Oxford City Stars

The Oxford City Stars are an ice hockey team based in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England.The team was founded in 1984. They currently play in the NIHL South Division 1 at Oxford Ice Rink, Oxford

The British Hockey League (1984–1996)
The Oxford City Stars made their debut in 1984 and had an instant impact winning the BHL Division 2 (Midlands) as well as the post season playoffs and moved into the BHL Division 1 where they were unable to repeat their success, succumbing to a 9th placed finish in their first season. The following season would see them finish 15th and return to the BHL Division 2. They would however endure more success in the 1990–91 and 1995-96 seasons as they claimed First Place, but nothing in the post season.

The Turbulent Years (1996–2000)
After the formation of the National Ice Hockey League in 1996, the Oxford City Stars were placed in the Division One South where the finished 6th and failed to qualify for the Playoffs. The following season due to issues with the Ice Rink, they moved to Swindon under the guise of Swindon Chill. The 1998-99 season saw the Stars return under the name of Oxford Blades, losing all 32 games in a dismal season with only worse to come as they folded midway during the 1999-2000 season.

ENHL Years (2001–2012)
The City Stars returned to the ENHL for the 2000-2001 season and would endure mid range results over the coming years, finishing in highs of 2nd and lows of 9th with one quarter final playoff appearance as the highlight of the performances.

NIHL Years (2012–present)
The Oxford City Stars found traction in the newly formed National Ice Hockey League where they won the Southern Division 2 Title back to back in 2012-13 and 2013-14 with no Playoffs being played. The Stars struggled the following season in Division 1 garnering just 7 wins from 36 games on their way to a 9th place finish. They picked up the following year finishing 4th and losing in the Quarter Finals of the Playoffs. The Stars would then return to Division 2 for the next 3 seasons, picking up One League Title in the 2017-18 season.

Covid Pandemic in Ice Hockey (2019–2021)
In late 2019/early 2020 the World was rocked by the emergence of a respiratory disease across the world eventually dubbed the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected the world in a major way as governments struggled to control the outbreak. The Stars were due to play the Invicta Dynamos but the visiting team cancelled due to a positive test amongst the team. Shortly after this the Government announced that measures would be taken to contain the outbreak including the cancellation of all sporting events as well as other measures. Thus the 2019 Season was incomplete and halted and the post-season was cancelled as well. The outbreak would go on to claim the 2020-21 season too.

Returning to Hockey (2021–present)
After the culmination of Covid19, the League announced the 2021 season would go ahead as planned. The Stars had moved back into the NIHL South Division 1 at this point and the season would commence with 9 teams due to the closure of the John Nike Leisure Complex, home of the Bracknell Hornets who since folded. The Stars struggled in their return to action, finishing 8th of 9 with just 18 points and an elimination in the Quarter Finals of the Playoffs

Club roster 2024–25
(*) Denotes a non-British trained player (Import)

Honours
National Championship Trophy 2017/18
 * British Division 2 (South) Champions – 1984/85, 1990/91, 1995/96
 * British Division 2 Playoff Champions – 1984/85
 * National Ice Hockey League, Division 2 (South) Champions – 2012/13, 2017–18
 * English National League Runners-up – 2003/04, 2004/05
 * English National League Cup Runners-up – 2003/04

Retired jersey numbers

 * 11 - Paul Linton
 * 16 - Alan Green

Season-by-season record
'*Stars folded midway through the campaign and all of their results were expunged.

'# Oxford Chill were forced to relocate to Swindon just prior to the start of the league campaign due to a major ice plant failure at the rink. After this happened, they were renamed the Swindon Chill.

- Post-season cancelled due to the 2019 Covid Pandemic—2020-21 Season cancelled due to the ongoing Covid Pandemic


 * 1 Tie awarded after no Ice at Milton Keynes

Season-by-season record (reserve teams)
Over the seasons the Stars have periodically iced teams in division as a reserve teams and a season by season list is below:

All time records
+ Some Data Missing

Other associated teams
The Oxford City ice hockey club also have junior and women's teams as follows:-


 * Under 9s (English League South)
 * Under 11s (English League South Division 3)
 * Under 13s (English League South Division 3)
 * Under 15s (English League South Division 3)
 * Under 18s (English League South Division 3)
 * Under 20s
 * Oxford Midnight Stars (Women's League Division 1 South)
 * Oxford Rising Stars (NIHL South Division 2)