dragons programmes. Having once been a team with only one way up to the top of the ranks, now their setups vary from under-12s to under-19s, even seeing a massive boom in girls’ hockey. This is something the Dragons pride themselves on, and they’ve been delighted to see some of their girls represent England on the international stage.
One player who has been a massive influence for the Junior Dragons and has become a giant role model for young Dragons this year is former NCAA hockey player Colin Cromie. His involvement in the developmental programmes is something he is grateful to be a part of.
Colin Cromie on his time at Deeside so far
As for the Dragons’ future, both Colin Cromie and Jake Witkowski will be here to stay for another year to defend their cup success and to have another crack at the playoff title. Former junior Dragons and upcoming prospects like Ben Roscoe and Daniels Fadejevs will continue to make their marks and progress with the team, and many more will follow in their footsteps. The Dragons aren’t just an ice hockey team; they are a family created by the fans, and from top to bottom. Their future is bright, and their story is, and will always be, special.
